NBA Rumors: Rockets 'Runaway Pick' by Insiders as Team to Watch for Next Star Trade

Many within the NBA reportedly view the Houston Rockets as the top candidate to make the next major trade for a star player.

According to ESPN's Tim Bontemps, the Rockets are the "runaway pick as the team to watch when the next star becomes available," due to their combination of young players and draft picks, as well as the presence of a quality head coach in Ime Udoka.

An anonymous Eastern Conference scout expressed their belief that the Rockets could shake the league to its core by making a significant move, saying: "The whole landscape of the league could change based off what they do."

Even without a true superstar on the roster, the Rockets have been among the best teams in the NBA this season, as their 21-9 record is good for second place in the Western Conference.

On the heels of eight consecutive playoff appearances, the Rockets traded James Harden, and they have subsequently missed the playoffs in four straight years.

The first three years of the drought saw them win 22 or fewer games each year, but they took a massive leap forward last season, going 41-41.

Adding veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks played a big role in the improvement, as did the development of young stars such as Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green and Jabari Smith.

This season, the Rockets have seven players who are averaging double figures in scoring, including second-year man Amen Thompson, who is a strong candidate for Sixth Man of the Year honors.

While the Rockets don't necessarily want to destroy their depth and move out a ton of blossoming stars in order to get an established one, it is difficult to envision them contending for a championship in their current form.

Houston has been linked to both Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in recent months with NBA insider Marc Stein calling Durant a "dream trade target" for the Rockets.

Durant or Antetokounmpo would speed up the Rockets' timeline considerably, although there is no indication that the Suns or Bucks are looking to trade them right now.

Whatever they decide to do, the Rockets are dealing from a position of strength in that they don't have to make a move unless they feel like they are getting a good deal.

Even if they stand pat, they are a top team that figures to continue getting better as their players grow and develop.

At the same time, it may be difficult to resist the allure of going for it should the opportunity to present itself, so it is understandable why the Rockets are considered a team to watch in NBA circles.