Latest NBA injury news creates win-win trade opportunity for Rockets

The Houston Rockets in finding themselves in a conundrum, as they have got to trim their roster down to fifteen avid gamers sooner than Monday- the league’s mandated cutdown date. The Rockets have 16 avid gamers in general and had robust contributions all through the preseason from as regards to everybody at the roster.

In different phrases, it would possibly not be simple working out who to phase with.

However, it simply turned into a little bit more uncomplicated, in gentle of the unlucky injury news to Memphis Grizzlies middle Steven Adams, who’s out for the season because of a knee injury. This leaves the Grizzlies with an enormous hollow at middle, thus developing the desire for an evident alternative. 

Enter Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, who the Rockets bought from the Oklahoma City Thunder closing week within the deal that ended the Kevin Porter Jr. experiment in Houston. Sure, JRE is not precisely a really perfect fill-in for Adams however he’d supply worth for the Grizzlies on the nominal value of a second-round pick out. 

Robinson-Earl was once seen via many as a possible first-round pick out within the 2021 NBA Draft and was once a thieve via the Oklahoma City Thunder within the second-round. At 6-foot-8, JRE displayed the possible to perform as a small-ball middle or energy ahead, which might be an enormous worth upload for a Grizzlies staff this is now with out Brandon Clarke and Adams.

JRE supplies ground spacing, as his 3-point shot can stretch the ground. As a rookie, the 22-year-old made 35.2 p.c of his threes on 3.4 makes an attempt.

In his moment season, JRE made 33.3 p.c of his triples on 2.6 makes an attempt. And that is a little bit skewed, because of an injury he suffered closing season, as he was once capturing 38 p.c from deep on 2.8 makes an attempt previous to the injury, adopted via 22.8 p.c within the 17 video games after returning (8-of-35 on 2 makes an attempt).

So we all know he may give capturing, which might be a great addition to a Grizzlies staff that ranked twenty third in 3-point capturing share in 2022-23. 

JRE is a switchable defender, because of his measurement and athleticism, which is largely his largest worth upload. JRE has a somewhat prime defensive IQ, which is how he is controlled to make up for his loss of measurement on that finish.

Grizzlies trainer Taylor Jenkins is a defensive specialist, as evidenced via the Grizzlies’ ranks in defensive potency during the last 4 seasons:

-2020-21: sixth in defensive score
-2021-22: 4th in defensive score
-2022-23: second in defensive score

Perhaps the most important aspect that Adams has supplied Memphis is his rebounding talent, as he is averaged 10.6 rebounds in step with contest and four.8 offensive rebounds all the way through his stint with the Grizzlies. JRE may give equivalent manufacturing, as he averaged 9.1 rebounds and a couple of.5 offensive rebounds in step with 36 mins as a rookie, adopted via 8 rebounds and three.1 offensive forums closing season.

The Grizzlies could be sensible to make the decision to Rockets GM Rafael Stone and get the trade executed for Robinson-Earl.