The Houston Rockets will be considered a major candidate for next season.
However, their championship odds will be on the sidelines for the entire season after starting point guard Fred Van Vriet suffered an ACL injury.
Without vanvleet, the rocket doesn’t have a reliable point guard that can equally handle ball handling and playmaking obligations.
Amen Thompson appears to be positioned to take on these responsibilities, but the situation is not ideal for championship aspirations.
NBA analyst Bill Simmons proposed a trade solution involving the Boston Celtics to address the Houston point guard crisis.
He believes the Rockets can pursue Derrick White in exchange for key assets, including first-round picks and young talent.
“Derrick White is a dramatic name. Give me a s***back for Derrick White. Phoenix pick you have in 2027, it’s coming back.
Analysts believe it is potentially transformative for Houston’s championship opportunity despite the sudden acquisition costs.
“If you’re Houston and turn this Vanbeat disaster into Derrick White with some of your picks and really run it this year, can you win the title with Derrick White?
If the price of the white proved to be prohibitive, Simmons identified Payton Pritchard as a more affordable alternative.
This year’s sixth man was able to get it in a pay matching deal for Reed Shepherd.
“Payton Pritchard makes $900,000 a year, and it’s in that range. It’s oddly lined up with Reed Shepherd’s salary,” Simmons pointed out.
“Where is Reed Shepherd, if you’re a trade valuer, he’s certainly not in the top 50. He’s higher than Payton Pritchard, is that the same, I don’t know.
“It’s a guy who can actually play in the series with OKC and Minnesota. I got a good few minutes from him in 20-25 minutes,” he said.
Zach Lowe, co-host of Simmons’ podcast, agreed to the Pritchard Trade Concept, citing the proven value and contract structure of security guards.
Lowe believes that Pritchard has a slight advantage over Sheppard in its immediate trade value.
“I think they’re equal, Pritchard edges it with his nose. His contract is longer than I thought, and he’s still on his salary for three years at a lower level than Pritchard.
Simmons concluded that Pritchard represents a safer option.
The Celtics are currently operating in reconstruction mode, and Pritchard is expected to play a key role next season.
However, if Houston provides sufficient value, mutually beneficial transactions could be realized.
Both scenarios address continuing to build the roster by providing Boston with future assets or young talent, whilst dealing with Houston’s point guard crisis.