Houston Linked to 2 Superstars, but 2 Rockets are Untouchable in Trade Talks

The Houston Rockets remain firmly committed to landing a superstar if they can—be it Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant, both of whom they are heavily linked to. But in the meantime, any teams talking trade with them can forget about asking for two young up-and-comers on the club who are considered, essentially, untouchable.

ESPN insider Brian Windhorst tells us that two recent first-round picks aren't going anywhere.

The message they are sending out is that they aren't interested in trading much of their young core right now. Draft steal Tari Eason, for example, has been drawing attention for the past year but has been labeled off limits, sources said. Same for last year's lottery pick Amen Thompson.

Eason was surprisingly nabbed with the No. 17 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and has been upping his production in each of his three seasons, this year to 12 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, plus 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks. He's also averaging a career-high 22.5 minutes per game.

Thompson was a high lottery pick, at 4th overall in 2023, and he, too, has made a nice improvement in this, his second season, now averaging 11.4 points and 6.7 rebounds in 25 minutes a night.

Overall, says Windhorst, the 10-4 Rockets "like their hand. For now." And well they should.

But we all know things change rapidly in the NBA. And if Durant or Giannis become available, the Rockets will be ready to pounce.