The Rockets finished the regular season with a 41-41 record, and although they failed to qualify for the play-in tournament, the Rockets were the only team out of 10 teams that missed the playoffs with a 50% win rate. If nothing else, Rockets management will use their high-quality young players and first-round picks to recruit and bolster rosters on this summer's trade market to continue their playoff push. Recently, the American media "Fadeaway World" suggested that the Rockets could consider reaching a 3-for-1 deal with the Jazz this summer to send away potential interior Jabari Smith.
The deal is specific for the Rockets to give: Jabari Smith + Jeff Green + Lauri Markkanen of the Jazz with a 2024 Nets first-round pick. As the interior core of the Jazz team, Markkanen can contribute an average of 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game this season, and his injury-plagued performance is not very stable, but last season, Markkanen averaged 26 points and 9 rebounds per game, which is a very good statistic! That could help the Rockets create more offensive space for Jalen Green to use his athletic talents. And the Rockets will also have an extra outside high battery on the offensive end. Considering that the Rockets' other potential interior lineman Eason is plagued by injuries, Markkanen is likely to replace the traded Smith and Eason to form an interior twin tower with the Rockets' interior core Shin Kyung.
The Jazz are currently rebuilding under the direction of former Celtics general manager Ainge. Although Markkanen has played some impressive numbers this season, according to NBA salary expert Bobby Marks, Markkanen can re-sign a five-year, $244 million early contract extension with the Jazz this summer. If Jazz management decides not to use Markkanen as the core of the rebuild in the future, they could most likely send the team's main interior player this summer to help free up more salary space for the team to continue the rebuild. Since the Nets also failed to make the playoffs, it is logical that the Rockets have a first-round pick in 2024. Jabari Smith is a very promising interior player, and if he can cash in on his talent with the Jazz, he is no less capable than Markkanen. And the Rockets also sent Jeff Green to his expiring contract.
Personally, I feel that if this deal goes through, the Rockets can upgrade the team's interior offensive firepower through this deal. And the Jazz could get the rebuilding assets they want from the Rockets. From both perspectives, this deal is a win-win deal for the Rockets and Jazz, who are in the midst of a rebuild.