The Houston Rockets are quietly putting together a competitive roster, but as we inch closer to the Feb. 5 trade deadline, one area still stands out as a clear need: guard depth.
Even with Reed Sheppard showing real signs of growth in his second season-an encouraging leap after a rocky rookie campaign-Houston could use another backcourt presence to solidify their rotation. And one name that’s starting to make the rounds? Malik Monk.
Now, Monk isn’t a perfect fit on paper. He’s more of a microwave scorer than a traditional playmaker, but that might be exactly what the Rockets need off the bench. Houston’s offense could benefit from a spark plug who can create his own shot and stretch the floor, especially in those second-unit minutes where the offense sometimes stagnates.
Monk, currently in his fourth season with the Kings and ninth overall in the league, is reportedly on the trade block. Sacramento seems open to moving him, and that could open the door for a team like Houston to make a low-risk, high-reward move. Given the Rockets’ limited cap flexibility, Monk represents a realistic target-one that wouldn’t require a blockbuster deal to acquire.
In fact, the trade math might already be lining up. Monk saw just four minutes of action in a recent overtime win against Houston-a season-low that signals he’s fallen out of Sacramento’s rotation.
That kind of usage drop, especially this close to the deadline, usually means a move is on the horizon. If the Kings are actively shopping him, the asking price may not be steep.
A package involving Dorian Finney-Smith or Clint Capela, both of whom joined Houston this past offseason, plus some draft capital, could be enough to get a deal done.
Statistically, Monk’s numbers have dipped this year, but there’s still reason to believe in his value. He’s shooting a strong 41.4% from beyond the arc-efficient and reliable from deep, even in limited minutes.
And let’s not forget what he did last season: 17.2 points and 5.6 assists per game over 65 appearances, with a 54.9% true shooting mark. That kind of production doesn’t just disappear.
It’s still in there, especially in the right system.
If Monk can bring that scoring punch and provide even a little bit of secondary playmaking, he’d give Houston a much-needed jolt off the bench. For a team looking to make noise now-not later-it’s the kind of calculated swing that could pay off in a big way.
Bottom line: the Rockets don’t need to chase a superstar at the deadline. They just need the right piece to round out a growing core. And Malik Monk, with his scoring instincts and manageable trade cost, might just be that piece.