The Houston Rockets may target a Rajon Rondo trade with the Boston Celtics or a Goran Dragic deal with the Phoenix Suns this season, as the team still is hoping to make a splash after missing out on Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh in free agency and those two point guards are names that have come up in trade rumors, including with the Indiana Pacers and also the Sacramento Kings.
The Rockets traded Jeremy Lin away to the Los Angeles Lakers and Daryl Morey has spoken this summer about making a big move and this comes after the team missed out on Melo and Chris Bosh. According to ESPN.com reporter Marc Stein, the team looked at possibly getting back into the Kevin Love trade talks, but obviously any idea of that is over since the Cavaliers have that, meaning GM Daryl Morey has had to look at other options. Morey has long coveted Rondo and the team is desperately looking for an upgrade in the backcourt.
The Rockets feel comfortable with Patrick Beverley running point, as they made him the starter at the beginning of last season, but Morey would much rather have someone like Rondo in the mix. The Rockets signed Trevor Ariza this offseason and while he is not as big of a name as Melo or Bosh, he should give the team a strong defensive presence and a nice boost up front. Ariza signed a four year deal worth over $30 million and while he is not the offensive player that Chandler Parsons was, he can be an impact player for the Rockets.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Suns may look at trading Dragic at some point this season and the Rockets could be interested if the Celtics deal with Rondo doesn't happen. The Suns now have Isaiah Thomas after signing him as a restricted free agent and they also drafted Tyler Ennis this year and the team also is likely signing back Eric Bledsoe. The team has enough to afford trading Dragic and reports have the Pacers as a team that also could be interested in making the move.
The Rockets also added European forward Kostas Papanikolaou this offseason and he also can help with the loss of Parsons. Last season Morey did not want to trade Parsons in a deal to the Celtics that may have netted him Rajon Rondo and now that he is gone to the Dallas Mavericks, he likely wishes he could go back and change that choice. Rondo is coming off of a solid season after being injured, as he nearly averaged a double-double after coming back from his injury in 30 games this past season. Rondo is nearing free agency and that means the Celtics have a big decision to make about his future.
The Rockets come back after having one of the best offenses in the league and they were ranked second in the NBA in points per game. Losing Parsons will be an issue this season, but James Harden and Dwight Howard feel that the team should be strong and this comes after they were in the top half of the west in the playoffs after winning 54 games.