After a rough 11-14 start to the season, the Rockets are looking more like themselves, winning nine of their last 10 games to jump out of the Western Conference basement. Houston is currently fourth in the West standings, only 3.5 games behind the first-place Nuggets.
James Harden has been nothing short of spectacular in that 10-game stretch, averaging 40.8 points, 8.9 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 steals while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from the 3-point line. However, Harden is also second in the NBA in minutes per game (36.9), and with Chris Paul out for extended time, the constant burden on Harden could wear him down. (We've watched him seemingly tire out late in the playoffs before.)
TRADE RUMORS: 12 players to watch ahead of deadline
The core four of Harden, Eric Gordon, P.J. Tucker and Clint Capela are regularly logging 30-plus minutes each night. It's clear Mike D'Antoni's squad could use some depth. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has never been shy about making moves, so don't be surprised if Houston is active ahead of the Feb. 7 trade deadline.
But who will the Rockets pursue? They are in need of wings around Harden — Trevor Ariza would be helpful, but alas, he's stuck on the Wizards — and these guys might be available as trade season heats up.
Kent Bazemore, Hawks
Bazemore will be out for at least two weeks with an ankle injury, but that shouldn't make him any less appealing. Bazemore is averaging a career-high 14.0 points per game, and though his 3-point shooting is down this season (32.7 percent), he has typically been solid from the outside (35.6 percent for his career, 39.4 percent in 2017-18).
The Rockets have been connected to the 29-year-old small forward dating to July, and with the Hawks rebuilding, he would better fit Houston's timeline. This could come down to cost, as Bazemore has reportedly been "generating interest" from multiple contenders.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Lakers
"KCP" could be an ideal 3-and-D player for Houston. He is a tenacious defender capable of switching along the perimeter, and he has hit 37.9 percent of his 3-pointers over the last two seasons in Los Angeles.
Caldwell-Pope can veto any trade based on the structure of his contract, though he would likely consider Houston a desirable destination. There will be other suitors to battle, especially teams with roster imbalances, but Caldwell-Pope is emerging as the Rockets' top target.
Justin Holiday, Bulls
Oh, poor Bulls fans. This organization is a factory of sadness right now.
The Bulls have already made Jabari Parker and Robin Lopez available, so Holiday could easily follow them out of Chicago. Holiday is averaging 11.6 points per game and shooting 35.9 percent from 3-point range as a consistent starter. He possesses the tools to be a valuable part of a winning group, but he has mostly produced on bad teams. Still, this could be a cheaper option for the Rockets.
J.R. Smith, Cavaliers
Remember ol' J.R.? He's just working out on his own away from the Cavs, hoping someone will trade for him. Why not Houston? The Rockets expressed "exploratory interest" in the shooting guard earlier this month, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times, so he is at least on the team's radar.
There are questions about what the 33-year-old has left in the tank — his scoring and defense have fallen off since the Cavs' 2016 championship run — but perhaps a change of scenery could wake him up. If nothing else, he's well-rested.
Terrence Ross and Jonathon Simmons, Magic
Orlando is in a tough position with the trade deadline fast approaching. The Magic are only a half game behind the Pistons for the final playoff spot in the East, but they have also lost eight of their last 13 games and could easily slide down at any point.
If the Magic elect to sell, Ross would be a terrific addition for Houston. He's averaging a career-high 13.3 points and shooting 39.2 percent from beyond the arc on more than five attempts per game. The problem? He is performing well enough that he might be out of the Rockets' price range. Rival teams believe Simmons will enter the trade market, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania, so that's a possible backup plan.
