The Houston Rockets' summer outlook is unclear. Nobody seems to have a firm handle on whether they'll be making a deal.
They could make a blockbuster trade. Alternatively, they could make a more marginal move - or even do nothing but draft. The Rockets can justify virtually any direction, and that's what makes this summer both stressful and exciting.
By contrast, the Celtics are in a bit of a pickle. This team needs to cut costs - soon. Naturally, they've been linked to the Rockets as trade partners. Houston has assets, and Ime Udoka coached most of the Celtics' current roster.
That doesn't mean the Rockets should bail Boston out.
Rockets don't need most of what the Celtics can offer
Jaylen Brown is an interesting proposition. He's the type of shot creator the Rockets needed in this year's playoffs. That said, they should probably avoid paying roughly $57 million a season for a guy who shot 32.4% from long range this year.
There's no reason to acquire Jrue Holiday either. There's a temptation. The Rockets are establishing a defensive culture, and Holiday is one of the best defensive guards of his generation.
He's not the playmaker Fred VanVleet is. For all his flaws, he's not the shot creator Jalen Green is either. The Rockets already have an elite defense. Their offense needs juice, and Holiday doesn't provide enough of it.
Derrick White would be an excellent fit, but Boston will seek a haul for him. The Rockets would do better to hang onto their future draft capital for a bigger fish. So, that leaves one target:
And he ought to intrigue the Rockets
Rockets could go after star combo big
The Rockets should be open to acquiring any player who will be cheap (in terms of assets) and upgrade their roster. Kristaps Porzingis marks both boxes.
He shouldn't cost a bundle. Porzingis is highly injury-prone, and he's on an expiring contract. Teams will shy away from offering substantial packages for a potential rental, so his market should be tepid.
He could also be a perfect fit for the Rockets' roster.
In 2024-25, Porzingis connected on 41.2% of his threes in 42 games. He's also an elite weakside rim protector who fits the Rockets' vision of jumbo ball at 7'3". If he's affordable, the Rockets should consider him.
If the Rockets think it's time to part with Green, they could make a straight swap. Moving him for an expiring contract cleans up their books, and if the team is successful with Porzingis, they could renegotiate a smaller deal this summer. The Celtics may not want Green's long-term money, but they could also reason that since he's younger, he'll be easier to move down the line.
Alternatively, Dillon Brooks, Jock Landale and some second-round draft capital might get a deal done. If it doesn't - and Houston isn't ready to part with Green - they shouldn't increase their offer. That said, if the Celtics are desperate to move Porzingis, the Rockets should entertain them:
