Ranking Every Rocket From Safest To Most Tradeable

With a roster this stacked with talent and value, ranking the Rockets from untouchable to trade candidate is a lot harder than it sounds. Still, someone has to do it.

The top of the list should be mostly obvious. The middle is where things start getting a bit controversial.

Here’s where everybody lands.

1. Amen Thompson

The closest thing Houston has to a truly untouchable asset.

2. Alperen Sengun

The offensive centerpiece. Moving him would force the Rockets to rethink their entire identity.

3. Kevin Durant

The Rockets didn’t make a win-now move to reverse course a year later.

4. Reed Sheppard

Rising star shooter. He’s still on a rookie contract, and showed drastic on and off ball improvement this year.

5. Fred VanVleet

One of Ime Udoka’s most trusted players and one of the few veterans on the roster with championship experience.

6. Tari Eason

Every team wants players like Tari Eason. He impacts winning on both ends of the floor and brings a level of energy that’s difficult to replace.

7. Jabari Smith Jr.

A difficult evaluation. Houston still believes in the upside, but his name would likely surface in any major trade discussion.

8. Steven Adams

Valuable veteran. Not untouchable.

9. Dorian Finney-Smith

Exactly the type of role player contenders love to acquire.

10. Clint Capela

Three centers. One position. That’s a tough roster equation.

11. Jae’Sean Tate

A respected veteran whose role has steadily decreased.

12. Aaron Holiday

Useful depth piece, but likely the easiest player on this list to replace.

Ask ten Rockets fans where Tari Eason belongs on this list, and you’ll probably get ten different answers. The same is probably true for Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, and Fred VanVleet.

That’s a good problem to have. It means Houston has built enough depth that the toughest decisions aren’t at the top of the roster- they’re in the middle.

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