Rockets eyeing stars whose ages align with young core, per report

The Houston Rockets trailed only the New York Knicks at the center of the buzz leading up to the 2024 NBA Draft.

While the Knicks took the crown after striking a blockbuster trade for Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges, the Rockets made headlines with their reported interest in acquiring Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns.

While that interest (or the rumor of it) died off somewhat quickly, and Suns owner Mat Ishbia quickly ended any thought of a trade happening, the Rockets reportedly remain in star-hunting mode.

But according to The Athletic's Sam Amick and Anthony Slater , Houston is targeting star players whose ages align better with the team's young core.

On the apparent short list of possible stars the Rockets are interested in? Durant's teammate in Phoenix, Devin Booker, along with Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson.

"So, who are the Rockets interested in as franchise centerpiece material?" Amick and Slater wrote. "League sources say that Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell (who is 27 and widely expected to sign an extension with the Cavs soon), the Suns’ Devin Booker (also 27) and New Orleans’ Zion Williamson (23) would all fit the bill. The only problem, of course, is that none of them are expected to be available anytime soon."

The only one of those names who's truly been mentioned as a possible trade candidate is Mitchell following the Cavaliers' loss in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. However, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported that the "league-wide expectation" is that Mitchell will sign a contract extension to remain in Cleveland.

Barring something changing drastically, the Rockets may need to extend their list of a potential stars to target, at least if they hope to make a move sooner rather than later.