Kevin Durant was traded to the Houston Rockets with the intention of competing for a championship there. When Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL in the offseason, it ruined Houston’s plans. They have a large selection of front-court players, but were relying heavily on VanVleet’s playmaking and shot creation.
Houston has adjusted well, mainly because Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson have both made a leap as ball handlers. The issue is that Sheppard is only in his second year and doesn’t have nearly enough experience to lead a team in the brutal Western Conference come playoff time. It may take another year or so, but Durant’s age may not allow him to be as effective, so the window for the Rockets may be smaller than they think.
If they were looking to go all in and capitalize on a team that is underperforming, they should reach out to the Cleveland Cavaliers. After a 64-18 record in the 2024-2025 season, this season has been underwhelming. Donovan Mitchell has been fantastic, but Evan Mobley hasn’t taken the scoring leap most expected. That is where Darius Garland enters the conversation. Garland, who is coming off an All-Star level year, averaged 20.6 points per game last season along with 6.7 assists. When healthy, he is an elite-level guard who has never had true control over his own offense.
If Houston is serious about winning a championship this year, an offer of VanVleet, Dorian Finney-Smith, and the rights to the Brooklyn Nets' 2027 first-round pick swap is intriguing, and Cleveland may take the bait.
This idea relies on how the Cavaliers view their future. Beginning the season off 15-12 and scoring zero points in overtime against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, may be an eye-opener. Not that they should enter full rebuild mode, but brainstorming the possibilities of what you can get back for players like Garland, Jarrett Allen, or even one of their many wings.
Garland could be the primary playmaker that Houston desperately needs to make themselves true contenders, and the Cavaliers could reshape their team while remaining competitive.
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