A new rumor suggests that former Houston Rockets first-round pick Jalen Green could be available before the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline, which should open the door to an interesting chase for the talented young guard.
The Houston Rockets head into a big Wednesday night game against the New Orleans Pelicans two games under .500 and outside the current Western Conference playoff pictures. While it is not where they would like to be, this roster under new head coach Ime Udoka is far better than the lottery-bound group they were last year.
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Nevertheless, despite their improvement in 2023-24, the organization spent big money on Udoka and free agents Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks to be a no-doubt playoff team in 2024. With that being far from guaranteed in a tough West, they clearly need to make some roster upgrades before the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline.
That is probably why rumors that started in the summer have gathered new momentum this week. On Wednesday, ESPN NBA insider Zach Lowe reported that third-year man Jalen Green is an “under-the-radar” name developing “a little buzz” before the deadline next week.
- Jalen Green stats (2023-24): 18.2 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.2 APG, 32% 3PT
While the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft is a talented player with untapped potential, he has gone from a lead scorer to a secondary role with the rise of Alperen Sengun this season. There were rumors he could be on the block last summer, and these new rumblings indicate the team is ready to move on from him for the right price.
With that in mind, let’s look at five teams that could be possible landing spots for Jalen Green if he is traded in the next week.
5 teams that might pursue Jalen Green before the NBA trade deadline
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers have shown interest in getting both Zach LaVine and Dejounte Murray, however, they have had little progress toward either trade. With both being former All-Stars, their current teams having high asking prices, and the Lakers having limited assets, Green might be an affordable backup option.
While he certainly wouldn’t come cheap, he has a team-friendly $12 million contract next season, is a restricted free agent in two years, and is a player with 20 points per game potential who could be elevated to a new level under the tutelage of Lebron James and Anthony Davis.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers have the assets to bring in more talent and a need for a legit scoring threat from the backcourt — be it in the starting lineup or possibly in a bench role. Green has proven he can do that while offering other skills. On a star-studded team, he may be able to flourish without the pressures of being a top scorer or can return to his lead scorer ways off the bench.
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks are one of the hottest teams in basketball but if they want to take that next step to contend for a title, they could use more scoring thump off the bench. While the trade for OG Anunoby took them to new levels, it also hurt their depth and reserves scoring. If Green is willing to take on a role as a bench player, he could fill the void left by Immanuel Quickley and really beef up an already good Knicks roster.
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are ready to move on from Dejounte Murray. If they still want to go with a strategy of finding a talented backcourt partner for Trae Young, Green could be a fascinating option as Murray’s replacement. As mentioned above, he has a very affordable deal, is signed for another year, and has a lot of untapped potential that head coach Quin Snyder may be able to unleash.
Utah Jazz
There are reports the Utah Jazz could be both sellers and buyers before the NBA trade deadline. Head coach Will Hardy did amazing work last season by turning former failed first-round pick Lauri Markkanen into a legitimate All-Star. Maybe he could do the same with Green? If he can, they would have a pretty good young combo to build around going forward.