Ahead of the 2025-26 season, the Houston Rockets executed the largest trade in NBA history. The team landed their superstar, Kevin Durant, in a massive seven-team deal. The move made a lot of sense at the time, but it didn’t improve the Rockets’ regular season win total, and Houston was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs despite the fact that they were taking on a Los Angeles Lakers team that was without Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic for much or all of the series.
Changes might be inevitable yet again this offseason. So, could the Rockets make yet another blockbuster trade, and what superstar would make sense to add?
The Rockets should trade for an offensive superstar
Rockets receive: Donovan Mitchell
Cavaliers receive: Reed Sheppard, Clint Capela, Jabari Smith Jr., 2027 first-round pick (via Phoenix), 2028 first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick, three second-round picks
The Rockets’ season fell apart, largely because Durant was dealing with injury issues in the postseason. He missed Game 1 with a bruised right knee, and an ankle injury cost him every matchup after he returned for Game 2. Without their superstar, who ranks fifth on the all-time scoring list, Houston’s offense went stagnant.
The Rockets fell short of the 100-point threshold in four of their six postseason games, which included a 78-point dud when they were eliminated. Obviously, Durant’s three-level scoring was missed, but his absence wasn’t the only reason for the Rockets’ struggles. The team’s offense took a hit before the season even started, as a preseason ACL injury cost Fred VanVleet his season. The team would have relied heavily on his 3-point marksmanship and veteran leadership.
The Rockets ranked 25th in 3-point makes during the regular season, and their able bodies weren’t connecting on deep balls in the playoffs. Amen Thompson is an incredible athlete and defender, but he really struggles beyond the arc. Alperen Sengun lost his shooting touch, too, as he made just 12.5% of his shots from deep in the first round. The team as a whole made just 30.2% of their 3-pointers against the Lakers.
The Rockets will have more 3-point shooting next year with Durant and VanVleet returning to the fold, but they need another sharpshooter, preferably one who can also operate as a creator for this team that already has plenty of size and defense. Enter Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell has made seven straight All-Star Games and is a career 25.1 point-per-game scorer. He particularly thrives when the lights are the brightest, too, evidenced by his three 50-point playoff performances, the most of any active NBA player. Spida would single-handedly prevent the Rockets’ offense from ever going stagnant again. His offensive prowess combined with Durant, Sengun, Thompson, and VanVleet would give opposing defenses nightmares.
While Houston’s defense and depth would take hits, Ime Udoka knows how to get the best out of his team on the less glamorous end of the court, and Thompson and Dorian Finney-Smith would still provide the team with some point of attack defensive options.
A Donovan Mitchell trade would be perfect for the Rockets
David Dermer-Imagn Images
Mitchell is one of many superstars who have already been linked to the Rockets, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard. Even after giving up assets for Durant last offseason, the Rockets still have draft capital and young prospects at their disposal to include in a trade.
It isn’t clear if the Cleveland Cavaliers would move off of their shooting guard this offseason. After all, they’ve advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals. If the Cavaliers get to a point where they need to blow things up, then a trade package of Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., Clint Capela, and multiple draft picks would have to be intriguing.
Sheppard and Smith are recent top-three picks who could usher in a new era for the Cavaliers. The Rockets aren’t in any rush to get rid of either of them, but for Mitchell, they’d be willing to part ways. Sheppard’s defense was exposed all season long, and Rui Hachimura made it known that the Lakers were targeting him. Smith was a primary target of Durant’s alleged burner accounts, and trading him would help the team move on from that bizarre situation.
Durant only has so many good years left, so the Rockets are all in on winning now. A trade for Mitchell would ensure they not only remain contenders but actually take the next step forward after an inexcusable postseason exit.
Ahead of the 2025-26 season, the Houston Rockets executed the largest trade in NBA history. The team landed their superstar, Kevin Durant, in a massive seven-team deal. The move made a lot of sense at the time, but it didn’t improve the Rockets’ regular season win total, and Houston was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs despite the fact that they were taking on a Los Angeles Lakers team that was without Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic for much or all of the series.