Jamal Murray to the Rockets - January trade

jowglenn · Post #1 » by **jowglenn** » Fri Aug 21, 2026 3:50 pm

The Nuggets are between a rock and a hard place; maybe they can reconfigure the team a bit but it seems to me they have few good options.

The Rockets are missing a true lead guard - I don't think Van Vleet will ever be close to his old self.

This trade can occur after January 15th

Nuggets trade: Jamal Murray, Zeke Nnaji

Rockets trade: Fred Van Vleet, Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason

Why for Nuggets: Split Murray's contract into an expiring FVV and two younger solid guys. Sheppard's shooting should mesh well with Jokic and Eason's defense will be great flexibility for them.

Why for Rockets: Jamal Murray is an all-star and the exact kind of guy they need as their point guard. They get to roll out a Murray/Thompson/Durant/Smith/Sengun lineup.

louc1970 · Post #2 » by **louc1970** » Fri Aug 21, 2026 4:51 pm

Denver needs to have some FRPs coming back in any trade involving Murray. he is one of the few chips they have (Jokic) that could bring back young players or FRPs.
Without those picks Denver is going to suffer a long recovery as Jokic ages (moves on).

jowglenn · Post #3 » by **jowglenn** » Fri Aug 21, 2026 5:01 pm

louc1970 wrote:Denver needs to have some FRPs coming back in any trade involving Murray. he is one of the few chips they have (Jokic) that could bring back young players or FRPs.
Without those picks Denver is going to suffer a long recovery as Jokic ages (moves on).

OK, maybe. The good news is that Houston has a bunch of 1sts they can spend. I'm not sure you need that much though; Murray, though good, is overpaid, and the Nuggets get a large expiring and two younger guys on much more reasonable deals. Sheppard and Eason are two rotation players.

But if a 1st has to be added... which one? Houston ain't giving up the 2027 Brooklyn 1st; they probably shouldn't give up the phoenix 1st; what about HOU 2028 1st? Or the less favorable of the 2 2029 1sts they own?

Vae Victus · Post #4 » by **Vae Victus** » Fri Aug 21, 2026 5:07 pm

I actually like this deal alot for DEN. Sure FVV is a downgrade from Murray, but they get back a useful 3/4 tweener in Eason and save alot on salary short term as well as dumpin Nnaji's 2 year deal. Thus allowing them more maneuverbility under the 2nd apron. I dont think HOU owes any value tbh, since eating Nnaji is valuable in itself and theyre giving up a coupla useful young players in Eason/Shep. The real question is do they save money on salary this year for making this move, enough to drop em under the 2nd apron.

mademan · Post #5 » by **mademan** » Fri Aug 21, 2026 5:10 pm

Ya throw in a 1st, and i like it for Denver. But thats probably because im a bigger Sheppard fan than most

ThatBoyNick · Post #6 » by **ThatBoyNick** » Fri Aug 21, 2026 5:25 pm

Houston really doesn't have the depth to do 3 rotation guys for 1 with the expectations of competing.

Murray / Smart / Thornton
Thompson / Bogdanovic
Durant
Smith / Tate / Crawford
Sengun / Adams / Capela / Nnaji

Completely anemic on meaningful wing/forward depth.

And plainly I don't believe that team is a real contender for a championship, so would pass short of this tying into a 3/4 team deal where we utilize our picks to land another significant upgrade.

LarsV8 · Post #7 » by **LarsV8** » Fri Aug 21, 2026 5:54 pm

Murray is a nice player but significantly overpaid. Just getting to salary matching alone is incredibly difficult without sending a ton of value in bodies.

Houston's strategy needs to be using picks as the value not combining good young cost controlled pieces.

Vae Victus · Post #8 » by **Vae Victus** » Fri Aug 21, 2026 6:32 pm

Maybe rope in the Clips who have an excess of wings and guards (especially if the Kawhi for Ingram+Dick goes through). Clips would want draft capital or bigs in return.

Kiss of Death · Post #9 » by **Kiss of Death** » Sat Aug 22, 2026 2:44 am

Murray’s contract makes this a no from the Rockets.

They’re better off trading Durant and some of the vets for young players and picks than they are doubling down on older/overpaid players.

gswhoops · Post #10 » by **gswhoops** » Mon Aug 24, 2026 8:47 pm

Nuggets are not going to willingly take a huge step back while Jokic's pending free agency remains unresolved.

basketballwacko2 · Post #11 » by **basketballwacko2** » Wed Aug 26, 2026 1:25 am

mademan wrote:Ya throw in a 1st, and i like it for Denver. But thats probably because im a bigger Sheppard fan than most

How about this and the Rockets most favorable in 2027 and 29.

basketballwacko2 · Post #12 » by **basketballwacko2** » Wed Aug 26, 2026 1:29 am

gswhoops wrote:Nuggets are not going to willingly take a huge step back while Jokic's pending free agency remains unresolved.

This same poster posted a Jokic trade. If they were to rebuild they might be looking at this and the other deal and probably looking to move Gordon and Braun too.

Post #13 » by **theBigLip** » Wed Aug 26, 2026 2:25 am

I think it’s a reasonable trade. Those big max contracts make finances tough under the new CBA. Sure, have one. Two is dicey. But they need to be for true studs that can carry a team. Murray is great, but not $50M a year great. Denver needs to move him or Gordon to get some flexibility. If they don’t, they will lose Jokic.