Here it comes! The Rocket trade is finally here!
ESPN's top name revealed that the Rockets and Thunder have reached a massive deal involving 8 players and 1 draft pick, which is about to be announced.
The Rockets purged three players who were not on the plan, Brown, Burke and Chris, while also saying goodbye to defensive tough Nouba. The Rockets got a younger version of Parker Maledon, substitute center Favors, a second-round draft pick, and two additions.
The specific deal went like this: the Rockets sent David Nouba, Sterling Brown, Marquise Chris and Trey Burke, and got the Thunder to get the 2025 second-round pick from the Thunder.
Brown, Burke and Chris either didn't attend training camp because of injuries or were excluded from group matches, and the Rockets wanted to send them away.
David Nouaba, who was once a tough guy who Stone admired, not only got him paid for his injuries in Houston, but also sent him a three-year, $15 million contract last summer. Nouaba's defense is really good, good at fast attack, once played with injuries, is a tough guy, but he is less than 2 meters tall, has no three-point shooting ability, is almost 30 years old and has no room for improvement, and has fallen out of the rotation last season. Last year, "The Grandstand" questioned the Rockets' operation to renew Nouaba's contract, and not long ago suggested that Stone send him away.
Let's take a look at the situation of the four new signings of the Rockets.
Théo Maledon, 21 years old, is 1.96 meters tall, is the No. 34 of 2020, is France's star of hope, known as the younger version of Tony Parker. Maledon, who is much more talented than his peers, has been a winner since childhood, winning the U16 World Cup gold medal, the U17 World Cup silver medal, the French Cup title and MVP, Ligue 1 best rookie. French legend Tony Parker has publicly stated that Maledon is grossly underrated and that he should not fall out of the top ten in the draft.
Maledon averaged 7.1 points, 2.6 boards and 2.2 assists last season, shooting 37.5 percent from the field, 29.3 percent from three-point range and 79 percent from the free-throw line, and scored 20 points in four of his last six games.
It is worth mentioning that Maledon is looking forward to the landing of Venbanyama in the NBA, and the French genius inside line is also the Rockets' number one draft target next year.
Derek Favors, 31, is 2.06 feet tall with a 2.24 meter 24, averaged 5.3 points and 4.7 boards per game last season, shot 51.6 percent from the field and 12.5 percent from three-point range, and is up to the role of a backup center for the Rockets.
Jerome, a 25-year-old 1.96 meter tall, averaged 7.1 points, 1.6 boards and 2.3 assists last season and shot 37.8 percent from the field, 29 percent from three-point range and 80.9 percent from the free-throw line.
Halklis, 29 years old and 2.01 meters tall, averaged 4.6 points and 2.4 boards last season and shot 45.9 percent from the field, 30.7 percent from three-point range and 67.1 percent from the free-throw line.
Salary expert Bobby Max revealed that the four players sent by the Thunder have a total salary of nearly $21 million, while the Rockets have a total salary of less than $14 million.
ESPN revealed that the Thunder's total salary after completing the deal is less than $10 million in luxury tax lines, and the Rockets got a future second-round pick by paying $1 million, and Favors may be able to get things back before the trade deadline.
Rocket journalist Jackson Gatlin revealed that the Rockets received $6.3 million in cash compensation in a deal with the Thunder.
The deal doesn't solve the problem of the Rockets over-list, so Stone will have to lay off employees next. Fagan revealed that the first knife of the layoff was aimed at Ty Jerome, who was not capped, had no cultivation value, and had injury hazards, and had previously missed the Thunder training camp.
Some fans say the Rockets made the deal. The Rockets sent out fringe players, got Favors and Maledon to use, and earned a future draft pick that could be used to pick up leaks.