The Houston Rockets may look at the trade market to add support with Patrick Beverley for Dwight Howard and James Harden, as names like Goran Dragic, Jose Calderon, Deron Williams, Tyler Ennis, Michael Carter-Williams and Pablo Prigioni could be targets at the trading deadline coming up in just over a week and this comes as Howard will be out for a month with an injury.
The Rockets have been one of the best teams in the NBA this season, but they are dealing with some injuries and now Dwight Howard will be out for a month. The Rockets haven't had Howard since the middle of January and now he will be out while dealing with a knee issue. The Rockets are second in the southwest division behind the Grizzlies by three games, but they do not want to slip down too far in the tough western conference standings.
According to ESPN.com, Howard could miss up to four weeks with the injury and that puts more pressure on James Harden in the offense. According to the Sporting News, Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson has been getting some trade attention on the market and the Houston Rockets could potentially be a destination for him. The Rockets have been looking at making moves this season and while they missed out on Rajon Rondo, they did sign Josh Smith after he was let go by the Pistons.
The Rockets may need some help up front with Howard out and while that is a short-term solution, it could be worth it for the team to add another big man. The report from Sean Deceney says that a number of teams have checked in on Gibson and there is a good chance that the Bulls could move him at the deadline. Some of the teams include the Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers and those teams could pick up on talks closer to the deadline.
The Bulls have been one of the best teams in the NBA this season and with Nikola Mirotic and Pau Gasol on the roster, Gibson could be expendable. The biggest issue is that Gibson has two years and $17.4 million on his deal and that likely makes it much tougher to move him, but not impossible. There are a number of teams looking to add at the deadline and with the Bulls dealing with injuries to Doug McDermott and Mike Dunleavy, they could look for some wing help by dealing from a position of strength.
Gibson is averaging 11 points and seven rebounds per game this season and that is about in line with what he did last year. Gibson gives the team depth up front and if something happens to Gasol, he can easily step in. The Bulls know that, but at the same time they may try and get another offensive piece for Gibson if they move him. The Rockets have Howard out for a month and he comes in with 16 points per game and 11 rebounds and if they start to slip a bit in the standings, trades could be on the horizon.
