Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets' recent struggles could lead to them trading multiple players by the March 25 NBA trade deadline.

Before their loss Wednesday to the Brooklyn Nets, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski spoke with Stephen A. Smith on SportsCenter to discuss some Rockets players who could get moved, including guard Eric Gordon (58-second mark):

"There's a great deal of interest in Gordon," Wojnarowski said. "Twelve straight losses in Houston, Stephen A., are they going to move off of this team and be willing to just dive into the lottery, or do they want to keep some of these assets around?"

Heading into Wednesday, Gordon, 32, was averaging 17.8 points on 43.7 percent shooting overall and 32.8 percent from three-point range. His 2019-20 shooting struggles (36.9 percent from the field) appear to be far behind him.

The lifetime 36.8 percent three-point shooter could be a great addition to a contending team looking to add more scoring help either in the starting lineup or off the bench.

However, Gordon does have at least two more years on his contract, per HoopsHype. He's owed $18.2 million in 2021-22 and $19.5 million in 2022-23. His $20.9 million salary in 2023-24 is non-guaranteed for the time being.

Wojnarowski discussed some of the other Rockets who might be on the move between now and the deadline:

"They've been very active, they're going to continue to be active up until March 25."

"P.J. Tucker, who's in the last year of his deal, they've been very engaged in talks about moving him. Contenders like Milwaukee, Brooklyn, the Lakers, Miami have all shown interest in him.

"And Victor Oladipo, who turned down a two-year, $45 million extension, he's in the last year of his deal. I think there'll be a lot of teams, calling, gauging the willingness of Houston to move on from him. What kind of package could they potentially get for him? Do they want to move forward with him? 

"I think how Oladipo's health is, how he plays between now and March 25, I think that's going to play a role in how Houston looks at this."

The 11-23 Houston Rockets lost their 13th straight game on Wednesday with a 132-114 home defeat to former Rocket guard James Harden and the Brooklyn Nets. They now have the NBA's third-worst record.

Their first half of the regular season is over, and they are set to play nine games before the March 25 trade deadline.

Former Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey reportedly decided to leave the organization because of concerns about whether he would be able to keep James Harden happy.

According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, sources within the Rockets organization believe Morey made a "preemptive decision" by stepping down as GM this past offseason and joining the Philadelphia 76ers as their president of basketball operations.

Sources told MacMahon that Morey anticipated Harden becoming unhappy since the team didn't have the draft capital necessary to make significant changes to the roster during the offseason.

Morey's reported fears proved prophetic, as Harden refused to sign a contract extension with the Rockets, resulting in Houston trading him to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a four-team deal.

Morey entered the NBA in 2002 as part of the Boston Celtics front office before taking the job as Rockets assistant GM in 2006. By 2007, Morey succeeded Carroll Dawson as the team's general manager.

In Morey's 13 seasons as Rockets GM, Houston reached the playoffs 10 times and made it as far as the Western Conference Finals twice.

The biggest move of Morey's time in Houston was undoubtedly the acquisition of Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012.

Harden went from being a really good supporting cast member on a Thunder team that reached the NBA Finals to a legitimate superstar who was named an All-Star in each of his eight seasons as a member of the Rockets.

With Harden in the fold, Houston reached the playoffs in eight straight seasons. Harden also achieved no shortage of individual accolades, winning three straight scoring titles from 2017-18 through 2019-20, and an MVP award in 2018.

Despite Harden's excellence, the Rockets were never quite able to break through with an NBA Finals appearance, and it became apparent that there was no way for the front office to tweak the team enough to change that in 2020-21.

After Morey left, the Rockets signed forward Christian Wood and center DeMarcus Cousins in addition to trading guard Russell Westbrook to the Washington Wizards for guard John Wall, but Harden seemingly wasn't convinced that it would be enough to get the Rockets over the hump.

With Harden clearly unhappy, the Rockets sent Harden somewhere that he has a chance to win immediately.

Harden has meshed well with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn thus far, and with a record of 23-13, they are second in the Eastern Conference.

