The Houston Rockets made an intelligent move by acknowledging the future of the team in the Donatas Montiejunas trade with the Detroit Pistons.
In all the Dwight Howard NBA trade deadline stratosphere and bombardment of news, Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey decided to shift his focus to asset accumulation. The savvy Rockets GM traded power forward Donatas Montiejunas and Marcus Thornton, Thursday, per Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski.
Houston has traded Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton to the Detroit Pistons, league sources tell @TheVertical
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 18, 2016
Shortly after, Wojnarowski announced that Houston’s compensation would be taking in the albatross contract of veteran center Joel Anthony and a protected 2016 first-round pick.
It’s been a turbulent year in Space City, as Kevin McHale was fired just 11 games into the season and J.B Bickerstaff has failed to get the Rockets back into the West’s elite tier. The additions haven’t made a discernible impact and the team has dropped to the bottom half of the league in points allowed per game and defensive efficiency.
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The analytics-wired Morey had to create a necessary chaos, even if it meant dealing players who have been productive, at times, off the bench. For the contending Rockets, who sit just a half game out of eighth place in the West, Anthony is likely to provide little assistance.
Immediate Impact
While a Howard trade could transpire before the deadline at 3 p.m. ET, gauging what Houston pulled off first looks like anybody on the roster is fair game for suitors. A recent report by NBA.com’s Fran Blinebury showed that Howard and James Harden both tried to get each other traded in 2013.
With all the talent Houston possesses, the continuity is far from apparent, explains Blinebury.
"For three seasons with Harden and Howard, the Rockets have lacked leadership on the court and are not seen by opponents as a team that works hard. Firing McHale was the quick and easy move back in November for an organization built on analytics that weren’t adding up to enough wins in the short term. But the truth is the bad defense and sloppy offense that the Rockets brought into the season was more a reflection on the players."
Adding Anthony doesn’t change the lack of effort the Rockets exude on a nightly basis. Despite being a veteran, he’d need to have more talent to become a respectable figure in the clubhouse for the dysfunctional team. As the third-string center, his primary job was to come into games then subsequently foul players or bide enough time for Andre Drummond to re-enter the game.
In 465 career NBA games, Joel Anthony has 1,030 points and 801 fouls. That's straight up impressive.
— Scott Howard (@ScottHoward42) February 18, 2016
Without the additional sweetener, this deal wouldn’t come off as a positive for the Rockets in an analytical or impactful sense. Taking a page out of his understudy Sam Hinkie’s book, Morey came out of this deal looking like the hero.
Future Benefits
Morey could be considered the father figure of assets in the form of basketball players and draft picks. Nabbing a reported first-round pick protected in the top eight selections, it’s almost a given–at this point–that Houston could be selecting twice in the first round of this year’s draft.
Detroit is attempting to make a playoff push, adding Tobias Harris Tuesday, and will likely not spend another year in the lottery–which would be their seventh straight appearance.
If the Rockets can’t surpass the Portland Trail Blazers or the Utah Jazz in the standings, which could be a possibility if Howard switches zip codes, Houston could have two, albeit slim, shots and landing a top pick in the 2016 draft. At 27-28, the Rockets will convey their first-round pick to Denver in 2016 if they reach the playoffs this season.
Morey’s forte has been constructing a roster of competent players that would fit in perfectly with Harden and Howard. Even though it might all be toppling down on him, Morey has made sure the Rockets aren’t without future incentives and options heading forward.
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They will have to find a volume scorer off the bench to supplant Thornton, but the Rockets cashed in on another team’s willingness to contend. It’s a puzzling state the Rockets are in currently in, but Morey’s making the necessary changes to progress the stagnant team forward.