The Houston Rockets don’t really have time to wait around. Kevin Durant, whom they traded Jalen Green and the tenth overall pick for, is 37 years old. The time, it seems, is right now for the Rockets to compete for a title.
Up until the middle of September, the Rockets looked poised to be the main threat to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Every one of their starters was a proven talent. Unfortunately, Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL, and the Rockets need to address that.
Houston could turn to Reed Sheppard or Amen Thompson to take on more of a playmaking role, although with little room for error, adding a proven point guard seems to be the best option. The Rockets were recently linked to a two-time NBA champion.
Houston Rockets Urged to Trade for Jrue Holiday
Jrue Holiday has won titles with the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics. Last season, he averaged 11.1 points and 3.9 assists while shooting 35.3% from deep. He is also one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, even at 34 years old.
Boston traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers this summer for Anfernee Simons, who would also be a good option for the Rockets. The Blazers have young guards in Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson to develop, and Holiday makes too much to be a mentor.
“Holiday is on the downslope, but he would still represent a real boost to Houston’s title chances as a trusted ball handler and still top-tier defender, and they wouldn’t have to give up nearly as much to get him as they would [Derrick] White,” suggested CBS Sports’ Brad Botkin on September 24th.
A backcourt of Holiday and Amen Thompson would be the best defensive unit in the NBA, and Holiday doesn’t need the ball in his hands, allowing Durant and Alperen Sengun to stuff the stat sheet.
“Houston might regret the deal two years or even one year from now, but with Durant about to turn 37, this is right now time in Houston,” he added.
Holiday is on the books for $32.4 million this season, with a $37.2 million option in two years, so the Rockets would be saddled with an aging point guard, although it might be their best option.
Mock Trade Sends Holiday to Houston Rockets
The Trail Blazers, on paper, are content with paying Holiday the big bucks to mentor their promising players next season. VanVleet, who is suddenly not very valuable to Houston, could be used to balance salaries.
Would the Trail Blazers really want to spend a combined $39.1 million on VanVleet and Damian Lillard next season, neither of whom is expected to play a single game? Probably not, so the Rockets would need to sweeten the pot.
The Rockets could send VanVleet, Tari Eason, Jeff Green, and a 2028 first-round pick to Portland for Holiday.
Initially, this seems like a massive overpay. Eason is a key part of Houston’s young core. However, the Rockets need a point guard, and if VanVleet can’t be the guy, they need to pivot.