EVERY-THING SPORTS

Examining 3 teams that could make blockbuster trades sooner rather than later

Astros Yuli Gurriel, Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve, Michael Brantley
The MLB trade deadline is July 30 this year. Composite image by Jack Brame.

Lately, it seems as if Houston sports teams are on the brink of making moves, possibly on the verge of doing so, or maybe even needing to do so. The Texans are a team that feel like they need to do so. The Rockets are a team that feel like they're on the verge of doing so. The Astros are the team on the brink of doing so, especially considering general manager James Click's comments about potentially going way beyond the luxury tax.

Texans

The Texans seem like they need to make some trades. The Deshaun Watson saga isn't coming to an end any time soon. He's their most tradable asset, but is in limbo due to the ongoing investigations in his civil suits. While rumors of a potential settlement and finite resolution to his situation persist, it doesn't seem likely. However, the Texans should keep the lines of communication open. Watson will eventually be available, should his legal woes be straightened out, and the team would be wise to have deals in place the moment he's considered clear. There are teams like the Rams who just lost their starting running back for the season, and the Texans have a surplus at that position. Their offensive line has been built up and teams could always use depth there.

Rockets

With the number two overall pick in the upcoming draft, as well as two other picks later in the first round, the Rockets are poised to help start rebuilding their team. Although they have some undesirable contracts (John Wall and Eric Gordon to be specific), the rumors of them making several moves have not stopped. Wall to the Clippers and Gordon to the Pacers are two moves that have been rumored, as well as rumors about possibly moving up to number one overall. If they can rid themselves of Wall and Gordon's contracts, I'm all for it, but only if they can get expiring contracts and/or young talent in return. Keeping the number two overall pick and making a selection there is more ideal than trading it. This draft is very top heavy. Any the draft could contain some diamonds in the rough, so keeping and/or acquiring more picks would be ideal. The more darts you have to throw, the better your chances are of hitting a bullseye.

Astros

The Astros are the team that will, or should, be the most likely to make a big move. When Click came out and said the team is willing to go above and beyond the luxury tax, I was intrigued. If you listened to ESPN Houston's The Blitz last Friday, Patrick Creighton did a great job of explaining why going way over the tax was a good idea because of the way it's structured. The team is in need of a frontline starter, bullpen help, and possibly another bat. I wrote last week about the team's wish list for the second half of the season. The time is now to empty the clip at any and all trades that could potentially net you another World Series.

While the Texans and Rockets need to make moves in order to rebuild and climb back into contention at some point, the Astros are contenders and need to make moves to keep the window open. Another World Series, particularly this season, would piss in the cereal of all the Astro haters who still can't get over the sign stealing scandal. While I hope all three teams will make the right moves, I only trust the Astros to do so. The Texans and Rockets are too incompetent at the decision-making positions. A broken clock is right two times a day. Here's to hoping the Texans and Rockets both strike on those rare times the broken clock is right, and the Astros keep on ticking.

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Nuggets defeat the Rockets, 116-111. Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images.

Jamal Murray had 39 points, Michael Porter Jr. added 17 points and nine rebounds and the Denver Nuggets beat Houston 116-111 on Sunday night to snap the Rockets' nine-game win streak.

Murray, who scored 17 in the first half, had 17 in the third quarter as Denver outscored the Rockets 39-22 in the quarter to take a 96-79 lead.

Russell Westbrook had 14 points off the bench, Aaron Gordon scored 13 points with eight assists and DeAndre Jordan had 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Nuggets, which shot 51% and were 10 of 21 on 3-pointers.

Jalen Green scored 30 points, and Dillon Brooks added 21 points for Houston. Alperen Sengun had 17 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, and Steven Adams finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Rockets, which shot 44% and were 11 of 34 from behind the arc.

Trailing 109-100 with 1 ½ minutes left, Houston used a 7-1 run to cut the lead to three on a Sengun layup with 21 seconds left, but Christian Braun made two free throws with 19 seconds remaining to push the lead back to five.

Takeaways

Nuggets: Nikola Jokic missed his fourth straight game with left ankle impingement, and Denver improved to 2-2 with him out of the lineup.

Rockets: Houston remains in second place in the Western Conference with 10 games left, but the Nuggets closed to within a game of Houston.

Key moment

Sengun made one of two free throws with 14 seconds remaining, and Murray made two free throws two seconds later to push the lead to 114-108.

Key stat

Houston finished 22 of 34 from the free throw line, while Denver made 18 of 26.

Up next

Denver hosts the Chicago Bulls on Monday night, while Houston hosts the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night.

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