The Houston Rockets finally found a trade partner for disgraced guard Kevin Porter Jr. and are now looking to upgrade their backcourt depth. Houston sent Porter, who has been charged with domestic violence, and two future second-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Victor Oladipo and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl on Tuesday.
NBA Rumors: Rockets Looking to Upgrade Backcourt Depth, Eyeing 3 Players
The Rockets waived rookie Matthew Mayer to make room for Oladipo and Robinson-Earl. Mayer, who was on an Exhibit 10 contract, played exceptionally well for the Rockets summer league squad. But the 24-year-old wing only saw four minutes of action in one preseason game. Mayer will likely end up with the G-League Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
By adding Oladipo and Robinson-Earl, Houston created a little number game problem. The Rockets have 16 players on standard contracts, one more than the league max. Aaron Holiday and Boban Marjonovic are on partially guaranteed deals.
The Rockets also have a logjam in the frontcourt with seven players and a couple of players. Dillon Brooks and Jae’Sean Tate can also play power forward.
Simultaneously to their frontcourt logjam, they still have a little depth issue in the backcourt. Given that Oladipo will not be ready to start the season after tearing the patellar tendon in his left knee during the 2023 playoffs. However, he is expected to return later in the year.
Including Oladipo, Houston has just five guards on their roster, though several of their small forwards can also play the two. But if the Rockets are really intent on making a push for the playoffs, they need to add a veteran to their backcourt. It appears that is their intention.
Houston Interested in Alec Burks and Talon Horton-Tucker
According to Yahoo Sports Jake Fischer, Houston may look to move Oladipo along with future second-round draft picks to upgrade their roster. Oladipo is not expected much this season, if at all, as he recovers from as he continues to recover from a torn patellar tendon in his left knee.
Fischer said that Houston has contacted the Detroit Pistons about Alec Burks and the Utah Jazz about Talen Horton-Tucker. Oladipo will make $9.5 million this season, which is the final year of his current contract.
Burks is on a $10.4 million expiring contract. Burks is a scorer who has improved his ball-handling throughout his career. He is an above-average 3-point shooter and has made over 40% of his attempts in three straight seasons. However, Burks could be the “odd man out” in terms of the Pistons’ rotation due to a crowded backcourt. Burks has not played particularly well during the preseason, though he has shot it okay.
While I wonder if the Pistons would be excited about acquiring Oladipo, they may be willing to work out a trade to stockpile a few draft picks. If they don’t have plans for Burks to have a major role this season. Upon trading for him, Detroit could release Oladipo. Or the Pistons may wait for him to get healthy and trade him for more assets as the trade deadline gets closer.
The Jazz parting with Horton-Tucker makes absolutely no sense for Oladipo and draft picks at this point. Horton-Tucker turns just 23 in November and was one of the Jazz’s top guards following last year’s trade dealine. Plus, he projects to start for Utah at shooting guard and has played pretty well during the preseason. Horton-Tucker is in the final year of his contract, making $11.02 million.
Fischer added that the Rockets also have some interest in Malcolm Brogdon. But Houston and Portland have not had any discussions regarding a trade. Additionally, Rose Garden Report’s Sean Highkin previously tweeted that Blazers’ general manager Joe Cronin told him the team plans on hanging onto Brogdon.
Joe Cronin on Malcolm Brogdon's future: "We want to have Malcolm come here and be a part of this. He can bring some good on-court intangibles for us and also as a veteran, which is something we're going to need. We have a very young roster. I want to make sure there's enough…
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) October 2, 2023
Other Landing Spots
There could be other teams interested in Oladipo. Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey believes there could be other suitors for Oladipo. Bailey touted the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, and Cleveland Cavaliers as potential landing spots for the 31-year-old combo guard.
Miami and Oladipo are very familiar with each other. Oladipo played portions of the past three seasons with the Heat. However, he was limited due to injuries before being dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a salary dump.
The Heat kind of makes sense if Oladipo was healthy and released by the Rockets, meaning he could join Miami on a minimum contract. The Heat could use someone who can score and play both guard spots. But Oladipo is not healthy, and it is unlikely he will get released at this point.
The Athletic reported on October 17 that a NBA source with knowledge of Houston’s plans that the Rockets intend to keep Oladipo under contract until February’s deadline if they can’t trade him before then.
Chicago and Cleveland would also make sense if Oladipo were healthy. Both teams could use a guard who would be a threat coming off the bench.