The only team the Nets are trailing in the East is Morey's Sixers, who own the No. 1 seed in the conference with a 23-12 record.

Meanwhile, the Rockets own the second-worst record in the Western Conference at just 11-22.

Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden said Tuesday that he is hopeful Houston Rockets fans will give him a positive reaction when the Nets face the Rockets in Houston on Wednesday night.

Harden told ESPN's Malika Andrews: "The love and the appreciation that I've given to that city and that I still give to that city, I'm hoping that the favor can be returned."

Harden added that he hopes to be "received with love." 

Wednesday will mark Harden's first game against his former team since Houston traded him to Brooklyn as part of a four-team deal in January.

Harden, 31, spent parts of nine seasons with the Rockets before rejecting a contract extension and essentially forcing Houston's hand in the form of a trade.

With regard to his time in Houston, Harden said:

"I thought I would never leave that franchise. I thought I was going to be in Houston, obviously, for the rest of my career. Things happened. I've got different goals, and I've seen a different vision for myself and my career and my family.

"Like I said, it doesn't change the fact of how I feel about the city. But it just didn't go as well—as smooth—as I planned. The communication between myself and the front office got a little shaky. And now I look back at it and I see these other scenarios, other situations that are happening, specifically around other players that are in Houston, in different sports. And their transition is going very smooth. And I would've hoped for mine to go that smooth, but it didn't. I am where I am now."

Harden was as good as almost any player in the league during his time with Rockets, being named an All-Star in each of his eight full seasons with the franchise.

In 621 regular-season games as a member of the Rockets, Harden averaged 29.6 points, 7.7 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game, and he helped lead the Rockets to the playoffs in each season as well.

Harden led the league in scoring in three straight seasons from 2017-18 through 2019-20, and he won the NBA MVP award in 2017-18.

While Harden's regular-season success is undeniable, the postseason has been a different story throughout his career.

Harden has yet to win a championship in 12 NBA seasons. He reached the NBA Finals once with the Oklahoma City Thunder as a supporting-cast member alongside Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and he never made it past the Western Conference Finals in Houston.

By orchestrating a trade to Brooklyn, Harden is looking to finally get over that hump and become an NBA champion.

With Harden, Durant and Kyrie Irving leading the way, the Nets own the second-best record in the Eastern Conference currently at 23-13, and they continue to look like the team to beat in the conference.

Meanwhile, the Rockets have experienced a significant fall from grace without Harden, as their 11-22 record is the second-worst mark in the Western Conference.

The Rockets' Toyota Center can only be filled at partial capacity, but it will quickly become apparent Wednesday how Rockets fans feel about their former face of the franchise.

The Houston Rockets are planning to retire James Harden's No. 13 jersey when he calls time on his NBA career.

"James Harden will always be a Rocket," team governor Tilman Fertitta said, per the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen. "Of course, we will retire his jersey. He made my first three years of owning this franchise unforgettable. The success he brought this franchise over eight years and the memories he created for our fanbase/community (are) truly remarkable."

The Rockets and Harden had a bitter divorce, which is almost always the case after a star player requests a trade. The nine-time All-Star seemed checked out, and the situation became unsalvageable when he publicly lamented in January how he thought the team was a lost cause within the context of being a title contender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c-4aYVaI28

That doesn't change the fact Harden is one of the greatest players in franchise history and perhaps second only behind Hakeem Olajuwon. He trails only Olajuwon in points (18,365) and win shares (115.2) and is the team's all-time leader in assists (4,796), per Basketball Reference.

Houston made a reasonably big bet on Harden at the time, hoping he could go from a super sixth man on the Oklahoma City Thunder to the No. 1 star on his own team. The decision paid off in spades as the Rockets reached the Western Conference Finals in 2015 and 2018.

Harden was unable to get Houston over the hump to win its third championship, but that's largely down to bad luck and even worse timing since the Rockets' best years overlapped with those of the Golden State Warriors' dynasty.

Hanging his jersey in the rafters would be an honor befitting his contributions. If it were to happen, he'd be the seventh Rockets player to have his number retired.

