The Houston Rockets managed to snag veteran center Steven Adams from Memphis in exchange for Victor Oladipo and three second round picks (two in 2024, one in 2025).
The deal is a win for both sides. Houston has struggled at the center position when All-Star snub Alperen Sengun is not on the floor. Backup center Jock Landale has been unimpressive thus far off the bench, only averaging 2 points on two rebounds. He has come in a few times in clutch situations and made horrendous turnovers. Jeff Green plays a gritty brand of basketball, but at only 6’8, it is difficult to play defense on teams like Philadelphia or Minnesota, who have multiple 7-footers on the floor at a time.
Steven Adams had season ending PCL surgery, but next year he will answer the Rockets’ backup center woes, and provide mentorship for young players on his physical style of play.
The Grizzlies will gain a flurry of second-round picks in the upcoming season as they look to improve from their current 18-31 record. They are looking to add a few more pieces around their core of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. Memphis also potentially is able to stay out of cap space hell by moving Adams’ $12.6 million contract away for next year when they were projected to be $20 million over the tax line.
(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
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