The Houston Rockets didn't trade a single member of its under-25 core last winter. The same pattern continued in the summer. Houston general manager Rafael Stone may now be more enticed to make a blockbuster move before the upcoming NBA trade deadline on Feb. 6.
Houston narrowly missed the playoffs at 41–41 last season, sitting well below .500 as the trade deadline passed. The calculus is different as of late January. The Rockets sit No. 2 in the Western Conference standings at 32–14 following Tuesday's win at the Atlanta Hawks. Ime Udoka's team sits No.