This Rockets Trade Idea To Replace Fred VanVleet Could Be Perfect Pivot

The Houston Rockets were supposed to be one of the top teams in the NBA this season. After an amazing year last year, they traded for Kevin Durant this offseason to make their young and talented roster even better. Many believe that Durant could be the missing piece to help take this team over the hump from a first-round playoff exit to a deep playoff run.

That was all before Fred VanVleet tore his ACL in pre-camp training. VanVleet is the veteran point guard who was supposed to orchestrate the Rockets' offense and bring toughness to their defense. Now, he is likely to miss the entire season due to injury.

That’s why the Rockets need to pivot. Their roster screams potential contender, even without VanVleet. They need to replace him with a competent point guard without sacrificing any of their key rotation players.

One Rockets trade idea that could work looks like this:

Rockets trade: Reed Sheppard, Josh Okogie, 1st-round pick swap

Bulls trade: Coby White

A Coby White trade could be a risk worth taking for Houston. They’d get a solid point guard to replace VanVleet, and wouldn’t have to give up too much to get him.

Some people believe Reed Sheppard is a solid asset, but in reality, he hasn’t proven that he can contribute meaningfully to winning basketball. White, on the other hand, averaged over 20 points per game last season.

White could be the perfect offensive spark for the Rockets. When Durant is off the floor, the Rockets will struggle to create their own offense. Trading for White would give them someone to take control of those minutes without Durant.

White’s biggest weakness is his defense. That being said, the Rockets are well-equipped to make up for his shortcomings. Players like Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Dorian Finney-Smith should be able to help White out with any tough matchups.

So while getting rid of Sheppard before they can see his full potential may hurt, now is the time to go for it. The Rockets traded for Durant with a championship in mind, and Sheppard isn’t ready to help them contend yet.