The Houston Rockets are considered main contenders for next season.
However, their championship odds decreased after starting point guard Fred VanVleet suffered an ACL injury that will sideline him for the entire season.
Without VanVleet, the Rockets lack a reliable point guard capable of doing ball-handling and playmaking duties equally well.
Amen Thompson appears positioned to assume those responsibilities, though the situation remains far from ideal for championship aspirations.
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty ImagesBill Simmons suggests blockbuster Derrick White trade using first round pick and Reed Sheppard
NBA analyst Bill Simmons proposed a trade solution involving the Boston Celtics to address Houston’s point guard crisis.
He believes the Rockets could pursue Derrick White in exchange for significant assets including first-round picks and young talent.
“Derrick White is the dramatic name. Give me some s*** back for Derrick White. That Phoenix pick you have in 2027, that’s coming back. You’re giving me real stuff for that. I think Sheppard probably has to be in it too,” Simmons explained.
The analyst views White as potentially transformational for Houston’s championship chances despite the steep acquisition cost.
“If you’re Houston and you turn this VanVleet disaster into Derrick White with some of your picks, and you make a real run at it this year, could you win the title with Derrick White I think is a real question,” Simmons added.
Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty ImagesPayton Pritchard emerges as lower-risk alternative with similar value
If White’s price proves prohibitive, Simmons identified Payton Pritchard as a more affordable alternative.
The current Sixth Man of the Year could be acquired for Reed Sheppard in a salary-matching deal.
“Payton Pritchard is making $9m a year, something in that range. Weirdly lines up with Reed Sheppard’s salary,” Simmons noted.
“If I’m doing a trade value list, where is Reed Sheppard. He’s certainly not in the top 50. Is he higher than Peyton Pritchard, is it the same, I have no idea. If you’re Boston would you do that?”
“That’s a guy that could actually play in a series against OKC and Minnesota. You could get 20-25 really good minutes from him,” he stated.
Zach Lowe supports Pritchard trade based on contract value and playoff experience
Simmons’ podcast co-host Zach Lowe agreed with the Pritchard trade concept, citing the guard’s proven value and contract structure.
Lowe believes Pritchard holds slight advantages over Sheppard in immediate trade value.
“I think they are about equal, Pritchard edges it by a nose, his contract is longer than I thought, he has three years left on his salary at a cheaper level than Pritchard. I would say Pritchard has more ‘next two years trade value’, it’s an interesting one,” Lowe analyzed.
Simmons concluded that Pritchard represents the safer option: “I think that’s the answer with this, it’s a little lower risk.”
The Celtics currently operate in rebuild mode with Pritchard expected to play an important role next season.
However, if Houston offers sufficient value, a mutually beneficial trade could materialize.
Both scenarios would address Houston’s point guard crisis while providing Boston with either future assets or young talent to continue their roster construction.