League sources who have spoken to Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports expect the Rockets to explore trading the No. 10 overall pick in next month’s draft. As O’Connor writes, while a move up or down is possible, a trade could also mean moving out of the first round altogether, either as part of a package for an impact player or in exchange for future draft assets, similar to what San Antonio did last year with the No. 8 overall selection.
Reed Sheppard, the No. 3 overall pick in 2024, played an extremely limited role for a deep Houston team this past season, even though the front office was repeatedly said to be very high on him. A similar fate could be in store for this year’s 10th overall pick if the Rockets hang onto that selection, O’Connor notes.
Here’s more from around the Southwest:
- With Kyrie Irving‘s recovery from ACL surgery expected to extend well into 2025/26, the Mavericks will be seeking backcourt help this offseason. However, Brandon Williams – an unsung hero for the banged-up team during the second half of ’24/25 – is preparing to reclaim an increased role if necessary, writes Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. Williams, who averaged 15.4 points and 4.1 assists in 24.2 minutes per game across 13 March and April appearances, told Curtis on Friday that he’s well on his way to being fully recovered from an oblique strain that affected him at the end of the season. “Working out every day. Just taking it one day at a time,” Williams said. “Trying to stay sharp on a few things. My ball-handling, shooting, all those types of things. Being the point guard and having everybody just jell together earlier than later in the season.”
- Within a preview of the Grizzlies‘ offseason open to non-subscribers, Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron digs into what an extension for Jaren Jackson Jr. might look like and explores the idea of Memphis trading using Brandon Clarke‘s $12.5MM salary to trade for help on the wing. In that scenario, Gozlan writes, Memphis could use its room exception to target a big man.
- Keith Smith of Spotrac also previews the Grizzlies‘ offseason and covers similar ground, though he takes a closer look at what wing options might be available for the team in free agency using the room exception or non-taxpayer mid-level, depending on whether Memphis operates under or over the cap.
Isn’t Brandon Clarke help on the wing..?
He’s their backup 5. He’s been a big his whole career
Edey and Huff are backup Centers for the Grizzlies… tho Edey did start 55 games and they often have JJJ at the 4. They’re deep in bigs. Clarke is 6’8” and not a center.
Huff only got pt when Clarke was hurt. He’s definitely a center.
Clarke plays center and power forward, he’s only 6’8″but that doesn’t matter he’s very physical and hard to move.
But now that they have much bigger bigs, it’s not likely that Brandon Clarke will play in the middle for them. Going back to the original point, they prob can use a solid 3 and could be a good landing spot for DDR.
He’ll either play in the middle or he’ll not play. He’s only ever been a big. And as far as his size I mean this guy been in the league for yrs, he’s not new to this. He knows how to excel as a smaller big. For one he’s much more athletic than the vast majority of bigs in the league. Dwight Howard, Onyeka Okongwu, Bam Adebayo, Al Horford just a few of the shorter bigs that have had success recently in the league. Tbh they prob go further this season if not for Clarke’s injury.
I could see DeRozan in Memphis but they might be better off getting a younger guy like Caris LeVert who plays more within the offense. link to m.youtube.com
Rockets need to trade away Sheppard and #10
If you don’t play them, trade them
Pack them with Green for a star like Booker or Holiday and fillers
The plan from what the organization has alluded to is that they expect to play Shepherd and Whitmore more next season. Could be posturing to show they are in their future plans and don’t wanna trade them, but I would bet Reed gets 6th man minutes next year.
6th man Smith – extension
7th man Adams – new contract
8th man Eason – extension
This Rockets team has reached the ceiling
Need huge trade
Giannis Durant Booker will be overpriced
Ja, GG & Clarke to Phoenix for KD & Grayson makes both teams better. Phoenix gets a good amount of financial flexibility plus the most dynamic pg in the game. They also get a young wildcard in GG to go with their other young forwards. Clarke joins Nick Richards & their young rookie from Marquette who’s name i forget to form an extremely athletic/active trio of bigs.
Memphis rids themselves of a seemingly constant headache in Ja. They played pretty well without him the past few yrs tbh. They add A LOT of much needed shooting with KD & Grayson.
Now that is one bad trade. Memphis is not trading Ja. The team is built around him and he is the face of the team. KD value is not that high to get a star like Ja.
Not sure how you figure the team is built around Ja but if it is that’s clearly a mistake. He’s 1 of the most unreliable guys in the league. If anything they’ve been built around the possibility of him missing games. We’ve seen how much they’ve invested in the backup pg spot the past 4,5 yrs.
KD is great at basketball. He & Ja both have a lot of value.
You are rated KD at his value 5 years ago not now. He has a 1 year deal left and is almost 37. Ja is 25 and a fan favorite. the trade would never happen because Memphis would want a lot more than KD.
Nah lol I’m talking about rn. KD is great at basketball rn. And please don’t sleep on Grayson Allen.
nothing against Allen just Memphis is not trading Ja he is the face of teh team. They have billboards all over Memphis with him on it. Its a business decision why he is untouchable.
if Memphis trades Ja, it’s not going to be for a 37 yo player.
KD is more than just a 37yo. In fact I’m not sure that’s even his age but if not him, Who would you rather trade Ja for…
Could see Orlando or Miami trying go engage.. not sure if a match is there. Maybe Bulls.
Miami sounds about right. Id like Herro in Memphis too.
PHX is a second apron team. They cannot accumulate players in trades whatsoever, so anything they do must be 1 for 1.
The Suns actually could do that trade proposed by Sankara, since they wouldn’t be aggregating Durant or Allen and could structure it in a way that they’re trading each player for less salary than they’re sending out.
But it wouldn’t be legal for Memphis, who would have to send out a little more salary (adding Konchar would work for both teams).
Let’s add Konchar, why not. Suns could use him as their Grayson Allen replacement. Or we could just do KD for Ja & Clarke. Big picture I like Ja (& the Suns) with a fresh start out in the valley. And KD/Bane/Jaren is just really tough. They’d have some of the best role players in the league too w/ JWells, Santi, Edey, Scotty, (Grayson or Konchar) etc. One more shrewd signing (Dinwiddie, D’Lo or old friend Tyus) & they could be a serious contender next season
Thank you for reconfirming that this site has the most brain dead takes…..lol JA who is our main closer is definitely reliable.
Last couple yrs he been extremely unreliable. 62gms played out of a possible 168. Zero playoff gms won. Under 30% from trey. Defense can accurately be described as unreliable. And he’s gotten himself suspended multiple times & made himself the bad boy of the league. A couple of those things were basically the exact reasons that Dillon was let go just a couple yrs ago. I personally love the boy but idk if I’d want him as the leader of my team/franchise (unless I was semi desperate like Phoenix).
Lol so trade him for a player who is older, will leave in a year, hasn’t made it out the first round in forever, and isn’t considered a leader either?
These dudes talk about teams they never watch play and act like they know what’s best for them. It’s hilarious