Houston Rockets star Victor Oladipo addressed his reported two-year, $45.2 million contract offer from the team, saying the Rockets viewed the offer as a gesture of good faith.

Following the team's 101-90 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, Oladipo said the Rockets didn't expect him to agree to the deal but that the effort was to show how they valued him:

Victor Oladipo on being offered a two-year extension by the Rockets awhile back that he didn’t accept: “They came at me with the offer. It was more so along the lines ‘we know you’re not going to accept it, but we still want you to understand we want you here.’ It was more so...” pic.twitter.com/AoIhnbi2i3

— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) March 2, 2021

Victor Oladipo confirmed the Rockets offered him an extension "awhile ago". Said the team offered it knowing he wouldn't accept. It was more of a "we want you" gesture. Rockets knew he would turn it down because the two-year, $45.2 million extension was the max they could offer. pic.twitter.com/7tsfu1LCpR

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) March 2, 2021

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski broke news of the deal Sunday and noted it was the most the team could put on the table before the conclusion of the regular season.

A max offer for the two-time All-Star can rise to four years and $113 million prior to free agency. Once he's on the market, he could sign a four-year, $151 million or five-year, $195 million pact with Houston.

Oladipo's performance with the Rockets and Indiana Pacers this season hasn't matched the level he reached when he looked like one of the league's most dynamic 2-guards. Through 23 games, he is averaging 19.4 points, 4.5 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game but is shooting 40.1 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Still, the 2021 free-agent class won't be very deep, especially in the event Kawhi Leonard signs an extension with the Los Angeles Clippers. Even if he doesn't land a max contract, Oladipo should get a better deal than a two-year commitment that averages $22.6 million.

While the Rockets may have indicated to the 28-year-old they'd like to keep him around, Houston could also trade him before the March 25 deadline.

On Feb. 6, ESPN's Tim Bontemps mentioned another move for Oladipo could loom on the horizon. And on the most recent installment of his Hoop Collective podcast, Brian Windhorst of ESPN referenced "chatter" that Oladipo could be back on the market (via HoopsHype).

Wojnarowski reported the Rockets were "yet to engage with teams on trade talks involving Oladipo." Perhaps that stance will change, as Houston has now lost 12 games in a row.

Victor Oladipo reportedly turned down the opportunity to remain with the Houston Rockets after this season.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the guard passed on a two-year, $45.2 million max contract extension.

Oladipo is in the last year of a four-year, $85 million deal that he signed with the Indiana Pacers, from whom he was dealt in the four-team deal that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets in January.

Oladipo is seeking a longer-term deal, which the Rockets can still offer him, per Wojnarowski. The league's collective bargaining agreement requires that the team wait until the offseason to do so.

Wojnarowski reported the Rockets will be able to offer him up to a four-year, $113 million extension before free agency begins, and once he hits the open market, that can grow to either $151 million over four years or $195 million over five.

The two-time All-Star has become one of the most important pieces on a Rockets team that is reeling from the losses of Harden and Russell Westbrook. The latter went to Washington in exchange for John Wall, who has also been a major key for the group.

Their presence has never been more important than it has been in the latest stretch, with the Rockets on a 10-game losing streak since center Christian Wood went down with an ankle injury.

As Oladipo is in the final year of his deal—and the Rockets aren't able to put it together as it is—he may also be a valuable trade chip for the team leading up to the March 25 deadline. Per Wojnarowski, the Rockets have "yet to engage with teams on trade talks" for the 28-year-old, who is averaging 18.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 13 games in Houston.

If the Rockets decide to keep him heading into April, there will be plenty of time for them to get it together—and for Oladipo to prove that he's worthy of a major deal in Houston or elsewhere.

A number of playoff contenders are showing interest in Houston Rockets forward P.J. Tucker leading up to the March 25 trade deadline. 

Per The Athletic's Kelly Iko, the Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets are among the teams that have "sniffed around" to see if the Rockets are willing to move Tucker. 

Tucker has been one of the most-talked about trade candidates because of the Rockets' recent struggles and his versatility on both sides of the ball. 

