NBA Trade Rumors: Rockets Land Proven Scorer for Backcourt to Replace VanVleet

The Houston Rockets suffered a big blow last month, losing point guard and team leader Fred VanVleet for the entire season with a torn ACL. As this is a team that is all-in for this year, leaving the point in the hands of unproven 21-year-old Reed Sheppard is not their best option. 

Instead, they could very well opt to replace Fred's playmaking at the point with sensational young multi-talented star Amen Thompson. But they would still need to replace Fred's scoring and floor spacing. 

Enter this proposal from Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report, who suggests that FVV's old championship mate from Toronto, Norman Powell, could be the answer Houston is looking for. His hypothetical deal would go down like this:

Houston Rockets receive: 

• Norman Powell, G/F

Miami Heat receive: 

• Reed Sheppard, G
• Steven Adams, C
• 2026 second-round pick (via CHI)
• 2027 second-round pick (via MEM)

The Rockets would get an elite shooter in Powell, able to spread the floor for Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Thompson. Powell had a career year with the LA Clippers last season, with 21.8 ppg and 41.8% shooting from long range. He was traded to the Heat in a three-team deal that sent Kevin Love to Utah and John Collins to the Clippers. 

The new-look Houston backcourt under this scenario would find Thompson manning the point, as the 6'7" dynamic all-round player has the basketball IQ to be a playmaker, plus the speed and quickness to lock down guards on defense. He was actually drafted with point guard as his designated position. And according to Dan Devine, "The Rockets' Net Rating (was +10.7) when Amen Thompson was playing point guard, according to our friends at CleaningTheGlass."

So, with much of the playmaking in place of VanVleet taken care of, that frees up the Rockets to add a G/F like Powell to fill his scoring hole in the lineup. 

From the Miami side of this proposed deal, they would get a look at a promising young but unproven point guard in Sheppard (the No. 3 pick in the 2024 Draft). The Rockets are able to send out Steven Adams to make the money work on this deal, as they acquired Clint Capela as another center this offseason to back up Sengun. 

It's an intriguing proposition, but it would be incumbent on the Heat first accepting that they won't be a serious contender this season. Most observers feel that's the case, but Pat Riley doesn't give up easily.  

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