Will Houston Rocket rumors ever stop? Not likely
The Brooklyn Way
Another day, another rumor about Mikal Bridges headed to Houston for draft picks ... and another denial as well. On Tuesday, once again, there was a rumor about the Houston Rockets and Mikal Bridges. Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reported that the Brooklyn Nets have been talking to the Rockets about a trade that would sent the No. 3 pick in the June 26 Draft, originally the Nets own, to Brooklyn in return for Bridges.
In a YouTube video accompanying his mock draft, O’Connor seemed definitive about said talks and the Rockets intentions in his YouTube video accompanying the mock draft (starting at 2:50 in.)
“The Rockets, according to my sources, are listening to trade offers again. They’re talking to the Nets, they’re talking to the Grizzlies,” said O’Connor, whose draft offerings are among the tops in the NBA this time of year. “They could end up moving down to No. 9 if it’s Memphis or out if it’s Brooklyn and then get back Mikal Bridges. We’ll see what the Rockets are doing, but if they’re keeping the No. 3 pick, I see them taking Donovan Clingan.”
That of course was enough for Nets fans to go into our latest social media craze about the possibility of the Nets moving from a modified, limited hangout rebuild or retool to a full-on, tear-it-down to the studs, multi-year tank job, something the organization has said, in so many words, is not in the works.
Indeed, ND quickly got a denial from inside.... within minutes of the KOC news and resulant Twitter splurge...
Got a firm denial on Rockets talks.— NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) June 4, 2024
Specifically, the wording was, “Nope, we’re not” in talks.
Even more confusing was the actual text of The Ringer mock draft re the Nets and Rockets: There was no mention of talks between the two teams just between the Rockets and Grizzlies.
“The Rockets hold out hope that the Nets would be willing to move Mikal Bridges for it. But those same sources say the Nets, on the contrary, prefer to add pieces around Bridges.
Indeed, Bridges-to-the-Rockets is the story that will not die, despite denials and just plain lack of logic. The Nets have had multiple chances to trade him in the nearly year and a half since they acquired him, starting with a Memphis offer of four first rounders (not further described) immediately after the trade went down. And let’s not forget Sean Marks is on the record saying if Bridges wasn’t included in the Kevin Durant trade, that would have been a deal-breaker.
Still, we have been treated to a wave of rumors, apparently coming out of Houston, that the Rockets will offer a treasure of assets, each met with a denial.
The Rockets would be willing to trade “several” of the Nets remaining draft assets held by Houston for Bridges.
The Rockets would be willing to add Jalen Green to the draft picks in a mega offer for Bridges.
The Rockets and other teams have been willing to offer four or even five first round picks for Bridges (Woj said that.)
The Rockets would be willing to swap the remaining Nets draft assets for the Suns draft assets that the Nets hold. Yeah, that was going to fly if it had indeed ever been more than someone’s idea of a good time.
Fans can argue whether going with that full rebuild is the smart strategy, but it doesn’t seem like the underlying story line is real.
Also, we don’t get the motivation if the rumors are emanating from Houston. Are they trying to get Marks to call and say, “okay, you win, let’s talk.” Again, the Nets GM has had that opportunity multiple times. Or maybe someone in the Nets organization is leaking it believing the time for tanking has finally come. That seems highly unlikely considering how tightly wound HSS and the Nets staff can be. State secrets you know.
The bottom line of course is not what’s been rumored over and over again in various permutations but that the Brooklyn Nets are going to build and develop around Mikal Bridges. Other pieces, too, among them Nic Claxton, Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, Noah Clowney, Day’ron Sharpe and maybe even Ben Simmons and Dariq Whitehead if they’re healthy.
Things can always change — Sean Marks loves making moves at the Draft — but at this point, everything points to build and develop: the choice of Jordi Fernandez as head coach, the development-centric roster and even Fernandez’s trip to Miami to talk with Simmons. Not to mention, Bridges continues to show up courtside presence at Liberty games.
So, by now, it should be obvious what the strategy is ... to everyone, including the Rockets front office. We shall see.
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