With offseason signing Jock Landale unable to secure a rotation spot under head coach Ime Udoka, the Houston Rockets are frequently running 37-year-old forward Jeff Green as the backup center behind Alperen Sengun.
Between Green’s age and an obvious lack of height and bulk, many have wondered if it’s a season-long solution. If Rockets general manager Rafael Stone has his way leading up to the in-season trade deadline of the NBA’s 2023-24 campaign in early February, there will soon be another alternative.
Per Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports:
Houston could look to make an upgrade in their frontcourt behind Alperen Şengün, sources said, after free-agent signee Jock Landale hasn’t become a fixture in head coach Ime Udoka’s rotation.
Fischer didn’t cite a specific Rockets target in his story, which was published Friday. However, he mentioned Atlanta big man Clint Capela, who spent several seasons with Houston in the 2010s, as being among the leading candidates to be on the move. Another option could be Washington’s Daniel Gafford, Fischer writes.
Gafford, 25, is averaging 10.8 points (69.2% FG) and 7.7 rebounds in 25.6 minutes per game, while Capela, 29, is averaging 11.8 points (58.3% FG) and 10.7 rebounds in 25.8 minutes.
[lawrence-related id=119013,118505]
“Houston could look to make an upgrade in their frontcourt behind Alperen Şengün, sources said, after free-agent signee Jock Landale hasn’t become a fixture in head coach Ime Udoka’s rotation.”
Mentions Daniel Gafford as a trade candidate for teams in need of a center https://t.co/YoQ96PMAFn
— Adam Abramson (@Adam_Abramson1) December 23, 2023