The Houston Rockets are exploring the possibility of strengthening their center rotation before the trade deadline, which is just a week away. While many expect the Rockets to stay quiet during this period, they may still be open to making the right move if a favorable deal arises.
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic proposes a three-team trade between the Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, and Portland Trail Blazers. In this scenario, the Rockets would trade Jock Landale to the Clippers and send a second-round pick to Portland. The Clippers would then send P.J. Tucker to the Trail Blazers, while Portland would trade Robert Williams III to Houston.
The primary objective of the deal is to reunite Williams with head coach Ime Udoka, who coached him in Boston during the 2021-2022 season when Williams made the All-Defense second team. Although Williams has faced injury issues since then, including this season, his impact when healthy remains undeniable. He excels as a screener, a short-roll passer, and a rim finisher. Defensively, Williams still possesses elite instincts, particularly as a ball-screen defender.
Acquiring Williams would give the Rockets more depth at center, allowing current starter Steven Adams to rest more and stay fresh for the postseason. It would also provide insurance in case Adams’ health becomes a concern as the season progresses.
However, the Rockets may have some reservations about Williams due to his injury history. Vecenie notes that the medical evaluation of Williams will be a key factor in determining whether the trade goes through. Given the relatively low cost of the deal (just a second-round pick), the risk could be worthwhile, but the extra year remaining on Williams’ contract may give the Rockets pause if they have concerns about his long-term health.
Williams has been on the Rockets’ radar ever since Udoka took over as head coach two years ago. If a trade doesn’t materialize before the deadline, the Rockets could revisit the idea in the offseason.
Leave a Reply