Why the Trade Benefits the Houston Rockets
When trading away an elite player like James Harden, it’s crucial to get back a talent who can be a genuine franchise player. For the Houston Rockets, the best case scenario given their options would a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons.
The passing ability and defensive versatility that Simmons brings to the table are genuinely helpful for any team. There could be some overlap with John Wall making the fit a little awkward at times, but playing alongside a versatile big like Christian Wood would be quite cohesive.
It would be helpful for the Rockets to land an intriguing prospect like Tyrese Maxey in this deal. He would come off the bench early in his career and would have DeMarcus Cousins as a pick-and-roll partner to work with right away.
Overall, the starting backcourt for the Rockets, in this scenario, would likely be Wall alongside Eric Gordon. Meanwhile, Simmons could slot in at the four spot with Wood at the five— making PJ Tucker readily available in trade discussions for potential suitors.
