The Houston Rockets' status as bottom-swellers was a foregone conclusion even before the season started. This year was for their young guys to get some experience more than anything else, not to mention add another true impact player in the 2022 NBA draft.
Even though there were some tough moments for Houston in 2021-22, like the infamous incident with Kevin Porter Jr. and Christian Wood, it has been a generally positive season relative to expectations. Now, with the Rockets long since out of playoff contention, they're looking firmly toward a crucial summer of team-building, mostly courtesy of the draft and free agency.
With ample financial flexibility and a lengthy toward timeline toward contention, though, don't be surprised if general manager Rafael Stone and Houston's front office also seek roster upgrades via trade. Let's look at three early trade targets for the Rockets in the 2022 NBA offseason.
Early Rockets trade targets in 2022 NBA offseason
While Hachimura might not be readily available, the Rockets could attempt to trade for him based on a few factors.
First, Hachimura is still more prospect than player, and the Wizards clearly want to win now. Second, he would likely be available for a fairly low price. He was the ninth overall pick in the 2019 draft, but this season has left a bad taste in the mouth of any Wizards fan that had expectations from the Japanese forward. Hachimura missed a ton of time due to personal issues, losing out on a significant portion of what could've been his breakout year.
Now, while the Wizards might not be ready to part ways with Hachimura at the moment, the Rockets could entice them to change their mind with a protected first-round pick.
In terms of fit, the Rockets could definitely use a wing. Right now, their roster composition is based around the intriguing guard tandem of Jalen Green and Kevin Porter. Houston obviously has talent elsewhere, with Alperen Sengun in the middle, KJ Martin on the wing and veteran Christian Wood filling multiple roles. But the Rockets still need a major infusion of talent, and a good way to address that reality would be adding a versatile forward like Hachimura.
With Hachimura having more freedom with the Rockets than he did in Washington, he could get back to the level he was in his first two seasons as a solid, efficient wing scorer with a ton of defensive upside. If he becomes available, the Rockets should pounce.
From one wing scorer to another, if the New York Knicks decide to move on from Cam Reddish, the Houston Rockets should be there to capitalize.
Considering the Knicks just traded for Reddish, his inclusion into this group might look odd. However, a report early from early February indicated that coach Tom Thibodeau did not really want the young forward in New York. Coach Thibs proved that on the floor, too, as Reddish averaged just 14 minutes in 15 appearances with New York.
The Knicks did invest some resources in Reddish, but if he is not going to play under Thibodeau, they might look to trade him for the right price. It wouldn't be shocking if they gauged an asset-heavy team like Houston's interest in the talented 22-year-old.
While Reddish did have a down year with both the Atlanta Hawks and the Knick, he still has tons of two-way of potential. Wings with his length, athleticism and natural scoring chops are few and far between. The Rockets need stable scoring and defense next to Green and Porter, and Reddish could eventually provide both.
Killian Hayes
Another young prospect who is somewhat struggling, the young Detroit Pistons point guard has not had a successful stint in the NBA thus far. Hayes has completed two seasons, and his rookie year was littered with injuries and absences, his sophomore campaign was just as disappointing.
As the Pistons have a long-term solution at point guard with Cade Cunningham, they might look to offload Hayes this summer to get some value out of him. The Rockets, other than their hole on the wings, also could use another point guard. There are not many great floor generals in the upcoming draft, so the Rockets would be smart to take a low-cost flier on Hayes.
The former lottery pick is still an intriguing player. Haynes clearly did not mesh well with Cunningham, and his first season was largely plagued by a hip injury that kept him off the court for two months. Clearly, Hayes needs a team where his repertoire of playmaking skills will be put to good use. He was drafted seventh overall two years ago because of his vision and passing ability, attributes Houston sorely needs.
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