Boston Celtics: 3 potential Kris Dunn offseason landing spots
Potential Boston Celtics Kris Dunn trade partner #2: Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets had a much similar feeling around the team last season, with a heirarchy out of sorts almost by design by season’s end. Losing games was the primary goal, so taking on contracts other teams didn’t want for draft capital became a side effect to the gameplan.
It paid off, with Jalen Green looking like a definitive building block, but the work may not be done. The Rockets could be open to more deals that involve taking on picks with a player whose fit is secondary in importance to what is attached in the trade.
Brad Stevens needs to eye long-time Houdini target Danuel House in a swap, adding a rugged defender with good size that could contribute minutes in case of injury. He could ideally push the Cs recent draft picks to a higher level in practice, helping solidify a culture in Ime Udoka’s first year in Boston. David Nwaba makes a ton of sense for the same purpose.
Stevens could also explore an upgrade in the backcourt by trying to pry D.J. Augustin out of Houston as well. Augustin is a better fit for a contender, and he was on the defending NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks last season before being dealt at the trade deadline for P.J. Tucker.
If Stevens waits long enough, he could end up flipping Dunn for another center he once had on the roster, Daneil Theis once the trade moratorium on his freshly inked deal ends.
I’m kidding. Maybe.