The Houston Rockets made the playoffs this year for the first time since 2020. Ime Udoka's group went 52-30 in the regular season.
The Rockets were the second seed in the Western Conference and faced the Golden State Warriors in the first round. Golden State won the series in seven games, ending Houston's special campaign.
According to multiple reports, the Rockets are interested in trading for Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, who is open to playing for Houston.
If the Rockets can't pull off a Durant trade, though, Andre Snellings of ESPN proposed that the franchise make a trade to acquire a six-time NBA All-Star.
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka
This NBA trade idea would give Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka DeMar DeRozan.
Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Snellings proposed that the Rockets trade Dillon Brooks and the 10th pick in this year's draft for Sacramento Kings veteran DeMar DeRozan.
"The Rockets were No. 2 in the West this season with a young, talented unit that was strong on defense but lacked individual scoring ability," Snellings wrote. "The latter was apparent in their first-round loss to the Golden State Warriors, as their leading scorer, wing Jalen Green, struggled as the focal point of the Warriors' defense, and the Rockets weren't able to find other ways to create offense.
"Enter DeRozan, one of the league's best isolation scorers, who is coming off his 12th straight season averaging more than 20 points. DeRozan would provide a huge lift to the Rockets' half-court offense with his ability to create consistent high-level shots off the dribble while also taking some of the burden off Green and Alperen Sengun.
"Plus, the Rockets have a plethora of talented defenders on the wing, including Amen Thompson and Tari Eason, to replace Brooks' defensive abilities."
DeRozan played in 77 games for the Kings this season. He averaged 22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists while shooting 47.7% from the field, 32.8% from beyond the arc and 85.7% from the free-throw line.
A USC product, DeRozan turns 36 in August. He'll make $24.8 million next season. The veteran has played for the Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls and Kings.
DeRozan has career averages of 21.3 points. He's the sixth active leading scorer (25,292 points) in the NBA.