The Houston Rockets are off to a 3-0 start, and that hot opening has them looking like the kind of team that can chase bigger things than a strong regular season. After last year ended with a first-round playoff exit against the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston appears intent on making sure this season does not end the same way.
That’s the backdrop for a blockbuster idea that’s already out there: a Fred VanVleet-for-Kyrie Irving swap. CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn floated the concept as one way the Rockets could add another major piece if they decide their current window is real.
“The Houston Rockets are 3-0, sitting atop the Western Conference standings, and looking like one of the most complete teams in basketball. This is exactly what Houston envisioned before Fred VanVleet went down with an injury last season. The Rockets had put together a roster they believed could compete for a championship, but injuries forced players into different roles and prevented the team from reaching its full potential,” SI’s Amir Motameni wrote.
Quinn pointed to VanVleet’s value in any larger deal while discussing why Dallas would be the obvious place to look in an Irving swap.
“Dallas in some sort of Irving swap is the obvious choice here, but VanVleet is about as flexible as point guards get. He can defend bigger players and doesn't need to hoard usage thanks to his 3-point shooting. Any team would be happy to have him as part of a bigger deal,” Quinn wrote.
Irving’s future still isn’t settled, and NBA insider Marc Spears said the Mavericks could help make a deal happen if Irving wants out.
“Masai also has a really good relationship as you mentioned with Kyrie Irving. I think it's the kind of relationship where if Kyrie says, hey, Masai, like, this isn't for me, I think they could work together to get something done.
I don't think would be something ugly. I think there would be interest in Kyrie if he's as healthy as he looks," Spears said.
If Houston does get a crack at Irving, the logic is easy to see. He and Kevin Durant nearly won a title together with the Brooklyn Nets, and a reunion would give the Rockets another path toward real championship contention.
In Other News...
Rockets Suddenly Have A Center Problem They Can't Ignore
Houstons frontcourt picture took a hit after the win over Atlanta, with Ime Udoka saying Marcus is day-to-day and Steven Adams sidelined for a bit longer than the Rockets would like. For a team that built out its roster with a clear eye on size and physicality, losing a veteran center who helps anchor that approach changes the feel of the rotation almost immediately, especially this early in the season.
Adams has already had his availability questioned because of his injury history, and the Rockets are now left to sort through a stretch that tests their depth more than they probably expected. The timetable points to a return sometime between the Celtics game on Nov. 2 and the Nuggets game on Nov. 9, but for Houston the bigger issue is how long it can keep its interior plan intact before the holes start to show. [Read more 🡒]
Rockets Undefeated Start Has Put Kevin Durant's Workload In Focus
Houstons unbeaten start has given the early season a different kind of feel, one built around balance as much as star power. Kevin Durant has fit right in alongside Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, and the Rockets 4-0 record has only sharpened the conversation around how the team wants to handle the veteran forward over the long haul.
Ime Udoka has made clear he would like to keep Durant fresh for the stretch that matters most, even though there has been no sign yet that Durant needs any kind of load management. Any changes to his workload would likely come later, once the season settles in and Houston starts sorting out how best to preserve his impact without disturbing the rhythm that has carried the team through its opening run. [Read more 🡒]