The Houston Rockets\u2019 most glaring need thus far has been at the guard spot. They\u2019ve struggled mightily to bring the ball up the court.<\/p>\n
They also don\u2019t really have anyone who can run pick-and-roll action. Well, they do, but he\u2019s out for the foreseeable future in Fred VanVleet.<\/p>\n
On nights against teams like the Brooklyn Nets, it\u2019s not an issue. But when facing legitimate contenders like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons, it can be difficult to overcome.<\/p>\n
But the Rockets can\u2019t really solve this problem. Well, they can.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s not easy. They can get a second-tier role player off someone\u2019s bench quite easily. But it\u2019s unknown if they\u2019ll be true needle-movers long-term.<\/p>\n
They can get a viable piece, also, by using VanVleet as salary ballast — to the tune of $25 million.<\/p>\n
Which is tough for any contending team to have to punt on. Especially one facing the hard cap.<\/p>\n
But Derrick White could be a viable fill-in for Houston. Even if he appears to be a diminished version of himself.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s just being asked to take on a role that he\u2019s not fit for, as a top-level scoring option on a non-contender. He\u2019s best suited as a role-playing glue guy on a title team.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s become one of the best defenders in the league years ago. And many thought he\u2019d take the All-Star leap this season, with Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday out of the fold.<\/p>\n
White is an underrated playmaker, especially when finding slashers or rollers to the rim. He\u2019s averaged right around five assists per night for the last three seasons with the Boston Celtics.<\/p>\n
And he\u2019s a viable outside shooter as well, although you\u2019d think otherwise based on this season (25 percent on 11 attempts). Some of that can be attributed to a wrist injury that he\u2019s battling.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s enough data to negate this season\u2019s showing. In fact, the last time he was on the floor, he made 40 percent of his triples on 10.8 attempts per contest in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.<\/p>\n
The Rockets would likely have to throw in a first-round pick (or two) to nab White from Boston, in addition to including VanVleet\u2019s salary, which he\u2019d have to sign off on, due to his implied no-trade clause.<\/p>\n
But White would prove to be worth the haul relatively quickly, as Ime Udoka would know how to utilize him once more.<\/p>\n