After the start of last season, the Rockets are currently in very good rebuilding condition, and the four rookies selected in the offseason are beginning to cash in on their talents.
Although green's performance did not meet expectations, his overall performance was constantly improving, and Shen Jing looked more like a future All-Star player.
Christopher's performance is also remarkable, has become one of the Rockets' current stable rotation players, even coach Silas lamented that Christopher's performance has exceeded expectations, and Garruba's defensive talent is also unmistakable.
In addition, last season's bet on Tate, Martin Jr., Nuwaba and other players have also found a suitable role positioning in the system, constantly sending stable performances.
More importantly, since the beginning of the game, the Rockets have achieved the penultimate record in the West, as long as it is maintained, the team will most likely get a high-pick lottery show in the offseason.
Therefore, the US media "nbaanalysis" also decisively supported the rocket, which should go ahead by the trade deadline to sell the team's immediate combat strength and add more young players, thereby accelerating the team reconstruction process.
Potential trading scenarios
Rockets: Get Dragic + Boucher + Achuva + 2022 first round pick + 2024 first round pick;
Raptors: Get Wood + Gordon.
The US media used "the transaction deadline must be completed" to describe the potential deal of the Rockets, in fact, it is not difficult to understand this idea.
Compared to Wall, Augustine and Tate, Wood and Gordon are the players with the highest trade value and are naturally the most likely to be sent away, and the two players have been in excellent form this season and are at the peak of the trade value, and the Rockets should indeed send away the two as soon as possible.
Especially Wood, the player, not only does he occupy a lot of balls, his bonus contract is still shortening, and the value of his trades in the future is only likely to fall, and the possibility of rising is minimal.
For the Rockets, this deal is undoubtedly a very worthwhile option to consider, fully meeting the diverse needs of the team's reconstruction.
The first is to clear out the core of the two players who occupy a lot of playing time and ball rights, that is, to provide more opportunities to young players.
Considering the "egalitarian" approach the Rockets have adopted this season, the increased time will most likely be allocated to young players such as Shin Kyung, Garuba and Christopher, who do not have enough playing time.
At the same time, the Rockets also won two first-round picks in one go, whether it is a follow-up deal or the selection of young players, the first-round pick is the most valuable hard currency for rebuilding the team.
In addition, the Rockets also got Achuwa, a new star worth cultivating, and the 22-year-old has excellent basic talent and physical condition, which can fully enter the Rockets rebuild blueprint.
As for Dragic and Boucher, both are valuable trading chips, the contract is not large and has immediate combat power, the Rockets can increase more rebuilding chips as long as they sell, if they can't sell, the contract between the two is about to expire, which can free up salary space for the Rockets.
For the Raptors, it's a deal option to win in the moment, ensuring the team can secure a playoff spot.
The Raptors are currently eighth in the East with 20 wins and 18 losses, and given the intensity of competition in the East this season, they need more immediate combat power to keep the possibility of making the playoffs.
Wood will provide the team with a potential 20+10 starting interior, Gordon is also a bench scorer who can average about 15 points per game, and the three-point shooting rate of more than 40% this season will greatly improve the thickness of the Raptors' rotation.
Therefore, for two teams at different stages, this is a deal that promises to achieve a win-win situation.
The Rockets won two first-round picks while sending Gordon and Wood to a playoff-level team and handing off three players who fit the team's rebuilding plan.
The Raptors cleared out some of the marginal role players, while overdrawing some future chips in exchange for more high-quality instant combat power to ensure the team entered the playoffs.