Missiles are more likely to be moved before the NBA transaction deadline

Now that we’ve passed December 15 on the NBA calendar, the trading season has officially begun. The date is relevant as most of the contracts signed this summer are now tradable. In general, normal offices try to avoid making transactions before this date. This is because they are limited in the number of contracts they can transfer and receive. Give Houston RocketsThis is one of the most important times of the year.

This is because rebuilding teams are constantly trying to get assets, and there is little better time to do so than the deal deadline. The Rockets have won eight of their last 10 games, but it’s still hard to picture them as anything but a deadline-seller. Maybe they don’t trade all of their key contributors, but at least a few will leave.

Try and find out who those people could be.

Rockets NBA Trade Deadline Movers

1. Eric Gordon (2 years left, $37.8 million)

Eric Gordon is perhaps Houston’s second-best player of the whole season. In the context of a good team, he is one of the best players in basketball. For some reason, a bad season has led the league to label him a bad signing this summer. Gordon didn’t benefit from the doubt as he was ravaged by injury and thrown into the curve of a complete rebuild of the franchise.

He’s as helpful as Houston’s excuses are, he’s simply not young enough to fit into their timeline for long. The Rockets also have the opportunity to sell him for a career high commercial value. He’s healthy, averaging 16.6 points with 61.7% real shots and a year and a half of money left in his guarantee.

2. DJ Augustin (2 years left, $14.3 million)

DJ Augustin’s appearance on this list is a bit of a surprise if you’ve seen his early season production. It looks like Augustin was on his last legs as a player before extending this past 10 games. Since then, he has been a very efficient player at the attacking end of the field, scoring 46.4% from a three-point range with 2.4 tries per game). Augustin has enough juice to be a solid fourth guard on a playoff team and can provide distance between the decks if he’s not required to be a ball handler.

3. Christian Wood (2 years left, $28 million)

When Daryl Morey was still together Rockets’ manager about a decade ago, the Rockets had this 25-year-old All-Star talent dubbed the Kyle Lowry. Lowry was a fan favorite when Houston was in the midst of their rebuilding and he was suddenly traded for a protected first-round pick and Gary Forbes in the summer of 2012. It was cold-blooded. , but it’s a step in the right direction as Houston is building a treasure chest. They then changed this war chest to James Harden that same summer.

As Rockets fans have grown fond of Wood, his age, future contract negotiations and rookie Alperen Sengun’s promotion require Houston to trade him while his value. he’s tall. The wood is hardy, highly manufactured and can last for many years, which makes the wood valuable. There might be a 50-50 chance Houston transfers Wood on the deadline, but it’s the right move when you consider all the factors. However, we will see what Houston can do.

4. Danuel House (1 year left, 3.9 million USD)

Because he’s currently in a walking boot, Danuel House is probably the least likely player in this group to move. House will need to actively rehabilitate his value over the next two months for teams to really look in his direction. For what it’s worth, teams are always looking for wings on deadlines and House’s contracts are ‘cheap’. The catch here is that he can get it for the relative price of a second pick.

It will also allow Houston to open up a spot on the roster they really need so they can finally sign a standard, multi-year contract with Garrison Mathews.

All logic suggests Houston was an aggressive team at the end. The only real question here is how aggressive they will actually be. Will all four of these players be moved or just one? I guess we’ll find out soon.