The Rockets' first trade of 2024 surfaced, with the Grizzlies sending Adams, a starting center who was reimbursed for the injury season, to Houston in exchange for Oladipo and three future second-round picks, so the Grizzlies also received a trade exception worth $3 million. Adams is 30 years old and 211 meters, arm span 2The 25m, weighing 120kg, is expected to miss the entirety of the 23-24 season due to knee surgery last October, but will be fully fit before the start of the 24-25 season. Adams averaged 27 minutes per game last season, contributing 86 points 115 rebounds and 23 assists 11 block, shooting 597%, if he stays healthy, the Rockets may have a hard time getting the Grizzlies' interior core with three second-round picks, but Grizzlies management has run out of patience because of the poor record and is unwilling to wait until the day he returns from injury.
The Rockets management hopes to find a qualified bench for Shen Jing, because the overall strength is still a certain gap from the playoff team, so the Rockets are not in a hurry to add instant players, but let Shen Jing, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Whitmore and other young players get more training opportunities, and when it comes to next season, Adams's strength will be fully displayed. In addition to Adams, Rockets management has also tried to get Trail Blazers center Robert Williams, who was the favorite of head coach Udoka when he coached the Celtics, and Lowe has also been reimbursed for the season due to injury this season, and the addition of Adams has blocked the way for him and Udoka to reunite in Houston. The Rockets management's thinking can be described as quite clear, with the least cost to get a strong interior line, ready for next season.
The Rockets' schedule for the next five games is getting tougher, with four consecutive road games against the Timberwolves, Pacers, Raptors and Hawks in addition to their next home game against the Raptors. Despite the difficult schedule, head coach Udoka has no idea of rotting, and in an interview with the Houston Chronicle, he emphasized that the goal this season is still to make a push for the playoffs. At this stage, the Lakers and Jazz are one win ahead of the Rockets, and Udoka's team still has hopes of qualifying for the playoffs by qualifying for the play-in tournament. According to Rockets reporter Salman Ali, Rockets management wants to send away one or more of Landale, Jeff Green and Jasean Tate before the trade deadline to improve the overall roster, and if an All-Star caliber player can be acquired, Stone does not rule out the possibility of sending away Jalen Green and a first-round pick.
Recently, Sam Amick revealed on his podcast that despite Jalen Green's upswing, Rockets insiders don't see him as a "key cornerstone," and general manager Rafael Stone is open to trading him for an All-Star. This view was then confirmed by the revelations of Marc Stein of the Athletic, and that Rockets management had tried to use Jalen Green and multiple draft picks, including the 2024 Nets first-round pick** Nets number one star Bridges, but was flatly rejected by owner Joe Tsai. The deal went nowhere, and Rockets fans are thankful that Jalen Green is averaging 29 per game in his last five games8 points 72 rebounds and 3With 8 assists, he could be named to the All-Star team in the future if he can maintain that form. In addition, Bridges is a small forward, and his arrival will limit the growth of young players such as Whitmore, Tari Eason, and Amen Thompson.