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2016 NBA Trade Deadline Grades For All 30 Teams

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Trade Deadline
February 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) shoots the basketball against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Houston Rockets

The greatest speculation of the 2016 trade season for Houston Rockets fans revolved around Dwight Howard trade scenarios. But, in a SHOCKING twist, it turns out no one wanted to meet the Rockets’ asking price for a 30-year-old center who will opt out of his contract to become a free agent this summer, or whose game relies so heavily on his (waning) athleticism. Go figure!

With D-12 probably looking for a max deal starting at around $31 million per year, very few teams were interested in giving up assets just to have the privilege of overpaying him in free agency. The Rockets put in their due diligence, but it wasn’t meant to be.

That’s not to say nothing happened for the Rockets at the deadline, however. Though most loved the Donatas Motiejunas/Marcus Thornton trade for the Pistons, it was actually quite a good deal for Houston too, considering the fact that D-Mo had played a grand total of 14 games this season and spent most of the second half of the season recovering in the D-League.

Extracting a 2016 first round draft pick, even in a shallow draft class, is commendable accomplishment. The pick is top-8 protected this season, so it will likely be conveyed unless the Pistons were to completely fall apart and drop way out of the playoff picture — an incredibly unlikely scenario.

There are also the luxury tax savings to consider:

With the Rockets looking like a team in need of a good roster blow-up, a first-rounder and the flexibility of not having to re-sign Motiejunas can only help. The Rockets were also able to flip the unnecessary Joel Anthony and a second-rounder to the Philadelphia 76ers to get under the luxury tax.

It’s a bit of a nothing trade, sure, but getting rid of a 33-year-old who’s averaging 0.7 points and 1.2 rebounds per game in 13 appearances this season to get under the tax is a small victory.

Unfortunately, we do have to take points off since this team that wants to make some noise in the playoffs was unable to move Howard and/or find a way to fix what ails it. Ty Lawson is still on the roster and this team’s season will most likely end in failure.

Grade: C+

Next: Indiana Pacers