Houston Rockets
IN: Danny Green, John Wall, Justin Holiday, Frank Kaminsky, 2023 first-round swap (Clippers), 2 second-round picks
OUT: Eric Gordon, Bruno Fernando, Garrison Matthews
The Rockets didn’t really do anything of consequence to improve their team in the present nor for the future. Danny Green, John Wall, and Justin Holiday likely will all be bought out. Grabbing two second-round picks (I guess?) was a solid move. Eric Gordon was never going to be a long-term fit with this current core, and the duo of Bruno Fernando and Garrison Matthews certainly won’t move the needle much. As for now, the team will look to further improve in the offseason with draft capital and potential cap space.
Grade: C
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports
San Antonio Spurs
IN: Devonte Graham, Dewayne Dedmon, Khem Birch, 2024 first-round pick, 7 second-round picks
OUT: Jakob Poeltl, Josh Richardson
Nabbing a first-round pick from Toronto — along with seven other second-round picks — gives San Antonio some asset-flexibility moving forward. As we saw during this year’s trade deadline, second-round picks suddenly hold more value than ever. With it being difficult to re-sign both Richardson and Poeltl, it was smart for the Spurs to get something of consequence for the aforementioned duo. Graham might not be a longterm fit — though he’s a clear NBA rotation guy. We don’t foresee Dedmon or Birch sticking around very long in San Antonio.
Grade: B
Image Source: USA TODAY Sports