Rockets give up young sharpshooter to pair $204 million goaltender with Kevin Durant in blockbuster deal

epfpmoran October 13, 2025 0
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THE Houston Rockets are eager to fight for the NBA championship with Kevin Durant this season. This is one of the main reasons why they traded for Durant since the Phoenix Suns this summer. Unfortunately for the Texas-based team, they suffered a setback after Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL before the start of training camp.

While Houston is still a potential contender to compete for a championship, not having a point guard is a significant problem. VanVleet was expected to be the field general in Durant's first season with the team. But since getting injured, the Rockets are content with having Amen Thompson as their starting point guard.

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report shared some of his trade ideas that could help Houston. Buckley's proposal involves trading Reed Sheppard, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft. Additionally, Tari Eason, Fred VanVleet, Clint Capela, a 2027 first-round pick (via PHO) and a 2029 first-round pick (most favorable of HOU, DAL and PHO) are part of the package.

In return, the NBA insider thinks the team can get Tyrese Maxey and Eric Gordon of the Philadelphia 76ers.

“While he'll struggle terribly to get out of Philadelphia, he'd be great if the asset-rich Rockets could make it happen. He's a star in his own right, but the fact that he can play with or without the ball means he's built to shine alongside other stars, like Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun,” Buckley wrote.

“If the Sixers decide they can't make this work — or, at the very least, not be contenders this season — then they could pounce on some building blocks in Sheppard and Eason, as well as the juicy, unprotected firsts they'd get here,” he added.

Maxey is under a five-year, $204 million contract and could be with the Rockets for a while. That is, if Houston follows Buckley's suggestion.

Evan Turner has a problem with Amen Thompson's ball handling for the Rockets

One of the main concerns of any team trying to contend for the championship is having a good ball handler. With VanVleet's injury, the Rockets handed that assignment to Amen Thompson.

Fans saw what it looks like during the team's preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks. Former NBA player Evan Turner revealed that he had issues with Thompson's ball handling.

“The only reason I'm not a big Houston fan is I need to see more of Amen's ball handling,” Turner explained (2:12). “They don't have a lot of ball handlers. They don't like veterans playing a lot.

Without an elite ball handler, Turner doesn't think the Rockets have what it takes to contend for the championship. He also said Thompson and Sheppart will have to learn to become reliable ball handlers on the fly.