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What’s next for the Houston Rockets after flaming out in the first round of the postseason in May?
Well, the consensus is that the franchise will keep its core intact while potentially trading for a perimeter-oriented asset that would help take them over the top. Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz’s recent trade proposal would help Houston do exactly that, as it would send a 33-year-old ex-Los Angeles Lakers disgruntled forward (Dorian Finney-Smith) to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a 29-year-old star guard.
“If the Cavs don't want to move (Donovan) Mitchell to an Eastern Conference team, the Rockets would be a strong trade partner,” Swartz wrote Tuesday. “Poor guard play doomed Houston this season, a franchise that's perhaps just one piece away from contending for a title.”
“A starting five of Fred VanVleet, Mitchell, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Alperen Şengün, with Tari Eason (restricted free agent), Steven Adams, and others, is the making of a core that could challenge even the best in the West. (Jabari) Smith, 23, has star potential and could thrive in a bigger role. A frontcourt of him and Evan Mobley is big, long, and athletic, although it could use some added muscle. Smith's five-year, $122 million extension is set to kick in, potentially making him a steal if he's in the right role.”
“(Reed) Sheppard, along with Smith and Mobley, was a No. 3 overall pick and took a big step forward in Year 2. In 21 starts, Sheppard averaged 15.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks while shooting 38.5 percent from three. Finney-Smith gives the Cavs the big, defensive wing they've coveted, and a first-round pick coming from Phoenix (Suns) in 2027 could be quite valuable.”
Even with VanVleet back in the fold for the 2026-27, it isn’t preposterous to suggest the Rockets need another playmaking guard who can thrive in improvisational situations and play on and off the ball.
Mitchell does both at an exceptionally high level, which explains why the Cavaliers returned to the Eastern Conference Finals this season. The Louisville product averaged 27.9 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game, shooting 48.3% from the field and 36.4% from long range.
The addition of Mitchell would make a Western Conference Finals appearance more realistic for the Rockets next year. Still, it’ll take serious convincing to get Cleveland to move on from the former lottery pick.
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