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The 2022 NBA Trade Deadline was the most exciting in recent memory. As the clock hit 3 PM ET on Thursday, many teams had a completely different landscape. One of the teams that had some activity was the Houston Rockets. They traded away Daniel Theis to the Celtics, getting Bruno Fernando, Enes Freedom, and Dennis Schroder in the deal. However, there could be an argument made that that was not enough. The Rockets still had some fuel to make trades and not dealing the other veterans on the squad might be the Rockets’ biggest mistake at the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline.
Rockets’ biggest 2022 NBA Trade Deadline mistake
Other than Theis, who was signed this summer to the Houston Rockets in a sign-and-trade, the Rockets had other veterans on the roster. With a very young team, headlined by Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr, the Rockets are really not in any contention for at least two more years. Green has been hitting the rookie wall, averaging just 38.1% from the field and an abysmal 29.5% from behind the arc. Kevin Porter Jr has been up and down, but he still has issues with discipline, as highlighted by a recent incident in January.
Obviously, the Rockets are making these two players their future stars and not even listening to offers for them. However, the rest of the roster has some interesting pieces that could have landed the Rockets some great potential for the future. Since they are really not looking for wins and since they have their own selection in this draft, even losing all the other games this season would not hurt them much. This season is the Rockets trying to get Green acclimated to the NBA environment and getting Porter Jr to finally settle down and focus on his basketball career.
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That leaves at least three players, maybe four with Dennis Schroder that arrived in the Theis trade, that should have been moved by the deadline. Firstly, the curious case of John Wall. Obviously, not having played an NBA game since the 23rd of April of last year will hurt his draft stock. That, paired up with his gargantuan $44 million salary for this season and $47 million for next year, which is a player option that Wall is definitely taking, could make him almost untradeable. However, worse contracts have been traded in the past and it is difficult to imagine that Wall could not bring at least a second-round pick to the Rockets.
Secondly, we have the case of Eric Gordon. In essence, Gordon has become a Houston Rockets legend in some regards. He has been there for six seasons now and was a major part of some serious runs that the Rockets pulled off in the James Harden era. Even this season, he has been solid. Gordon is currently averaging 14.2 points, which is the second-lowest tally in his career but has been incredibly efficient, shooting 42.7% on three-pointers, which is his second-best percentage in his NBA tenure. He does have around $58 million left on his three-year deal, which could be a financially crippling move for some up-and-coming squad, but if he was put out there, Gordon would garner a ton of interest, that is for sure.
Last but not least, the Rockets also have Christian Wood. Now, Wood is an interesting player, since he is only 26 and could be in Rockets' plans going forward. However, due to the fact that Porter, Green, and Alperen Sengun are going to need a few more years, the Rockets could have easily dealt him to get more resources. Wood has an exceptional contract for his production, as he is set to make $13 million for this season and $14 million for the next one. Any contender could have used Wood and due to the fact that no extension was yet signed or even signaled by any of the two sides, the Rockets might trade him next season for less value or lose him for free in 2023.
Of course, all three of these guys are good NBA players that any team, including the Rockets, could use. Wood is still young, Eric Gordon is on limited production but very efficient, while Wall can be a useful point guard if he can stay healthy. Yet, they all seem mismatched with the franchise they are currently signed to. Wall is at a point of his career where he should be going for NBA championships and similar stands for Gordon. Wood seems like a player that the Rockets won't resign for the maximum deal he will seek and get from any other team, yet also they do not want to trade him away. Regardless of the outcome, given all the circumstances, not trading at least one of these players could be the Rockets’ biggest mistake at the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline.
