NBA Trade Rumors: Rockets target $49,205,800 All-Star as co-star for Alperen Sengun amid championship push 

Currently sitting in second place in the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets are a team that could seek upgrades ahead of the trade deadline. As the rumor mill continues to swirl, one insider connected them to a Western Conference All-Star.

As we approach the halfway point in the regular season, Houston finds themselves with a 26-12 record. Aside from a few veteran players like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, their roster features a plethora of exciting young players. Among the most notable is Alperen Sengun, who is putting together his best year in the pros.

During Wednesday's episode of the Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN's Tim MacMahon touched on the Rockets' possible trade avenues down the road. They still hope to build a star internally, but if they were to survey the landscape, Devin Booker is someone they are very high on.

(14:50) "That's something they'll have to look at on the trade market," MacMahon said. "Wether it's De'Aaron Fox this summer, certainly they've got a lot of Suns draft capital and they've let it be known they are Devin Booker fans."

While the Suns have been in trade rumors a lot recently, they have no plans on moving on from Booker. He is their lone homegrown talent and a player they are very invested in him. Booker just started the first year of an extension he signed in 2022, earning $49.2 million this season.

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Houston Rockets veteran labeled as trade candidate by NBA insider

Armed with an abundance of young talent and draft capital, the Houston Rockets have the pieces to swing a big trade if one comes available. That said, if they wanted to remain patient, there are smaller moves they could make as well.

In a recent column for The Athletic, NBA insider John Hollinger broke down under-the-radar players who could be on the move at the deadline. Among those to come up was a veteran on Houston's roster, forward Jeff Green.

Hollinger noted that Green's contract could be used in a small move, but that the front office is monitoring the market for any possible big swings.

"With Houston pushing to stay in the West’s upper crust, the Rockets are known to be shopping. Carefully, perhaps, given how young the roster is, but if the right player becomes available, Houston has the contracts and assets — both young players and picks — to pounce.

Green could also be part of something slightly less sexy. Consider, say, a deal that attached Green to two seconds for an upgrade at backup center or backup point guard, or to get one more threatening shooter in the mix."

Green is in the final year of his contract, and making a team-friendly $8 million. This makes him a prime candidate to be moved, as contenders might want his veteran presence. On the season, Green is averaging 3.4 points and 1.2 rebounds.

Between the team's overall success and the assets at their disposal, the Rockets are a team capable of shifting the NBA landscape in the coming weeks.