Houston has fallen to 14th in the Western Conference standings with an 11-19 record. The team has lost nine consecutive games dating back to Feb. 6. 

The Rockets have every reason to be sellers at the trade deadline. They have already moved James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets for a package that included three future first-round draft picks and four pick swaps. 

Tucker is in the final season of his current four-year contract and is earning $7.969 million in 2020-21. The 35-year-old's primary value comes on the defensive end, where his long limbs allow him to guard multiple positions. 

Even though his offense has been a disappointment with 4.4 points per game so far this season, Tucker has a 35.9 percent success rate from three-point range in his career. 

To say the Houston Rockets look different heading into the second half of the 2020-21 campaign than they did in the stretch run of the 2019-20 season would be quite the understatement.

They parted ways with general manager Daryl Morey and head coach Mike D'Antoni, traded Russell Westbrook to the Washington Wizards and then traded James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets in a multiteam blockbuster.

The result is a mix of high-profile veterans in Victor Oladipo, John Wall and Eric Gordon playing alongside a young star in the making in Christian Wood under a first-year head coach in Stephen Silas.

There were moments of inconsistency throughout the first half of the season as the group grew accustomed to each other, including a six-game winning streak and a handful of losing runs. Things have taken a turn for the worst in February with a 2-9 record to date, which can partially be explained by Wood's ankle injury.

Houston is sitting at 11-18 through the first half of the schedule, which is 14th in the daunting Western Conference.

Here is a look at what is ahead as the Rockets look to make a late run at their ninth straight playoff appearance.

           

2020-21 Rockets Schedule Details

Second-Half Opener: Rockets at Kings; March 11

Championship Odds (FanDuel Sportsbook): +25000 (bet $100 to win $25,000)

Second-Half Schedule: NBA.com

           

Top Matchups

Golden State Warriors (March 17)

It wasn't so long ago that this was an expected Western Conference Finals matchup, with Harden battling the likes of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant.

That is no longer the case, although the current iterations of these teams could be battling for seeding near the bottom of the Western Conference playoff picture. Curry is still leading the way with brilliant individual performances for eighth-place Golden State, but fellow Splash Brother Thompson is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles.

Thompson's injury has put more of the onus on a supporting cast that includes rookie James Wiseman, veteran Draymond Green and the pair of Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr.

It might not be a championship-level supporting cast, but it is good enough to reach the playoffs as long as Curry is draining threes as he always does.

This might be a team Houston has to eclipse if it is going to turn things around and make the playoffs, making the head-to-head matchups all the more important. These games will also pit the Rockets' talented backcourt against Curry and give fans the opportunity to see Wood and Wiseman go against each other on the blocks if they are both healthy.

Whether the Rockets can win this matchup could play a major role in their playoff fate.

             

New Orleans Pelicans (April 4)

Like the Warriors, the New Orleans Pelicans are a talented squad that figures to compete for a playoff spot in the West.

The pairing of Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram alone is enough to compete on most given nights and will present quite the challenge for Houston's frontcourt even if Wood is on the floor.

There is also plenty of star power on the floor whenever these two teams match up, with Williamson, Ingram, Wall, Wood and Oladipo in the lineups, which makes this Western Conference showdown appointment viewing for the fans.

Throw in how important the head-to-head matchups could be for playoff seeding with the play-in tournament carrot dangling, and there will be plenty at stake for the Rockets in this one.

Houston doesn't have enough talent to realistically contend with the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers, L.A. Clippers and other top contenders throughout the season, but it does have enough to win these contests against fellow second-tier playoff contenders. 

If it does, the postseason could be waiting.

             

Season Forecast

There is plenty to like about this Rockets team, but the reality is the ceiling is lower than it has been in recent years.

Houston was often the biggest obstacle for the Warriors during the latter's recent dynasty and gave them plenty of trouble with Harden and Chris Paul in the backcourt together. That team had a championship window that this one doesn't as currently constructed, but there is enough talent to challenge for the postseason.

