The Houston Rockets have a rising star who could force their front office to make some difficult decisions.
The Houston Rockets are a burgeoning young side that is developing quite well. Coming out of the James Harden era, the franchise had to rebuild its squad.
And after years of drafting well and a myriad of free agent signings, the Rockets put together a physical and gritty team that finished second in the Western Conference with 50+ wins in a season.
Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson form their exciting young core. While Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Steven Adams, and Jeff Green lead the pack as veterans.
But it appears the Rockets have another emerging star. And he could force the franchise to trade away one of their big-name assets.
Jeff Teague spoke on his Club 520 show about the Houston Rockets. He praised young star Tari Eason, claiming that he had star-level potential.
But with another rising star in Jabari Smith, the Rockets will have to make a decision and trade at least one of them soon.
“Tari Eason, he got the potential to be like an All-Star kind of player, not a star, but he can make the All-Star team, you know, like that Andre Iguodala type of person.”
“He’s quality, he can play multiple positions. He can guard multiple positions. He got the ability to be like, All-Star kind of player… Jabari Smith got that potential. And Tari? You gotta trade somebody.”
“When you got all them potential players that could be, obviously, somebody’s gonna rise to the occasion, but… A lot of potential over there.”
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When talking about potential trade targets for the Rockets, Teague immediately named Kevin Durant. However, he did mention that a surprising Western Conference Finals run could derail those plans.
“Looking like Houston is probably going to get Kevin Durant. If they don’t win that series, they’re getting Kevin Durant. If they go to the second round and make it interesting, they’re getting Kevin Durant. If they make it to the Conference Finals, they’re probably gonna stay put.”
Teague is far from the only one to suggest this. Even DeMarcus Cousins has pitched the Rockets going for Kevin Durant.
If they do make that move, perhaps one of either Smith or Eason will have to be part of the package they send to the Phoenix Suns.
