The Rockets have no intention of acquiring Morant or Paul! They have discussed trades with half the teams, with multiple teams inquiring about Eason and two others.

On January 17th Beijing time, noted journalist Kelly Iko stated that the Rockets’ depth rivals any Western Conference contender, yet the team suffers from instability and the absence of a primary playmaking point guard, problems that are gradually weighing down the squad.

Before the season started, the Rockets devised a “team-wide playmaking” strategy: allowing Sengun, Durant, Amen Thompson, and Shepard more ball-handling opportunities. But now, with the regular season nearly halfway done, the reality is clear:VanVleet’s absence has had a much greater impact than initially expected.

In the past two games, in search of a player who can effectively run the offense during matches, Udoka even utilized two-way contract player Davidson—a gritty guard who was given playing time ahead of the 2024 third overall pick Shepard.

This is not surprising, as Udoka has always been skilled at developing undersized guards, including veteran Aaron Holiday. However, the Rockets’ desperate and scattered approach will only further diminish their championship hopes in the coming months.

Notably, the Rockets’ management has not shown the proactive signals of strengthening the roster as in previous seasons; instead, they believe the current slump is manageable and have chosen to stand pat.

Before Trae Young was traded, the Rockets had no interest in him; they also have no plans to bring in experienced veterans like Morant or Paul; likewise, the team is reluctant to chase expensive stars like LaMelo Ball or Garland,because such blockbuster deals often come with a host of potential complications.

According to sources within the team,the Rockets have communicated with nearly half of the league’s teams. As the February 6 trade deadline approaches, the team’s phone lines are expected to get busier over the next ten days.However, so far, no firm offers have surfaced that warrant serious internal discussions.

The Rockets’ management clearly understands what concessions they are willing to make and roughly knows other teams’ needs. For example, sources say,before Eason became a starter, several teams had already inquired about him; the offseason additions of Fini-Smith and Capela have also drawn some interest from other clubs.—but as mentioned earlier, all of this remains at the inquiry stage without substantial progress.

The team’s current salary cap space is limited (the Rockets have already hit the hard salary cap threshold), restricting their moves in free agency. However, the Rockets have indicated they are willing to offer some future draft picks as trade assets if the right opportunity arises. Currently, the Rockets hold nine future first-round picks, including those from the Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, and Dallas Mavericks, along with a large number of second-round picks.

At first glance, given the circumstances, it’s understandable the Rockets are cautious before the trade deadline. But if the team continues to struggle and their standings drop further, management is likely to make adjustments.

Regardless of who tops the team’s wishlist—whether a point guard who can efficiently run the offense or a scorer who can provide wing firepower—the Rockets’ current roster still has a significant gap compared to championship-level teams. Before the title window closes completely, the team might benefit from adding one or two strong players.