The Houston Rockets have quickly bounced back from a shaky start following Fred VanVleet’s season-ending ACL injury, reeling off three straight wins to climb back into early playoff contention.
But with the window to capitalize on 37-year-old Kevin Durant’s championship run narrowing, some insiders believe Houston should go all-in — even if it means parting with promising young assets.
Bleacher Report Proposes Blockbuster 3-Team Deal
Bleacher Report salary cap analyst Eric Pincus proposed a bold three-team trade that would land the Rockets a battle-tested replacement for VanVleet in Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.
Proposed trade (via Bleacher Report):
Rockets receive: Derrick White (Celtics), Haywood Highsmith (Nets), and a $5 million trade exception (via Reed Sheppard).
Celtics receive: Reed Sheppard (Rockets), Jalen Wilson (Nets), a 2029 first-rounder (via Rockets), and a $28.1 million trade exception (via White).
Nets receive: Fred VanVleet (Rockets) and a 2027 first-rounder (via Rockets).
Under the proposal, the Nets would acquire two 2027 first-round picks — the lower ones between Houston, Brooklyn, and Phoenix — while the Celtics would receive the second-lowest 2029 pick among Houston, Dallas, and Phoenix.
Why Derrick White Fits Perfectly in Houston
Getty Will the Houston Rockets trade for Derrick White of the Boston Celtics?
Pincus believes the Rockets need a proven guard who can handle playoff-level pressure — something rookie Amen Thompson, though athletically gifted, isn’t yet ready to do as a full-time creator.
“Amen Thompson is one of the NBA’s most exciting young players, but it’s a lot to expect him to handle playoff defenses as Houston’s primary creator,” Pincus wrote. “Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün are tremendously skilled, but a lead guard with more experience like White could push Houston into top-tier contention.”
White, a former NBA champion under Rockets coach Ime Udoka in Boston, brings the kind of two-way reliability and system familiarity that could stabilize Houston’s backcourt.
“White has championship experience, is comfortable at both guard spots, shoots well and plays defense,” Pincus added. “He’s expensive, but the Rockets would stay under the first apron this year and could still negotiate with Tari Eason this summer to avoid the second apron.”
Houston’s Young Core Is Ready to Win Now
The Rockets’ recent surge has been powered by balanced scoring and defense, but without VanVleet, they still lack a veteran ball handler capable of leading them through the postseason grind.
While Reed Sheppard (10.4 points, 3.4 assists) has shown flashes, Pincus argued that flipping him for a proven playoff guard like White makes sense — especially after Houston already traded away former No. 2 pick Jalen Green in the Durant deal.
“The cost is Sheppard, a highly regarded prospect who needs more minutes and a greater role to develop properly, and two future first-round picks,” Pincus explained.
Haywood Highsmith, recovering from a knee injury, would add defensive depth once healthy, while a starting lineup featuring Durant, White, Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Şengün could rank among the NBA’s elite.
Houston’s Next Step: Go All-In
The Rockets’ recent winning streak has revived optimism, but Pincus believes standing pat would be a mistake.
With Durant anchoring their title hopes and VanVleet sidelined, a move for White could transform Houston from a feel-good story into a true Western Conference contender.
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