The Houston Rockets‘ championship bid is suddenly in peril after Fred VanVleet tore his ACL, which will keep him out for the season. With the Rockets’ inability to sign a free agent due to cap constraints, their only route to fill the big void in their backcourt is through a trade.
Bill Simmons of The Ringer suggested an opportunistic deal that could send Boston Celtics‘ Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard to Houston in exchange for former No. 3 overall pick Reed Sheppard.
“Yeah, it’s an interesting one, though. Again, it depends—like if Boston’s season goes off the rails fast, who knows?” Simmons said on The Bill Simmons Podcast. “Part of maybe making yourself a little worse for this year would be turning Pritchard, a really good bench guy, borderline decent starter, into a project like Reed Sheppard. You’d have to really like Reed Sheppard.”
Pritchard’s Value and Fit in Houston
Pritchard, coming off a breakout season in which he averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting 47.2% from the field, won Sixth Man of the Year honors. The 6-foot-1 guard played starter minutes as Boston’s top reserve, averaging 28.4 minutes per game. He is under a four-year, $30 million extension signed in 2023, making him an affordable addition for Houston if they pursue him.
NBA analyst Zach Lowe weighed in on Pritchard’s fit with the Rockets, saying, “I don’t think defensively he fits into their culture, but like any of the Celtics guards, why not throw him in? Payton Pritchard would be fine.”
The Rockets’ young backcourt, featuring Sheppard and Amen Thompson, is expected to step up in VanVleet’s absence, but Pritchard could provide the steady hand.
Pritchard has been a contributor on a championship Celtics team, giving him valuable playoff experience and an understanding of what it takes to succeed in high-pressure situations. By contrast, Sheppard is a second-year player still untested in meaningful NBA playoff action. Tasked with running a contending team in VanVleet’s absence, Sheppard faces a steep learning curve despite his talent.
Sheppard Could Be Boston’s Return
Sheppard, still on a four-year, $45.9 million rookie-scale contract, has yet to see a major role in Houston when VanVleet is healthy. The injury creates an opportunity for Sheppard to showcase his abilities, making him a desirable piece for Boston in a potential trade. Lowe noted that Pritchard and Sheppard are close in trade value, though Pritchard’s award-winning performance and longer contract could slightly edge him out.
“I think they’re probably about equal, and Pritchard maybe edges him out by a nose because his contract is longer than I thought,” Lowe said. “He has three years left on his contract at a cheaper salary than Reed Sheppard. Sheppard’s got the intrigue. Pritchard just won Sixth Man of the Year. I would say Pritchard probably has a little bit more next two years trade value.”
Trade Possibility Hinges on Boston’s Season
The Celtics are not chasing a title next season with Jayson Tatum recovering from an Achilles injury. Pritchard’s potential trade hinges on Boston’s early performance, with a slow start possibly prompting the team to consider exchanging him for a younger point guard in Sheppard.
For the Rockets, acquiring Pritchard would provide a proven, controllable guard to stabilize the backcourt while VanVleet is sidelined. If no trade materializes, the team will rely on Sheppard and Thompson to shoulder a larger role, giving the Rockets flexibility while trying to contend in the competitive Western Conference.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Rockets Urged to Trade Reed Sheppard for 6th Man of the Year appeared first on Heavy Sports.