With only minutes to go before the expiration of the NBA trade deadline, the focus will soon shift back to the NBA schedule and tonight’s games. The Los Angeles Lakers, who could still make a move between now and the deadline, will welcome one of the teams that made a major change before the deadline in the Houston Rockets.
Earlier this week, the Houston Rockets traded long-time center Clint Capela in a four-team deal that landed Minnesota’s Robert Covington with the Rockets. According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Covington is expected to be uniform tonight for the Rockets. The other player they acquired in the trade, Jordan Bell, has been traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
By getting rid of Capela and Bell, the Rockets identity is as clear as can be. They will lean further into the concept of small ball, relying heavily on PJ Tucker at center, due to Russell Westbrook’s inability to shoot well from the outside. This also puts more of an onus on Westbrook, Harden, Tucker, and everyone to be a cohesive rebounding unit.
That thin and small frontcourt will be put to the test tonight by the most bruising team in the league in Los Angeles. They’re physical, bigger and more skilled than every frontcourt. It will be interesting to see if Daryl Morey’s gamble on 3-point shooting outweighing the importance of rebounding works out for Houston tonight.
[lawrence-related id=26476,26433]