The Houston Rockets are in desperate need of elevating their depth. When starters in Fred VanVleet, Alperen Sengun, or Dillon Brooks are on the bench, the amount of production is cut nearly in half. With the NBA Trade Deadline approaching, taking advantage to reshape the back end should be the Rockets' primary goal to support their starting five. Around the NBA trade rumors, Harrison Barnes of the Sacramento Kings has been looked at as a possible acquisition. While you can find more of that here, let's talk about another selection. After trading for OG Anunoby, the New York Knicks are currently fielding options to move guard and three-point specialist, Quentin Grimes.

According to Fred Katz of The Athletic, the Knicks aren't done making moves with their roster. After acquiring Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, the Knicks “are trying to recoup some of what they forfeited.” Losing both players, especially Quickley, who was one of their key facilitators, has created a huge hole in guard depth who set up their players well. If Jalen Brunson is out, there's hardly a substitute. Over the last two games, Brunson has been out with a calf injury. This has caused more trouble for the Knicks than anticipated. Thus, making them active yet again in the trade market.

A Rockets-Knicks Quentin Grimes trade

The Rockets fell below .500 after losing to the Philadelphia 76ers for the first time in over two months, leaving them out of playoff contention in the process.

Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Golden State Warriors are underperforming this season, which leaves them eager and aggressive at the NBA trade deadline. While the Rockets are nowhere near those team's frame due to their diminishing championship window, taking a stab at acquiring Grimes will surely increase the awaited playoff contention, further escalating the start of Houston's own championship window.

Houston fans will see what Grimes' worth will be when the Rockets play the Knicks on Wednesday night. For what it's worth, here are two trade proposals — one realistic — and one bold out-of-this-world type scenario to acquire the Houston native and bring back a first-round pick:

Aaron Holiday and two second-round picks for Quentin Grimes.

Jalen Green for Quentin Grimes and a 2024 protected 1-10 pick (via DAL)

Here is why the Rockets should make this Quentin Grimes trade.

A Houston native 

Quentin Grimes, New York Knicks, NBA Injury

For the Knicks to shop Quentin Grimes around illustrates the need for something they've lost, and that is Quickley's playmaking. This is a great option for the Rockets to capitalize.

First off, Grimes is a Houston native. Growing up in the Woodlands, a suburb of the Houston area, Grimes transferred from the University of Kansas to the University of Houston after one year and spent the final three years playing under Houston Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson. In his final year, Grimes led the Coogs to the Final Four of the 2021 NCAA tournament before declaring for the NBA draft.

Secondly, he's exactly what the Rockets need: Three-point shooting and wing defense off the bench. His best year of his young career occurred last season, where he played 71 games averaging 11.3 points shooting 46.8% from the field and 38.6% from deep on 5.7 attempts.

