The Rockets‘ search for wing help remains ongoing, and the team has made calls around the NBA, offering Brandon Knight and a first-round pick in potential packages, writes Alykhan Bijani of The Athletic.
Houston’s willingness to offer Knight and a first-rounder doesn’t exactly come as a huge surprise. The veteran guard has been viewed as the team’s most likely trade chip due to his $14.63MM salary, which would allow the Rockets to match a wide range of incoming contracts. The Rockets also reportedly offered four first-round picks to Minnesota during the Jimmy Butler sweepstakes, so attaching one to Knight in trade discussions makes sense.
This specific package of a Knight and a first-round pick was recently cited by Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer as being offered up in a four-way trade that would have seen Houston acquire Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from the Lakers. In that scenario, Knight and the first-rounder would’ve been redirected to Atlanta, but the deal didn’t come to fruition.
[RELATED: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope sits atop Rockets’ wishlist]
According to Bijani, the Rockets have been active in their efforts to insert themselves and participate in multi-team deals in order to facilitate the acquisition of a wing. The team is said to be seeking a veteran that would provide reliable three-point shooting and solid perimeter defense, allowing Houston to stabilize its rotation.
While Caldwell-Pope is one player who could fit that bill, there are many others. I’m not sure the Rockets would be willing to surrender a first-round pick for some of the trade candidates out there though, even if it meant moving Knight’s multiyear contract. That list of trade candidates includes J.R. Smith, Kent Bazemore, DeMarre Carroll, and Wesley Matthews, among others.
I wonder where JR Smith ranks on their wish list and if the offer would be extended to the Cavs? I would assume that deal would already be done if it were offered.
You took the words right out of my mouth
Depends on the size of JR’s junk trunk during this layoff. I’m not talking about his luggage trunk. . . though if he’s already packed, it would be a good sign he’s over the Cavs experience.
I think he will come in hustling & hot-handed wherever he goes, to prove himself. . . People talking about Lebron carrying the Cavs.
Depends on the size of JR’s junk trunk during this layoff. I’m not talking about his luggage trunk. . . though if he’s already packed, it would be a good sign he’s over the Cavs experience. But he gets out of shape when the Cavs quit practicing.
I think he will come in hustling & hot-handed wherever he goes, to prove himself. . . People talking about Lebron carrying the Cavs.
With Chris Paul out for a while, the Rockets might want to reconsider moving Knight. While he is not nearly as good as Paul, Knight is still better than a lot of PGs.
Exactly what I was thinking. Now if Paul can make it back before the trade deadline, they might be able to get a pretty fair deal if Knight plays well in his absence.
Bring Knight back to Phoenix!
If the rule of thumb is that a protected 1st is the price to buy 20 mm of cap space for a year, then requiring Knight’s 15 mm come off the books next year (with nothing coming on) uses up most of the value in that 1st. That’s 3/4ths salary dump, 1/4th dealing for the wing guy they need. If that’s the point, then wait awhile. There are only about 5 tanking teams right now, and only two of them (Cleveland and Atl) appear to being willing to sell 2019/20 cap space. Non-tankers will only trade lousy wings. I’m beginning to think that the new Rockets ownership is frugal. This team needs a bigger 3&D wing who can play starter minutes, and it needs it asap. Next year’s tax is determined at the end of next season.
Fertitta talked big, then what, got sticker shock.
The delay could also be about waiting to see what their r1 is even worth. It could be all over the mocks.
Really, it’s likely to be top half pick at this point, in the tough WC & with Paul out. . . teams should be gunning for it.
Dangling? Lol it’s like meat hanging outside too long and the flies are all over it. Going to need more than 3 pts in 17 minutes. Unless someone is looking to dump a multiyear contract like Bazemore or Hardaway.
I wonder if the Rockets could pull a deal with the Bucks. Knight played really well there and Brogdon is a perfect fit. Bucks probably can’t afford him with new deals for Snell, Middleton, and Lopez next year so saves them money and they could get 1st rd picks