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The Houston Rockets' 2025-26 season didn’t end the way they were hoping.
Although Houston fought back against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the postseason and came close to overcoming a 3-0 series deficit, they were ultimately eliminated in six games.
It’s unclear if the franchise will make any drastic moves to elevate its roster. However, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley recently urged the franchise to complete a blockbuster trade with the Washington Wizards that they couldn’t refuse.
Buckley’s hypothetical trade pitch would swap the Rockets’ 23-year-old All-Star for a 33-year-old for a Los Angeles Lakers NBA champion reject.
“Big changes might yet be on the menu, then, and there aren't many realistic ones that would qualify as bigger than adding the Brow (Anthony Davis),” Buckley wrote Wednesday. “Davis might have more than his share of availability concerns, but he is an elite producer whenever he hits the hardwood.”
“You could cautiously pencil him in for 20/10/2 and realistically hope for more like 25/12/2.5. While he played only 71 games over the past two seasons combined, he made 75 appearances in the prior campaign. He also made All-NBA second team, All-Defensive first team, and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting that season.”
“The Rockets could have a cheat-code defensive combo with Davis and (Amen) Thompson (not to mention the recently signed Marcus Smart), plus an overpowered offensive pairing with Davis and (Kevin) Durant. VanVleet would be around to keep everyone fed, while Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed (Sheppard).”
For clarity, the Rockets would send Alperen Sengun and Dorian Finney-Smith to the Wizards for Davis, Justin Champagnie, and a 2029 first-round pick (via the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, or Portland Trail Blazers).
If the Rockets elect to go all-out for Davis, they’ll encounter the same issue that’s currently plaguing the Golden State Warriors. Essentially, after selecting former BYU star AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and signing Trae Young to a four-year, $212 million extension, the Wizards have made it clear they aren’t listening to trade offers for Davis.
With the 10-time All-Star currently carrying an injury-prone reputation, missing out on him wouldn’t be the end of the world for Houston. However, there’s no denying that Davis is dynamic when he’s at his best, as he possesses the low-post dominance, mid-post fluidity, and shot-blocking chops found in elite frontcourt contributors.
As it stands now, though, Davis is off the table.
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