NBA Rumors: Rockets Made Huge Offer For Emerging Superstar

The Houston Rockets appear to have three key pieces to a solid competitive team to challenge in the tough Western Conference: a championship point guard in Fred VanVleet, a tenacious All-NBA Defensive Team wing in Dillon Brooks, and an emerging star in the middle in Alperen Sengun. 

But oh, what they wouldn't give to land a superstar forward like Mikal Bridges of the Brooklyn Nets. In fact, according to a report by Kelly Iko, Shams Charania, and Sam Amick in The Athletic, they tried. Very hard. But the Nets wouldn't hear of it.

The Rockets have joined the long line of teams showing extremely high interest in Nets forward Mikal Bridges, league sources say. Houston made an offer including multiple first-round draft picks for Bridges in recent weeks, but the Nets have zero interest in any deal involving Bridges, who is part of Brooklyn’s core moving forward.

                                            

The Rockets' offer of multiple first-round picks didn't move the needle for the Nets, and according to fellow insider Marc Stein, even if they included Jalen Green in that package, Brooklyn still would say no. 

The Nets would say no to a potential Mikal Bridges trade to the Rockets, even if it included their draft picks alongside Jalen Green, per @TheSteinLine (https://t.co/8kNUjlCsps).

Bridges is completely off limits for Brooklyn as they continue to decline aggressive trade… pic.twitter.com/RlBTdKi5Nt

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) February 1, 2024

All reports indicate that the Nets have no interest whatsoever in even listening on Bridges. The star forward is averaging 22 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists, while shooting 37% from three. 

As for the Rockets, they'll undoubtedly continue to scan the market for some kind of improvements in the next seven days, as they feel they're close to being a real factor. 

Other names of interest they're keeping tabs on include rim protectors Kelly Olynyk of Utah, Atlanta’s Clint Capela, Chicago’s Andre Drummond and Portland’s Robert Williams III. In the backcourt, they've got Malcolm Brogdon on their radar. 

The Rockets are a team to watch with Feb. 8th fast approaching.

Photo: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports