The Houston Rockets are expected to at least dabble in trade talks before the Feb. 9 deadline, but their involvement in this year's trade season likely pales in comparison to that of Friday night's opponent.
Houston will host the Toronto Raptors at the Toyota Center on Friday, with the team north of the border entering the contest as a squad in serious flux. Toronto has under-performed compared to expectation thus far this season, entering Friday sitting at No. 12 in the Eastern Conference at 23–30. The struggles have prompted a potential pivot for general manager Masai Ujiri and company.