Rockets predicted to trade for $112M defensive menace, reliable shooter to pair with Kevin Durant

The Houston Rockets disappointed themselves and their fans last season after getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers. This season, the Rockets have come in with a goal in mind: to be the best team possible.

Houston has started the season 5-0, exceeding expectations. In fact, the Rockets have done this while Kevin Durant is still trying to get going.

“The Houston Rockets are 5-0, and the vibes are about as high as they’ve ever been during Kevin Durant’s time with the franchise. The Rockets have outscored their opponents by 71 points through the first five games of the season, and during their dominant start, Durant has been Houston’s No. 1 hype man on the bench, Fred VanVleet had his best game in two years,” The Athletic’s William Guillory wrote.

The biggest thing the Rockets needed heading into the offseason was shooting.

“The Houston Rockets have a glaring weakness that separates them from the top tier teams in the NBA. Most of the top teams have at least a few elite shooters who can knock down three-point shots at a high rate. These players help space the floor for their stars to give more space for the best players to play their ideal games,” SI’s Trenton Whiting wrote.

VanVleet’s health has helped Houston significantly with its shooting, but the team could still make another move. Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale believes the Rockets should trade for Trey Murphy III.

“Trey Murphy III should be on the Rockets' radar even if Fred VanVleet looks great post-ACL injury and Reed Sheppard goes kaboom in Year 3. The 26-year-old soups up half-court spacing without dominating the ball and has enough size to slot into the 2, 3 or 4,” Favale wrote.

This would be a good trade for the Rockets, as Murphy has established himself as a reliable shooter from beyond the arc. He would give Houston another shooting option, particularly when VanVleet and Durant are off the floor.

Murphy is currently on a $112 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. He is also a strong defender, which would make him a good fit on an already elite defensive team. An aggressive move like this could help the Rockets establish themselves as championship favorites.