The Houston Rockets might be the most surprising team in the NBA this season, both from an entertainment and competitive perspective.
The Rockets are not only fun to watch, they’re winning, and people are starting to talk about Houston as a rising contender.
They’re still young for the most part, though, and could benefit from another veteran to come in and add some experience to the locker room.
Jimmy Butler is a name that keeps coming up for Houston, and he’d be great, but a trade would be difficult to execute. Houston might want to pivot on the Butler idea and go after another elite competitor who’s just as tough defensively as Butler, even if he lacks offensive value from time to time. It's an idea that was suggested by Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz on Monday.
“How much do the Houston Rockets want to meddle with a young roster that's off to a 17-8 start to the season?” Swartz wondered.
“The next two months will certainly give us this answer, as the Rockets may want to add another vet if they want to make any sort of playoff run.”
“(Memphis Grizzlies guard) Marcus Smart is a favorite of Udoka from their time together with the Boston Celtics.”
Having both Smart and Dillon Brooks (assuming he isn't included in a Smart deal) would give the Rockets two absolute dogs on defense. That’s a lot of toughness in the rotation, which would serve Houston well come playoff time.
Smart is in year three of a four-year, $76.5 million deal. Would the Rockets be able to pull off a deal for the former Defensive Player of the Year?
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