Send dual cores + retain the No. 10 pick! The Rockets alternative trading plan is released: Rookie wins to replace Smith

The Rockets have collected many high-ranking rookies in recent seasons, such as second-place pick Jaylen Green, No. 4 Amen Thompson, No. 3 Shepard and Jabbarry Smith Jr. These players have good talents, but none of them have become All-Stars so far. Perhaps the highest ceiling among these players is Amen Thompson. This season he has not only become the starting striker of the Rockets, but also selected for the All-Defensive Team.

Like other players, such as Jaylen Green and Smith Jr., they are also the core of the Rockets. Jaylen Green, the Rockets' outside core, averaged 21 points per game this season, and he beat Shin Kyung to become the Rockets' scoring champion this season. Smith Jr. has also occupied the starting power forward for a long time. His shooting percentage has improved compared to before this season, especially his three-point shooting percentage has reached 35%. Although Smith Jr. is relatively thin and has average offensive ability in the low post in the interior, he is the Rockets' best big outside shooter.

If Jaylen Green and Smith Jr. were sent away in packing, the Rockets would inevitably get an All-Star player, such as Kevin Durant. Rockets' team reporter Jackson Gatlin gave a trading plan. In his opinion, if the Rockets want to get super forward Durant, they need to send out their outside core Jaylen Green and inside core Jabbarry Smith Jr. In addition, the Rockets do not need to give out the No. 10 pick of this year's first round, they need to give out the first round pick of the Suns in 2027 - this first round pick was replaced by the Rockets in last year's trade.

The Rockets reporter believes that if you use these three chips to pack it, you will have a chance to exchange for Durant because this is the limit he can accept. In other words, this team reporter thinks Durant is worth this price. If it exceeds this price, the Rockets will obviously suffer a loss.

So if Durant comes, where will the Rockets' No. 4 position go? On the one hand, Durant can actually be competent as a power forward; on the other hand, Rockets' Amen Thompson can actually be a power forward. But the team reporter believes that the Rockets should keep the No. 10 pick this year and use it to win a rookie in the draft, making the rookie a replacement for Jabbarry Smith Jr.

In other words, the Rockets' lineup strength has not lost much. The Rockets' forward strength has been greatly enhanced. If the No. 10 pick is used to replace Smith Jr., then the rookie is willing to be a substitute. There are Durant and Amen Thompson in the starting position, and of course this No. 10 pick will also get a certain chance. Outside Amen Thompson and Durant, the No. 10 pick can play Jabbarry Smith Jr., contributing defense and long shots.

In other words, Jabbarry Smith Jr. is a big man who can defend and shoot three-pointers from the outside. It is not too difficult for the Rockets to use this No. 10 draw to win a rookie who looks like Smith Jr. After all, this year's draft is the so-called draft year, and many big men who can shoot are worth the Rockets' choice. If Durant can get and Smith Jr.'s stand-in with the No. 10 draw, the Rockets' forward strength will quickly improve next season.