Revealing the Rockets' zero trades on deadline day! GM Stone: We have no need to change just for the sake of change

On February 6th Beijing time, per the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets opted not to engage in any trades on deadline day. This indicates that unless they capitalize on the buyout market afterward, this roster that has been guiding the team will be their ultimate squad for the title chase.

"We have absolutely no need to change just for the sake of change," Rockets GM Stone stated at the post-deadline press conference.

Even after a disappointing loss to the Boston Celtics, the Rockets remain fourth in the Western Conference with a 31-18 record. Stats show the team ranks fourth in net rating per 100 possessions, sixth in offensive efficiency, and fourth in defensive efficiency.With such overall strength, combined with their current salary situation, the Rockets lacked motivation to make trades on deadline day from the start.

According to salary site Spotrac, due to a series of moves in the offseason, the Rockets' total payroll has hit the luxury tax threshold, leaving just over $1.2 million in available salary cap space.

This essentially means the Rockets can hardly make any trades without sending out equivalent salaries.Stone openly admitted that the luxury tax threshold poses a significant "barrier" to the team's trade operations.He said the team's current stats prove they are "highly competitive," but also noted that "this roster hasn't yet reached its true peak performance."

"This offseason saw far more roster changes than expected. I believe this actually provides a great opportunity for the team to gel in the second half," he said. "I have always valued roster continuity... but right now we lack that stability, so in my view, time will be our ally."

We can use an example to understand the complexity of the Rockets' trade situation—point guard Coby White was traded by the Bulls to the Hornets on deadline day for a few role players and three second-round picks. White’s ball-handling and outside shooting could have strengthened the Rockets’ recently struggling offense.

White is earning about $12.8 million this season, which is the final year of his contract. To acquire him, the Rockets would need to send out players with matching salaries. This leaves few trade candidates who can meet the salary matching requirements alone or combined with other contracts.

Theoretically, the following three options are feasible:

Finney-Smith combined with a small contract;

Trading Steven Adams alone;

Bundling Clint Capela with Tari Eason in a trade.

Let's analyze these possibilities one by one:

Adams is confirmed out for the rest of the season, but this 32-year-old center under contract through 2027-28 is considered a key part of the team's future system. His injury has severely depleted the Rockets’ center depth, which directly rules out trading Capela.

Eason is about to become a restricted free agent, and with his excellent defense and outside shooting, his importance to the team is clear.

That leaves only Finney-Smith. The 32-year-old forward signed a four-year, $53 million contract with the Rockets in the offseason, with the last two years non-guaranteed. He missed many early season games due to ankle surgery during the offseason.

So far this season, Finney-Smith has played only 17 games with strict minutes restrictions—averaging 15 minutes per game and sitting out one game in back-to-back scenarios.

Last season, Finney-Smith averaged 5 three-point attempts per game, shooting an impressive 41.1%. Data shows the team’s net rating per 100 possessions improved by a margin ranking in the top 1% league-wide when he was on the court.

However, since joining the Rockets, he has yet to replicate that success, with his three-point shooting dropping to 25.6%. Data indicates the team’s net rating per 100 possessions actually decreases by about 1 point when he plays.

Still, 17 games is clearly too small a sample to define the entire season or to drastically alter the Rockets’ evaluation of Finney-Smith.

The Rockets are still betting he can return to the player they hoped to sign. This is just one of many gambles taken by Stone and his team.

The Rockets are betting on Amen and Shepard’s continued growth—these young players are tasked with filling the void left by VanVleet’s injury;

They are betting on the duo of Sengun and Durant to keep refining their chemistry and boost the team’s competitiveness;

They are betting that the team’s defensive intensity and advantage in offensive rebounding, which have been strengths for most of the season, will continue to give them a chance to win every night.

Ultimately, the Rockets’ biggest wager is their belief that 37-year-old Durant has not yet reached the "downhill" phase of his career.If this star forward can maintain his current form into next season, when the team will have a healthy Adams and VanVleet back, along with the growth of Thompson, Sengun, Eason, Shepard, and others—the already competitive team, just a step away from the championship core, will firmly establish itself among the top contenders.

Whether the Rockets’ big gamble pays off remains to be seen.