Is This The Highest Hopes Have Been In Houston?
Looking back at some of the greatest trades the Houston Rockets have pulled off in my life.
The addition of Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets hasn’t just reignited passion for the fan base, but it has also made the team a certified drama magnet.
The Rockets front office has been busy this offseason. Besides the Durant trade they also: extended Coach Udoka, signed back or have negotiated deals to bring the vets back including Steven Adams, signed FVV, signed Jabari Smith Jr, signed Dorian Finney Smith and signed Clint Capela. We are still in the midst of Cam Whitmore drama, Durant already alluding to Rockets fans not liking him, James Harden rumors, Giannis rumors, and more.
It’s an exciting time to be a Rockets fan.1
I mentioned in the podcast that this is the most exciting it has been since the original Harden trade. Which led me to think: what has been the most exciting trades the Rockets have pulled off in my life? So I obviously thought of the big three (at least for me). I feel like I almost made this a top 20 list but I kind of want people to read this and not just glaze over and wonder what is wrong with me.2
3. Tracy McGrady Trade
In the summer of 2004 the Rockets shook it up by trading away some long-time fan favorites in favor of helping build a finals contender around Yao Ming and McGrady. The Rockets front office sent away Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, and Kelvin Cato3 to the Orlando Magic for Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue, and Reece Gaines. At the time I was still a teenager and felt the bittersweet sting of losing some electric players to watch. I was excited to see this backcourt grow with Yao and bring some chips home to H-Town. Ah, the folly of youth. I was wrong. Obviously, it’s hard to see players go but for getting Tracy McGrady alone it was a fantastic trade. But in retrospect, getting Juwan Howard and Tyronn Lue in the process makes this even better trivia. Howard was able to get more court time if I remember correctly.4
The Yao/McGrady era was mostly marked by falling short of greatness. The team was incredible. I think back about those years with love now. But there was a lot of frustration. There were injuries and tough breaks. But there is no doubt that the team took a giant step forward because of this trade. And in retrospect there’s no argument as to if the Rockets won the trade. This is a very one sided situation. First the team sweeps them in the finals, then they sweep them in a trade. Ouch.
2. Harden To Houston Trade
In 2012 the NBA landscape was starting to change dramatically. Players were beginning to exercise more freedoms through the CBA to have more control over their careers. James Harden’s negotiations with the OKC Thunder had broken down and—the then—Dork Elvis took advantage of an opportunity to. Controversial basketball nerd5, Daryl Morey, was the GM of the Houston Rockets and was not hiding the fact that the Rockets were looking stay flexible to sign two stars to the Rockets.6
Morey believed James Harden was going to be one of the biggest stars in the NBA. The funny thing is: this was a HOT TAKE in 2012. There were people that truly believed in Harden’s talent but before he was a Rocket: Harden had only started 7 games in the NBA. Obviously Oklahoma City was unsure of Harden being a bonafide star. That’s not to say Harden’s limitations didn’t hinder him, but to think back at all the bad takes from this time: it’s hilarious.
The Rockets received James Harden, Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook, and Lazar Hayward and sent away SGs Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two future first round picks and a second round pick. One of those first round picks would eventually become Steven Adams.
I was a little older this trade but after the Rick Adelman No-Star Rockets era I had grown fond of K-Mart and his wonky jumper. And I had hoped that Lamb could be a good player. But after watching Harden in the playoffs, I knew this guy was the better shooting guard of the three. Just on that alone I felt the Rockets immediately won the trade on day one. Kevin Martin was obviously a complementary player. Harden had so much potential and this trade was seen as lop sided as soon as Harden was winning in his Rockets jersey. Harden hate would continue to be a thing that continued. Daryl Morey’s aggressive wheeling and dealing would continue as well. The trade helped relaunch our Rockets and once again this era was marked by falling short. But when you look at the trade. You’re taking it again.
1. The Durant Trade
This trade basically happened yesterday and it’s already number one?? Yes. I admit: WE DON’T KNOW THE RESULTS OF THIS TRADE. Finally: he admit it. But, I do think that there possibility of this trade NOT working is as slim as the reaper that we traded for. I know. I know. You can look to the not-so-distant-past to see examples of stars not really helping a franchise out.7 But I think the role that Durant has to play for the Rockets is a match made in heaven. The team plus the player have mutually beneficial goals. The team can sustain a little bit of time off for Durant. Durant can carry a team offensively in the half court in crunch time. The team has enough youth and vets to not put too much of the load on Durant. Durant knows winning culture and has been in similar positions in the past. Hopefully, that means the team can benefit from that experience. There are things that can go wrong. I know. But the situation is ripe for rewards.
Not just for the next couple of seasons, but to help usher in this next era of Rockets basketball. That’s why I love the trade. This marks the beginning of something new. This might be the Jabari/Sengun era. I doubt—at the end of the day—that this will be remembered as the KD era. I think Durant is acting as a bridge, to help get this team to contender status. And with GM Rafael Stone and coach Ime Udoka helping create culture, I think the star of this team is ideally going to be the team’s culture and not one person. These are tough goals, but if the Rockets pull it off: this is the beginning of a hopeful era.
A lot can go wrong. I guess KD can get super mad at the fans and demand a mid season trade and the Rockets will have to pivot hard. Jalen Green could develop into what his ceiling says he can be. Or, the basketball gods forbid, the team could just lose. However, I think the floor for the Rockets is so high that this will be—potentially—the greatest trade in Rockets history…in my lifetime that is.
Maybe I’m just being hopeful though.
Listeners of the podcast (aka the Paul-cast) know that I’ve been saying that we are now in a historic time of hope in sports fandom. Relish these moments. This isn’t how fandom usually is.
I’m sure my readers and listeners frequently wonder this, but I actually try to limit my wild tendencies.
Hilariously, I worked at Blockbuster at the time and saw Kelvin Cato after the trade at work. He looked like he wasn’t in the mood to be bothered, but I had met him before that. Nice guy. I’m realizing I met Juwan Howard too, briefly. I’ll pocket those anti-climactic stories for the podcast.
I looked it up…Howard spent multiple seasons with the Rockets and even started every game the season following the trade. I definitely didn’t remember that part as well.
I wish I would have a title like this truthfully.
those two stars ended up being Harden and Dwight Howard on first draft
Even with Durant as the star. Sorry Brooklyn.