ESPN’s Brian Windhorst raised some eyebrows last week when mentioning the Houston Rockets as a potential suitor for Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell this summer. Other teams named were the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and Brooklyn Net

Mitchell’s status is uncertain because he has just one year remaining on his contract, 2024-2025, before he can exercise a player option and become an unrestricted free agent. Mitchell is slated to earn $35.41 million next season. The Cavaliers acquired Mitchell prior to the 2022-2023 season in a blockbuster trade from Utah in hopes that adding a superstar talent to the team’s young core of Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and Darius Garland would push the franchise into title contention. The Cavs were eliminated from the postseason on Wednesday at the hands of the Boston Celtics.

If the Rockets were interested in acquiring Mitchell, Houston general manager Rafael Stone has an abundance of assets with which to deal. He could package any of his “Core 6” of young prospects (Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason, and Amen Thompson) along with the third pick in this summer’s draft, and any of future draft picks due from the Brooklyn Nets over the next three years. Any deal would almost surely include Green given that he and Mitchell play the same position. Green, who had an up and down third season, is eligible for a contract extension as soon as this summer.