Rockets receive great news as former Sixth Man of the Year is made available via trade

The Houston Rockets' holiday wish list may well include some help in their backcourt, where the rising Western Conference contender has been playing shorthanded all season.

After starting point guard Fred VanVleet suffered a season-ending knee injury in the offseason, the Rockets have had to get by without a true floor general on the roster.

Houston has one of the NBA's most talented rosters, with Kevin Durant joining Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith and Amen Thompson last offseason. It's a big reason why Houston is 17-9 and playing at a 54-win pace.

But the Rockets have struggled in close games, and they have tumbled to sixth in the West despite their solid win-loss record.

MORE: Rockets urged to trade for franchise legend to help Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun

With news Tuesday from Chris Haynes that the Sacramento Kings are making guard Malik Monk available in trade talks, the Rockets' ideal backcourt option may just have fallen into their laps, six weeks before the NBA's trade deadline.

Sources: Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk, one of the most dynamic Sixth Men in the league, has been made available in advance of Feb. 5 trade deadline. pic.twitter.com/O8MblILHq6

Monk has fallen out of the Kings' rotation recently, and Sacramento is leaning toward a tear-down amid their disappointing 7-22 record this season.

Monk has two seasons and roughly $39 million left on his contract. The 27-year-old is averaging 12.5 points and 2.4 assists per game this season, but he averaged career bests in points (17.2) and assists (5.6) last season. He has demonstrated that he is a crafty playmaker and a skilled scorer who could add another layer to the Houston backcourt -- if the Rockets create the flexibility to pursue him.

More NBA news:

• Social media reacts to Kevin Durant’s major NBA top-10 honor

• How long is Luka Doncic out? Latest leg injury updates, recovery timeline for Lakers star

• Is Victor Wembanyama starting tonight? What to know about Spurs star's injury return plan

• We now know how LeBron James actually feels about his historic 10-point streak ending

• New Stephen Curry video has Warriors fans convinced he has the worst whistle in the NBA