Revealed! The Rockets' latest trade target! Hello, 44-point guard!

As the NBA trade deadline (February 6) nears, U.S. media can’t wait to offer strategies for the Rockets,like bundling P.J. Washington, Holiday, and a 2027 first-round pick to bring Kobe White over from the Bulls.

Reporter Sidery also stated that the Rockets are considered one of White’s possible new teams, with the Bulls assessing trade proposals.

White, born on February 16, 2000, is a 1.93-meter tall combo guard, the 7th pick in the 2019 first round. This season, in the final year of his contract worth $12.89 million, he has played 27 games, averaging 29 minutes, contributing 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, shooting 36.1% from three with 2.6 made threes per game, and scored 44 points in a single game last March.

His arrival would clearly bolster the Rockets’ backcourt depth; even if VanVleet returns this season, White could serve as a high-impact sixth man, though the team should be prepared that they only have him for one year, as he is expected to enter free agency this summer seeking a big contract.

Currently, the Rockets hold a 30-17 record, ranking fourth in the Western Conference, averaging 116 points per game (17th in the league), 25.1 assists per game (23rd), and 96.8 possessions per game (27th), among other stats.Without a strong engine, the team’s pace naturally slows down, making it difficult to execute smooth team basketball.

Additionally, White can improve the Rockets’ outside shooting threat. So far, the team averages 30.7 three-point attempts per game (29th in the league) and 11.3 made threes (26th), both near the bottom, mainly because their current backcourt star Amen has extremely limited shooting ability, making just 0.3 threes per game on a 19.3% shooting rate, which is practically negligible.

In short, if the Rockets want to make a mark this season, acquiring a high-level guard is urgent, and White, who is reportedly available from the Bulls, might be the perfect candidate.

Change doesn’t guarantee success; but knowing there’s a problem and doing nothing is sure to bring consequences.

The Rockets compete in the fiercely competitive Western Conference, where there is no room for mistakes.