It looks like Ime Udoka might be getting his former stagehand back.
Robert Williams, the former Boston Celtics big man, is a player the Houston Rockets are thinking about acquiring at the trade deadline, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports on Friday. Williams joined the Portland Trail Blazers, but his right knee injury is keeping him out of action for the time being.
The Rockets’ head coach, Udoka, is obviously acquainted with Williams. During the 2021–22 season, he was Williams’ coach on the Celtics, and he started Williams at center for Boston’s run to the Finals that year.
Now that Williams is in Houston, Udoka could still make use of his abilities as a potent rebounder, shot-blocker, and energy guy. Alperen Sengun, the starting center, is one of the best offensive big men in basketball right now, but he still needs to improve greatly on the defensive end. The Rockets’ backup five minutes are currently being played by the aging, undersized Jeff Green and the low-upside Jock Landale (with a little bit of Jabari Smith Jr. mixed in too).
Williams’ injury is expected to keep him out of action for the remainder of the season. However, Udoka and the Rockets may have the ideal buy-low opportunity here as Williams is still bound to the team through 2026.
The Utah Jazz are expected to be busy leading up to the NBA trade deadline on February 8 and may consider trading for a few well-known guards.
Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton are both available for trade, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fisher. If the price is right, Talen Horton-Tucker might also be available.
At this point, the Jazz are being approached as both buyers and sellers, but it is obvious that Clarkson and Sexton do not fit into their long-term goals. Although neither has a particularly expensive contract that would qualify as immovable, both are under contract for two more seasons after this one.
It makes sense for Utah to break up some of the deadlock in their backcourt because Keyonte George is pretty much locked in as their point guard of the future. Despite this, with season averages of 18.1 and 17.4 points per game, respectively, Clarkson and Sexton rank as the team’s second and third leading scorers.
This season, Clarkson’s name has already surfaced in trade rumors, with one team in particular being connected to a possible deal.
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