The Houston Rockets may look at some trade deals at the trading deadline this season, as names like Goran Dragic, Jeremy Lin, Jose Calderon, Taj Gibson, Brook Lopez, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson could be potential targets, as the team is dealing with an injury to Dwight Howard and could look at upgrading over Patrick Beverley for star James Harden.
Dragic has been considered a target for the Rockets and they are looking to try and sign him in free agency if he is not acquired in a trade. According to Marc Stein at ESPN.com, the Rockets are among a number of teams looking at Dragic, including the Celtics, Kings and Lakers. USA Today first reported that Dragic told the Suns that he is not signing an extension for the team and that kicked the trade talk into high gear.
Dragic and his reps gave the team a list with destinations he would like to go, with the Los Angeles Lakers, NY Knicks and Miami Heat mentioned as options. The Suns currently are looking at deals outside that group according to Stein, with the Celtics, Kings and Rockets potential options. The Rockets previously had Dragic and will be interested in signing him back. When Dragic was in Houston for a game this season he was asked about that and said he would not rule out considering the Rockets even though they hard balled him last time he was a free agent.
Pro Basketball Talk reported later in the season that the Rockets were also interested in Jeremy Lin, who the team traded to the Lakers this offseason. The team is not interested in getting Lin now, but they want to try and sign him back after his contract expires. The Rockets originally signed Lin to a three year deal with a poison pill in the contract just to get him over the Knicks and that same contract is the reason why they can't afford him until he becomes a free agent again.
The Rockets have been one of the most consistent teams in the league this season, but they are dealing with injuries and Dwight Howard could be out for another month. Names like Taj Gibson, Brook Lopez and Miles Plumlee are potential options to help out and the Rockets could look at pulling off a deal. The team also has checked in on Deron Williams, as the Nets have been shopping him along with Lopez and Joe Johnson. Recent reports have the Nets talking to the Pistons about a deal for Johnson and that would include a package built around Brandon Jennings.
Howard is expected to be out for at least six weeks and that means he will be done for another month and that could be big for the Rockets and their playoffs hopes. The west is tough and the team could slip down in the standings without Howard in the lineup. The Rockets are currently second in the southwest, but they only have a one game lead over the Mavericks in the standings' and San Antonio is just two games back, making this next stretch an important one.