Wall and Oladipo have carried teams to the playoffs before, and Wood is a versatile big man who can create mismatches with opposing frontcourts.

The Rockets could also benefit from the expanded playoff opportunities with the play-in tournament featuring the Nos. 7-10 seeds in place this season. With many of the Western Conference's teams essentially locks to make the postseason field, Houston and other fringe contenders will need those additional spots.

Look for this group to challenge for the play-in opportunity with enough wins down the stretch once Wood is fully healthy.

There are enough go-to options to survive cold stretches from various players, and Wood should only improve as the season progresses. Still, the February struggles will prove too much to overcome.

Final Record Prediction: 29-43 (No. 12 in Western Conference)

           

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DeMarcus Cousins referred to rumors his departure from the Houston Rockets was related to his unhappiness with his spot on the depth chart as a "got damn lie."

Boogie says the report about him being unhappy about being the backup center to Christian wood from Tim MacMahon is a “got damn lie” pic.twitter.com/r7nGzIjNuW

— Adam Abramson (@Adam_Abramson1) February 23, 2021

ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported Cousins was "not happy with his role as a backup center" behind Christian Wood and sought to leave Houston to find more playing time elsewhere.

The Rockets waived the four-time All-Star on Tuesday.

Cousins signed a one-year contract with Houston in late November. The front office also completed a sign-and-trade deal with the Detroit Pistons to acquire Wood around the same time, and veteran power forward P.J. Tucker remained on the roster heading into the 2020-21 season.

So the former Sacramento Kings' standout shouldn't have been too surprised to open the campaign in a reserve role.

The 30-year-old Alabama native averaged 9.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists across 25 appearances for the Rockets. He made 11 starts with Wood dealing with an ankle injury on two separate occasions.

Regardless of the reason for Cousins' release, he's now heading toward free agency with a chance to pick a contender to join for the season's second half.

Sean Deveney of Heavy reported the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers are among the teams expected to show interest.

It's unclear whether Cousins can rediscover anything near his All-Star form—he's just three years removed from averaging 25.2 points and 12.9 rebounds with the New Orleans Pelicans—after two major injuries, a torn Achilles and a torn ACL, in recent years.

However, the two-time All-NBA second-team selection showed enough during his short stint with the Rockets to prove he can be a useful role player, and potential insurance against a key frontcourt injury, during the remainder of the season.

Meanwhile, his exit from Houston should create some additional playing time for Justin Patton, a 2017 first-round pick looking to establish himself in the NBA for the first time.

The Houston Rockets reportedly released center DeMarcus Cousins on Tuesday, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, and Rockets point guard John Wall told reporters it was difficult to be separated from his former Kentucky Wildcats teammate after their reunion on the team.

"It's tough. Someone I call my brother," he said. "The decision that was made, that's out of my hands. I think he did a hell of a job coming back from an injury, hopefully he'll get another job soon."

Cousins, 30, has played fairly well for Houston this season, averaging 9.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 20.2 minutes per game. He's made 11 starts for Houston in 25 overall appearances.

But according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, "Sources said Cousins was not happy with his role as a backup center behind Christian Wood, wanting more playing time. Rockets coach Stephen Silas did not consider playing Wood and Cousins together, as he wants to use Wood solely as a center."

The Rockets signed Wood to a three-year, $41 million contract in the offseason and he's responded by averaging 22 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 assists in 17 games this season. At just 25, he's clearly the center of both the present and the future for Houston. 

"I do think it's a positive thing that it's resolved. Not just for the group but for [Cousins]," Silas told reporters. "We really want what's best for him in this situation as well. For him to have some clarity is very important."

Cousins would be a good addition for a veteran playoff contender looking to add some scoring and rebounding from the center position. While he's not a great defensive anchor, center-needy teams will likely be interested in Cousins. 

If Cousins is adamant that he wants to be a starter, however, his market may thin. His lack of rim protection makes him a tougher sell as a starting center, as opposed to a jolt of offense and rebounding off the bench in a more limited role. 

Regardless, his time in Houston with his old pal Wall has come to a close.