Houston Rockets have ‘maintained’ interest in All-Star Donovan Mitchell

Could the Houston Rockets be prepared to make more win-now moves this offseason? A year ago, the team signed Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet to bolster the team’s chances of making the postseason. They won 41 games, an improvement of 19 wins. They also have a strong young core with Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.

All in all, the Rockets will eventually have to choose a direction. Houston general manager Rafael Stone could soon be forced to make a decision. The team has the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. They can focus more on their youth, use the pick to attract more high-potential talent, or trade the pick and other future assets to acquire a star player.

According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, the franchise maintains interest in a Cleveland Cavaliers star. Donovan Mitchell, with rumors of a possible departure, has sparked interest from the Rockets.

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“The Houston Rockets have maintained interest in Cavs All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell for months and continue to monitor his situation in Cleveland,” Iko reported.

It’s no secret that the Rockets don’t want to practice patience. They are ready to compete now, even though they have a very, very strong young core. This could harm them in the future, if it slowed down the growth of their young talents. Still, if there is an opportunity to secure a player like Mitchell, it’s hard to look away.

It’s also become clear that Mitchell wants to play in a bigger market. The Rockets can provide that, as Houston is a much better sports market than Salt Lake City or Cleveland. They can also put the ball in his hands.

The adjustment on the court would be interesting and the team would have to make adjustments to accommodate Mitchell. Players like Smith Jr. would thrive in his presence, although Green would likely suffer in his development and with his current production.

Of course, one could assume that Green would be dealt in the trade, as he is a desirable young player who can help transform a franchise in the long term. They would also lose the No. 3 pick, meaning they are ready to build a contending team and abandon the youth movement.

In this scenario, the Rockets would also like a long-term commitment from Mitchell, signing him to a long-term contract extension.

It will be worth watching if any of Houston’s reported interest materializes or if conversation about the move continues.

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