Report: Rockets Interested In Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker, Zion Williamson

According to NBA insiders Sam Amick and Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Houston Rockets are interested in Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker and Zion Williamson.

However, Mitchell, Booker and Williamson are not available. 

“So, who are the Rockets interested in as franchise centerpiece material? League sources say that Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell (who is 27 and widely expected to sign an extension with the Cavs soon), the Suns’ Devin Booker (also 27) and New Orleans’ Zion Williamson (23) would all fit the bill,” Amick and Slater wrote. “The only problem, of course, is that none of them are expected to be available anytime soon.”

Mitchell is expected to sign an extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers soon, while Booker and Williamson are the franchise players on the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans, respectively. 

The Rockets wanted to acquire Kevin Durant from the Suns, but Phoenix is not trading Durant, Booker or Bradley Beal despite getting swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. 

Houston went 41-41 in 2023-24 under first-year head coach Ime Udoka. The franchise hasn’t made the playoffs since 2020.

A league source told Hoops Wire that the Rockets are interested in acquiring Paul George from the Los Angeles Clippers. However, George has indicated to teams that he’s not looking to leave the West Coast. 

Houston hasn’t had a superstar since James Harden, who requested a trade in 2020-21 and was sent to the Brooklyn Nets. Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard also played for the Rockets during the Harden era. 

According to multiple NBA reports, the Rockets want to acquire Marcus Smart from the Memphis Grizzlies. Udoka coached Smart on the Boston Celtics. 

However, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Grizzlies are not interested in trading Smart. 

“The Grizzlies, sources said, have no interest in parting with Marcus Smart,” Fischer reported. “Memphis has received strong interest from rival teams about Luke Kennard, sources said, in advance of the Grizzlies’ decision on his $14.7 million team option for 2024-25.”