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The Houston Rockets invested heavily into Fred VanVleet during the 2023 offseason. Houston gave the point guard a three-year, $128 million deal in a move that was meant to turn the Rockets from a rebuilding team into a championship contending one. The signing did just that, as the Rockets finished the 2024-25 regular season as the two-seed in a stacked Western Conference. VanVleet was the veteran presence and 3-point shooter that the team desperately needed, and he still might have a role with the Rockets going forward. Houston has a team option on his contract for next year, and they very well may pick it up. The Wichita State product reportedly wants to stay in Houston, but the point guard would be set to make over $44 million next season under his current contract. The Rockets and their guard recently pushed back the deadline on Houston's decision with VanVleet, and although reports suggest that they are interested in writing up a new, long-term deal, it isn't necessarily a guarantee that VanVleet will be playing for Houston next year. The Rockets blew him away with an offer he couldn't refuse back in 2023, and another team could so the same when/if he hits the open market this offseason. If VanVleet does become an unrestricted free agent, which teams outside of Houston would make the most sense for him to sign with? 1. Orlando Magic Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner recently signed big deals with the Orlando Magic, and Paolo Banchero will be getting a mega contract extension here soon. Because of that, the Magic no longer have money to blow like they have had in recent years. That will make a deal for another big ticket free agent hard to pull off, especially considering the team signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope last year. If Orlando can make the money work, though, then Fred VanVleet would be a great fit with the Magic. The Magic finished dead last in 3-point shooting this season, and VanVleet has made at least 2.5 deep balls per game in every season since 2018-19. VanVleet can hit shots form behind the arc off of the bounce or in catch-and-shoot situations. The Rockets were heavily reliant on his shooting expertise, so the guard would have plenty of familiarity getting up deep shots with high volume if he signed with the Magic. While undersized, VanVleet is a pesky defender, so he'd fit right in with a Magic team that has one of the best defensive units in the league. VanVleet could play alongside Suggs and give opposing teams fits. Ultimately, though, the Magic just need more shooting to get to the next level, and VanVleet is arguably the best shooter who could be available on the open market this offseason. 2. Brooklyn Nets A more realistic option for a VanVleet destination would be the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets are set up to have the most cap space this offseason, and they have a major need at point guard. With D'Angelo Russell and De'Anthony Melton hitting free agency this offseason, the Nets don't have a true point guard under contract for next season. Brooklyn needs to spend big this offseason, and they'd be smart to offer VanVleet a contract big enough that he'd have no choice but to leave Houston. VanVleet averaged 14.1 points per game last season, which was his lowest mark since 2018-19. He is trending the wrong way, but he still has enough left in the tank to give the Nets a few good seasons. 3. Portland Trail Blazers In the same way that the Rockets were looking to take the next step in 2023, the Portland Trail Blazers could use VanVleet's presence to get over the hump. The Trail Blazers have plenty of big man depth, as centers Deandre Ayton, Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams, and Duop Death are all under contract next season. Portland also has a lot of wing depth. Deni Advija started to look like a star late this past season, Toumani Camara is an elite defender, Shaedon Sharpe is a freakish athlete, and Jerami Grant is a proven scorer. The team is thinner in the backcourt, though. Anfernee Simons is a solid scorer, but Scoot Henderson has looked like a fringe draft bust since being drafted third overall. Portland shouldn't give up on Henderson completely, but there wouldn't be any harm in signing another guard. Like the Magic, the Blazers were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA. VanVleet would improve that weakness, and in a stacked Western Conference, Portland needs all of the help they can get if they are to compete for a playoff spot.
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Grimes' intangibles

Grimes usually is the player who dives for loose balls and defends the best guard player. Knicks fans recall his tenacity when he injured his knee but continued to play on the court and stole the ball away from All-Star Jimmy Butler in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals against the Miami Heat.

On the perimeter last season, Grimes allowed three-point attempts at a 39% clip along with a 4.4 net rating. Unfortunately, the former Cougar's defense has regressed this season due to playing alongside Donte DiVincenzo, leading to a reduction in minutes. Along with his scoring production, His defense has taken a hit as well, allowing now 41% from three-point range and 50.9% on twos, slipping his net rating to a -1.2.

How Grimes can fit with the Rockets

Given Grimes' souring relationship with New York, he is still regarded as a quality role player and could fit very well in Udoka's system. This season, he's still knocking down his threes at an effective 39.2%. He is a team player who performs all the little things on the court. Plus, he has recent playoff experience.

Defense, as well as three-point shooting, is something the Rockets bench has been lacking on the perimeter as of late. Should Houston acquire him, there is a very high chance his catch-and-shoot three-point shooting attempts increase, especially when Fred VanVleet and/or Amen Thompson are on the floor.

Currently, Houston's bench is 23rd in both points per game (31.6) and three-point percentage (34.8%).

Tari Eason's absence, along with utilizing players like Aaron Holiday and Reggie Bullock, have produced mixed results. It's nice to see rookies Cam Whitmore and Thompson receive playing time, but these raw prospects need more NBA development.

Grimes' contract is also very team-friendly, as he is currently in his third-year rookie deal worth a total of $11.1 million and is a restricted free agent after 2025 with a qualifying offer of $6.3 million.