Steven Adams Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Rockets trade for player already ruled out for season

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 2/1/24

The Houston Rockets on Thursday made an interesting trade with the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Rockets acquired Steven Adams from Memphis in exchange for Victor Oladipo and three second-round picks.

Adams is out for this season while recovering from knee surgery. But he is also on a two-year, $25 million deal and under contract to make $12.5 million next season. Adams remains a good defensive center when healthy, which is why the Rockets acquired him.

For his part, Oladipo has not appeared in a game this season due to a ruptured patellar tendon he suffered in April during the postseason with the Miami Heat. He was traded to the Oklahoma Thunder over the offseason and then dealt to Houston in the Kevin Porter Jr. trade. Now he and his expiring contract are headed to Memphis.

The bigger deal for the Grizzlies would be the draft picks they are receiving.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Grizzlies are netting two 2024 second-round picks and a 2025 second-round pick in the deal.

The Grizzlies are acquiring two 2024 second-round picks and a 2025 second-round pick in the Steven Adams trade with the Rockets, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 1, 2024

After three straight seasons with a sub-.300 winning percentage, the Rockets made a commitment to turn things around for the 2024 season. They signed Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet over the offseason and are now adding Adams with an eye towards next season. Houston is 22-25 entering play on Thursday.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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