Would Celtics be a good trade partner for Rockets in wake of front office turnover?

One of the first major shakeups in NBA front offices this offseason came on Thursday as Rockets GM Daryl Morey resigned after a 13-season tenure in Houston. Morey will remain on the job until November 1st according to the Rockets to help assist ownership and the front office in the team's coaching search before handing over the reins to Rafael Stone, Morey’s No. 2.

The shift in management and head coach (Mike D’Antoni decided to move on after his contract expired) has opened the door to plenty of uncertainty in Houston about the future. The Rockets have a ton of payroll committed already ($130 million in 2020-21) to a team that went down without much of a fight in the second round to the Lakers (4-1) this postseason. They also have already given up three of their next seven first-round picks, along with two first-round pick swaps to the Thunder. Finding routes to improve and get younger will be tough for them without some trades this offseason.

The Rockets have a couple of big stars on their payroll but also a number of intriguing role pieces lining up the remaining of their roster. To get a better sense of whether the Celtics could enter the mix as a potential trade partner with a Houston team that’s sure to make a few notable moves under new management, I took a look at key players on the Rockets roster, their contract and potential fit in Boston and whether the C’s could make a run at them.

Russell Westbrook (three years, $131 million remaining on deal): This was a toxic contract last offseason when the Rockets foolishly gave up two first-round picks and pick swaps with Chris Paul (and his bad contract) for it. Now? The same old problems surfaced with Westbrook in the postseason making this deal a non-starter for any deal that has title aspirations in the short-term. A big-market franchise looking for some star power (Knicks?) could make a run at him. The Celtics have far better options to build with.
Verdict: No thanks

Eric Gordon (Four years, $74 million remaining, last year non-guaranteed): The Rockets rewarded the sharpshooting 31-year-old with a $74 million extension last September and he responded with the worst shooting season of his career (36.9% FG, 31.7% 3pt). That combined with the league's revenue shortfall this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic makes giving Gordon an extension probably one of the biggest mistakes of Morey’s tenure. The shooting guard would probably be looking at a market half the size of his extension this offseason if they simply let him play out his current deal.

Gordon’s career 37 percent mark from 3-point range signals that he’s due for a bounce-back year but the 3-point shooting specialist (over 10 attempts per game) remains a low-efficiency shooter inside the arc, especially at the rim, which doesn’t bode well for this contract aging well as he gets deeper into his 30s. With Boston’s salary commitments about to skyrocket next season once Tatum’s extension kicks in, committing nearly $20 million per year for Gordon to be an average 3-point specialist is not a smart use of resources for what could be a limited budget in Boston.

Gordon does have the type of contract that the C’s would probably try to extend Gordon Hayward at this offseason but Hayward was the far better player last season. If Hayward opts in and shows no sign of wanting to stay in Boston beyond next season, offering him up for Gordon would require more sweetener to be added (PJ Tucker/Daniel House) from Houston’s end for the C’s to swallow the bad contract. That doesn’t make sense for Houston though if they plan on trying to remain competitive in the West since Hayward isn’t going to put this team over the top and his big salary only enhances luxury tax penalties for Houston.

Assuming Marcus Smart is not put on the table for an offer (Houston would have to sweeten the pot a lot more beyond Gordon), look for the C’s to pass on Gordon’s pricy deal.
Verdict: Too much long-term money to swallow

Robert Covington: (Two years, $25 million left on deal): The Rockets just gave up Clint Capela and a first-round pick to land the versatile forward at the 2020 trade deadline. Assuming Houston is still committed to playing small ball, he’s not going to be going anywhere unless a very convincing offer emerges. A mix of Celtics rookie contracts (Romeo Langford or Grant Williams) and salary filler (Enes Kanter) plus a first round pick could be put on the table but that offer is a step back for Houston in the present. Smart matches up money-wise with Covington for a swap but the Celtics certainly prefer their versatile first team All-Defense guard over Covington.
Verdict: C’s aren’t willing to pay price

PJ Tucker (One year, $7.9 million): The Celtics had a chance to land him at the trade deadline back in 2017 and he’s been an invaluable undersized forward for the Rockets the last three years, doing the dirty work on the glass and defensive end while taking countless open corner 3s. While he would be a perfect fit in Boston as a bench player who could play small-ball four and help stretch the floor, the Rockets have no reason to move their starting power forward if they want to contend at all next year.

In order to land him, the Celtics would need to overpay this offseason (won’t happen with Tucker on an expiring deal at age 35) or hope that the Rockets flail during the regular season, which could make him available to the highest bidder midseason if the Rockets turn into sellers. His smaller salary would make it feasible for the C’s to offer filler salary and a draft pick for him (protected 1st?) midseason if they feel like he’s a guy who could put them over the top. The guess for now though is the price would be too high for the C’s to consider.
Verdict: Houston has no reason to deal him during offseason. Check back on his availability midseason

Daniel House (two years, $6 million left): A useful cheap shooter who was embarrassed after being kicked out of the NBA bubble in the middle of the postseason after bringing a female guest into his room against NBA rules. If the Celtics put stock into good off-court judgment by their players, they probably take a pass here.
Verdict: Good fit but off-court concerns probably keep the C’s from giving anything of value.

Austin Rivers/Ben McLemore (One-year min deals): These are cheap shooters that Houston has no reason to move unless it’s for a promising offer. C’s are unlikely to give up anything of value for either.

James Harden (Three years, $131 million): We are operating under the assumption that Harden is not available here so we aren’t going to spend much time on him. If Houston is going to make a big move, Westbrook is the first to go and we already covered why the Celtics would have no interest there. However, if things start to go south in Texas during this next season, Houston’s front office would have to start considering what’s their long-term play with the All-Star and perennial MVP candidate. Harden as a player option for the 2022-23 season and there are no younger building blocks with him in Houston to work with in the next decade, just a number of aging veteran role players. Selling high before he has a chance to walk away from that on his own in the summer of 2022 will have to be looked at if Houston doesn’t have a bounce-back season in 2021.
Verdict: Celtics monitor his availability all season