One NBA analyst proposed that the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers make a trade with each other this offseason.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Rockets and Blazers:
The trade: The Houston Rockets trade Dillon Brooks, Tari Eason and the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and the No. 14 pick
Grant appeared in 54 games for the Blazers this season. He averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting 45.1% from the field, 40.2% from beyond the arc and 81.7% from the free-throw line. The swingman will make $29.8 million next season.
“Grant can handle a sizable offensive role, but he’s best as a support piece who can complement stars and empty the tank on defense,” Buckley wrote. “He should have that setup in Space City, where Alperen Şengün, Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green could all end up topping Grant on the offensive hierarchy, freeing him up to pick his spots and hopefully boost his efficiency in the process.”
The Rockets and Blazers missed the playoffs this year.
Houston is open to trading the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft for a star.
“Word got around quickly that Houston could try flipping the No. 3 pick for established talent, but finding the right match could be tricky,” Buckley wrote. “The Rockets don’t need a point guard or a center, but they do need more three-point volume than someone like Brandon Ingram provides. They also might not be quite ready to cough up the number of assets needed to snag a star like Donovan Mitchell.
“But what about trading down to upgrade their current talent level and still retain a lottery pick? That possibility should have this front office’s attention, as consolidating some assets may be required sooner than later given how many up-and-comers Houston will eventually have to pay.”
In his first season with the Rockets, Brooks averaged 12.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.1 blocks while shooting 42.8% overall, 35.9% from 3 and 84.4% from the foul line. He’ll make $22.3 million in 2024-25.
Grant has career averages of 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.0 blocks with the Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and Blazers.
Meanwhile, Brooks has career averages of 14.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Memphis Grizzlies and Rockets.
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