NBA Trade Rumors: 5 players unlikely to be back with the Houston Rockets for the 2020-21 season

The Houston Rockets have lots of work to do if they want to push for a deep postseason run next season. Former GM Daryl Morey has stepped down and the head coach search is still on. The roster also needs changes and several NBA trade rumors are already doing the rounds about potential moves.

NBA Trade Rumors: 5 players unlikely to return for the Houston Rockets for the 2020-21 season

The Houston Rockets don't have a lot of room to improve. Yet they need to pull off several NBA trade moves to overhaul a major chunk of their roster, one that's all-in on small-ball and lacks size. On that note, let us look at five players unlikely to be back with the Houston Rockets for the 2020-21 season.

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#1 Robert Covington

Robert Covington

Robert Covington was actively recruited by the Houston Rockets at the NBA trade deadline last season. Covington was the vital cog that made the small-ball lineup a possibility. He repaid the franchise's faith in him as well, managing 11.2 points while shooting at 50% from downtown in the 2020 playoffs.

ROBERT COVINGTON pic.twitter.com/uDAbsXqu8O

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) August 1, 2020

Covington is by no means a bad player. However, he's one of Houston's few assets with good trade value. If they want to go big again with their line-up, Covington will have to be moved in return for a taller and physical center.

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#2 Bruno Caboclo

Bruno Caboclo

Already a journeyman in a sense, Bruno Caboclo is yet to find his footing in the NBA having been drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 2014. The Houston Rockets acquired him from Memphis Grizzlies in a trade deal that saw Jordan Bell go the other way.

Highlights of #Rockets F Bruno Caboclo during a recent private run (via elitebballtraining IG) pic.twitter.com/D49y7MkO7b

— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) June 15, 2020

Caboclo was nothing more than a cover for the Houston Rockets at the center spot. He played a total of 59 minutes for them, seven of which came in the playoffs. Out of a contract, there's no reason why the Rockets will offer him a new deal this offseason.

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#3 DeMarre Carroll

DeMarre Carroll

DeMarre Carroll has been in the NBA for 11 years now and played meaningful roles for several franchises during his career. However, the last few seasons have seen Carroll feature in a reduced role. He was picked up by the Houston Rockets in late February after being waved by the San Antonio Spurs.

.@DeMarreCarroll1 with back-to-back baskets. @memorialhermann l #OneMission pic.twitter.com/SjTXZuHDQf

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) August 11, 2020

Unfortunately for Carroll, he wasn't able to make enough of an impact in the 17 minutes of game time he averaged for the Rockets, averaging 6 points on 43.2% shooting. Out of a contract, Carroll is unlikely to be re-signed by the team.

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#4 Tyson Chandler

Tyson Chandler

Tyson Chandler signed with the Houston Rockets in free agency at the beginning of the 2019-20 season. He played a few meaningful minutes at the start of the season for the franchise but those dried up once the Rockets went small.

Chandler only managed 1.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game during the regular season for the Houston Rockets. His involvement in the playoffs was merely limited to two free throw attempts against OKC Thunder, both of which he missed. He'll also be parting ways with the Houston Rockets in free agency.

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#5 Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook

If the Houston Rockets want to make meaningful changes to their roster, they will probably have to consider NBA trade options for Russell Westbrook.

The former MVP averaged 27.2 points, 7 assists, and 7.9 rebounds per game last season so he certainly has a lot of value. However, his knack for absolutely exploding in the playoffs cannot be ignored either. He simply couldn't get it done along with James Harden when it mattered the most.

In 2019-20, Russell Westbrook averaged:27.2 points,7.9 assists,7.0 rebounds and1.6 steals.Per @bball_ref, the only players in NBA history to match or exceed those per-game averages throughout a full season are:Michael Jordan in 1988-89,LeBron James in 2009-10

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) October 17, 2020

The Houston Rockets tried their luck with this duo but it didn't really work out. Trading Harden is not an option while Eric Gordon's contract is too difficult to move. As such, the Rockets are better off trying to trade Russell Westbrook in return for another superstar or multiple role players.

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