Tari Ethan will definitely be traded if he doesn t renew his contract! Three sets of plans are the best choice, the best rookie will help the Rockets

Tari Ethan's contract renewal is pending, and the Rockets' three trading plans are exposed. The Best Rookie may join

Recently, the Houston Rockets' contract renewal negotiations with forward Tari Ethan are deadlocked. The two sides have significant differences in the amount and terms of the contract, which greatly increases the possibility of Ethan being traded. Against this background, three sets of interesting trading plans have surfaced, providing new ideas for the Rockets' future layout, including many players of the best rookie level to help the Rockets.

The contract renewal deadlock: salary and injury clauses are hindering

Tari Ethan has shown extraordinary potential since being selected by the Rockets with the 17th pick in the first round in 2022. He played all the rookie season, averaged 9.3 points, 6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, and was successfully selected for the second team of the All-Rookie Team. He continued to improve this season, averaging 12.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, and his shooting percentage was as high as 48.9%. Especially his outstanding performance on the defensive end made him an indispensable force on the Rockets' forward line.

However, negotiations on renewals are difficult. Ethan's team expects to receive a four-year contract of $110 million to $120 million, while the Rockets give a four-year offer of $90 million, including injury clauses. If Ethan misses too many games due to injury, the Rockets have the right to deduct part of their salary. This gap and conditions put the negotiations in a deadlock. From the Rockets' perspective, the team's salary space is limited, and they still need to renew their contracts with rookies such as Amen Thompson and Shepard in the future. At the same time, Ethan's potential injuries and unstable attendance make the Rockets have to consider carefully when renewing their contracts. In the past two seasons, Ethan has played a total of 57 games, with effusions in his right knee repeatedly, and he often rested back to back games. The team doctor's assessment was that "the attendance of 60 games in the season is optimistic", which undoubtedly made the Rockets have some concerns about renewal.

Plan 1: 3-for-1 with the Nuggets. The Rockets signed in the first round

US media "NBA Analysis" suggested that the Denver Nuggets could submit a 3-for-1 trading offer to the Rockets. The specific plan gives the Nuggets Payton - Watson + the 2031 Nuggets first-round pick + the 2030 Nuggets first-round pick swap rights, and gets Tari Ethan of the Rockets. For the Nuggets, after the team gave Murray a maximum salary, the space was tight, and it was difficult to provide Aaron Gordon with a maximum salary, so it was necessary to find a replacement. Ethan performed well on the defensive end. With his height, wingspan advantages and fast movement, he was extremely threatening when competing for rebounds and defense. He averaged 7 rebounds in 21.8 minutes per game, which could provide strong support for Jokic in the interior.

Rockets can obtain two first-round picks through this transaction, creating conditions for subsequent trading of superstar players, supplementing the team's future draft resources, and helping the team rebuild. Payton Watson is young but his potential has not been fully realized. The Rockets can use their own training system to tap their potential. At the same time, the addition of the first round pick will give the Rockets more choices in future drafts.

Plan 2: Exchange 4 with the Thunder, Carson Wallace's trading plan between the Rockets and the Thunder is also eye-catching. The Rockets sent Ethan, Tate, the 2027 Suns first round pick and the 2028 first round pick, and exchanged the Thunder for Carson Wallace, Jaylen Williams and the 2027 second round pick. As the No. 10 pick in the first round of 2023, Carson Wallace showed amazing adaptability in his rookie season. He averaged 24.1 minutes per game, contributed 7.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals, shooting percentage of 44.2% and three-point shooting percentage of 35.1%.

This 1.93-meter-tall defender has a top-notch defense awareness. His 1.4 steals are among the top in rookies, and his counterattack efficiency ranks in the top 30% of the league. It is an important puzzle for the Thunder's outside defense system. For the Rockets, Wallace's addition can directly strengthen the shortcomings in the backcourt defense. The Rockets currently rely on Jaylen Green and Van Vreet in the backcourt, but the two of them have insufficient defensive stability. Wallace's arrival can build a tighter outside defense line, which has a defensive style of speed and confrontation, and can adapt to the defensive system emphasized by Uduka. In addition, Wallace's organizational ability is also underestimated. His assist-and-turnover ratio reaches 2.1, which is superior among young defenders. He can share the team's organizational pressure and make Green focus more on scoring.

After the Thunder got Ethan and Tate, their forward strength increased greatly. Ethan's athletic talent, rebounding ability, and Tate's tough style of playing can enhance the team's competitiveness. The Thunder got multiple first-round picks by sending two first-round picks, and they can also have more room for operation in future drafts.

Plan 3: 2-for-2 with the 76ers, Ethan exchanges first-round picks and potential guards

Recently, news has been reported that the Houston Rockets and the Philadelphia 76ers are discussing a core deal of 2-for-2. The Rockets plan to send forward Tari Ethan with unlimited potential and a second round pick in 2028 in exchange for the 76ers Jared McCain and the 2028 Clippers' first round pick. Ethan quickly made his mark after entering the league and continued to evolve this season, averaging 12.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of up to 48.9%. After getting Ethan, the 76ers can enhance the team's forward strength. His excellent defensive ability and rebounding awareness can adapt to the 76ers' tactical system and provide strong support around Embiid. The Rockets can get a first-round pick and potential defender McCain, enriching the team's back line selection and adding vitality to the team's future development. Jared McCain, although a rookie, showed outstanding scoring and game reading skills in the summer league and limited regular season playing time, and his addition is expected to inject new vitality into the Rockets' back line.

At present, Ethan's trading situation is still unclear, but these three plans undoubtedly provide references to the Rockets in different directions.. Regardless of the final result, Ethan's whereabouts will have an important impact on the Rockets and the future of the team involved in the transaction, which deserves fans' continued attention.