The NBA trade rumors continue to host the Houston Rockets front and center, and their best trade asset is Terrence Jones.
Talks about the former Kentucky forward is now escalating with multiple teams allegedly expressing interest like the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns.
Recently, Bleacher Report identified the "most attractive trade assets" and Terrence Jones came out on top.
"There is no discernible reason why teams on the hunt for really good basketball players wouldn't want Jones," BR reasons. "In many ways, then, Jones is the future of NBA big men. Not only is he fully capable of hitting threes, but he can protect the house."
Terrence Jones will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season so teams that trade for him will have the right to match any offer that gets thrown toward Terrence. With all the positive feedback, perhaps the question is why would the Houston Rockets even trade him?
That discussion was sparked by The Dream Shake as Jones seems to be better than anyone the Rockets could acquire in exchange for him. However, Jones was recently relegated to the bench in favor of Donatas Motiejunas, and it seems clear that Jones is a luxury and trading him could help the Rockets fill a void on a different position (like point guard).
"Finding your time is a challenge sometimes," Jones said now that he's an off the bench player. Other teams can offer him a starting position.
"Coming in off the bench is just a little different and I'm just trying to maintain staying warm over there," Jones continued. "Coming in with (a) little sweat is tough sometimes."
The main option for the Rockets was to attach Jones, an attractive asset to Ty Lawson, a player who totally bottomed this year but still carries a hefty (albeit expiring) contract. The Rockets want to get rid of Lawson, but it might take trading Jones to convince another team to accept Lawson.