NBA Trade Rumors: Rockets Have Their Eye On Justin Holiday

The Houston Rockets continue their search for an able wingman, and the latest player to be linked is Justin Holiday of the Chicago Bulls. For those who have kept tabs, this will not be the first time that both parties have been linked. Could there be a different story before the NBA trade deadline this February?

Ever since the Carmelo Anthony experiment failed to gain ground, the Rockets have been looking at several options. Before Holiday, notable names that were available include Jimmy Butler and Trevor Ariza. As most know by now, Butler is with the Philadelphia 76ers, while Ariza returned to the Washington Wizards.

Hence, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey will have to skim the market once more to get a reliable wingman who can play defense and hit from the outside when needed. Holiday now looms as the logical fit if the Rockets pursue him from the Bulls.

USA Today singled out some interesting stats on the 29-year-old player, someone who ranks eighth in the league in three-pointers made and owns a respectable 36.2 percent shooting clip from beyond the arc.

He also does his share on the defensive end, plus the fact that he does carry a team-friendly $9 million contract that he signed back in 2017, according to Spotrac. He is set to earn $4,384,615 for the rest of the season and will become an unrestricted free agent thereafter.

As seen in the current deal of Holiday, the Rockets will have to factor in the remaining money on Holiday’s contract and also consider the possibility of losing him once the 2018-19 NBA season comes to a close. In all likeliness, Houston will dangle some assets in the form of future draft picks – something that will interest the Bulls who are rebuilding themselves.

The Bulls are reportedly open to listening to offers for Holiday since last October if the price is right. Chicago is undergoing its own share of struggles with most players said to be at odds with new head coach Jim Boylen, as covered in a previous post.

The NBA trade deadline is set for Feb. 7, with the Rockets speculated to make a big move to fill in their wing position needs. Holiday is an option but expect Morey to check out other potential players as well – both in the free agent market or from other teams dealing with unhappy players.

Speaking of unhappy players, it also remains to be seen what the Rockets plan to do with Anthony. He has been out of action for quite some time now with no team expressing interest in his services. Will Houston end up waiving the 34-year-old instead?