Rockets should consider flipping Ryan Anderson for one of these wings

The Rockets know Ryan Anderson can’t help them defeat their Warriors. They’re hoping they can trade him for a quality wing who can help them overcome Golden State.

Some people believe Daryl Morey has an unhealthy obsession with helping the Rockets overcome the Warriors. That means the Houston GM is never done looking to upgrade his roster. Morey’s latest quest is to turn Ryan Anderson, plus the team’s 2019 first round draft pick, into a wing who is capable of staying on the floor against Golden State.

The framework of any potential deal is pretty straightforward. The Rockets would like to trade Anderson, and his massive contract to a team that has a wing who can play, but is likely overpaid. Making such a move will cost Houston a first round pick. If they have the type of season they’re planning on, it will be a pick late in the round.

There seem to be three main options for this kind of deal. In this piece, we examine which player would represent the best acquisition for the Rockets. We start with someone very familiar with playing Golden State in the postseason.

3. J.R. Smith

Cleveland would be more than happy to get rid of the mercurial shooting guard. He’s had excellent moments for the Cavaliers, but they’ve grown tired of his antics. His inability to master the concept of time and score late in playoff games makes him particularly expendable for the franchise.

On one hand, Smith is a better player than Anderson. When he’s locked in, he has the talent to serve as an effective wing defender against a number of players the Warriors like to feature. Specifically, he’s done a quality job on Klay Thompson in the past.

Gambling on Smith to help you win a title is fraught with danger though. Just ask LeBron James how that works out. The Rockets would be smart to focus their energy on one of the next two players we will evaluate.