Rockets remain uninvolved as NBA trade deadline passes

The NBA has been on a roster carousel ahead of the 2026 trade deadline, but the Rockets have been unexpectedly absent from the mayhem.

Teams had until 2 p.m. Thursday to finalize deals, and several stars and key role players found new homes before that mark.

The biggest move saw the Dallas Mavericks send Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards to pair the star center with Trae Young, who was acquired by Washington in January. In return, Dallas received a package centered around former Texas A&M standout Khris Middleton and five total draft picks.

READ MORE: Wizards acquiring Anthony Davis from Mavericks in 8-player trade, AP source says

In another blockbuster, former Rockets MVP guard James Harden was shipped from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a 2026 second-round pick.

As the moves piled up around the league, many Rockets fans waited for Houston to jump in. But such a splash never happened.

The Rockets’ offseason acquisitions led many experts to project them as a legitimate Finals contender, even in the ever-competitive Western Conference.

That confidence was tested before the season even began, when starting point guard Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL in practice, ending his campaign before it started. Houston lost its primary ball-handler, but the injury wasn’t seen as enough to derail the entire season.

Then the games began, and the early results gave fans reason to believe.

The Rockets started 16-6, stacking blowouts over struggling teams and close wins against projected playoff squads. The ball-handling concerns still lingered, but the vibes were high.

Then the losses started creeping in—and not just against contenders.

Houston dropped an overtime game to the 6-22 New Orleans Pelicans after blowing a 25-point lead, then followed it with back-to-back defeats against the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers, two teams that were multiple games below .500 at the time.

Then on Jan. 28, minor concern turned into debatable panic.

Rockets center Steven Adams needed season-ending surgery on his left ankle, turning what looked like a weeks-long absence into a total loss.

MORE ON THE INJURY: Rockets center Steven Adams undergoes season-ending ankle surgery

Adams was technically a role player, but he was one of Houston’s most valuable pieces.

He made 11 starts in 32 appearances, and his screen-setting helped create open looks for shooters like Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr. His offensive rebounding also gave Houston crucial second chances—especially after losing VanVleet’s shot creation.

Facing these new realities while employing 37-year-old superstar Kevin Durant put the Rockets in an uncomfortable spot.

From the moment Houston acquired Durant last offseason, the franchise has been in win-now mode. When you have an all-time talent, every season is a chance to hang a banner—and that urgency only grows when Father Time could come calling at any time.

Durant has, by all accounts, taken immaculate care of his body, and he has largely avoided major injuries since his Achilles tear during the 2019 NBA Finals. Still, caution is appropriate when you’re dealing with a near-7-footer in his 18th season.

As you might expect, reports soon surfaced that the Rockets would likely be involved in a deadline deal. More specifically, Houston was widely viewed as a team in the market for guard help.

But as the deadline neared, several players who had been linked to Rockets chatter were dealt elsewhere.

Keon Ellis, a Kings guard with three-and-D upside, was traded to the Cavaliers as part of a package on Jan. 31.

Veteran point guard Mike Conley was dealt to the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 3.

That move appeared to open the door for Coby White—another name connected to Houston—but White was sent to the Charlotte Hornets that same day, with Conley included in that package for good measure.

Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu was dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 4.

And as a last gasp, the Rockets could have pursued Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, a steal-specialist aptly nicknamed “Grand Theft Alvarado.” Instead, he was dealt to the New York Knicks.

Now, the Rockets sit with just hours until the deadline, facing the same roster concerns they did yesterday—and, truthfully, the same ones they’ve had for weeks.

Does Houston believe the problems are overstated? Are the Rockets willing to mulligan this season and reload for 2027? Or do they think the roster can stabilize with more time in the new normal?

Another possibility, is that they just didn’t find a deal they liked.

Is it possible they’ve been holding their assets, watching the rest of the league play musical chairs, all to make a last-second move that opens their title window?

Rockets general manager Rafael Stone has cultivated a reputation as one of the NBA’s most savvy executives. Wherever his mind is Thursday afternoon, he’s earned the benefit of the doubt.

Now that the door has shut, Rockets fans should brace themselves for more of the same. Whether that’s a good or a bad thing is still up in the air, though.