It feels like he just took over for Daryl Morey yesterday, but Thursday will be Rafael Stone’s fourth trade deadline as Rockets general manager. He’s made at least one move before each of the previous three, some impactful, some not so much. Here’s a look back at each trade he’s made and the impact it has had.
2021
Rockets trade P.J. Tucker, Rodions Kurucs, a 2021 second round pick, and Milwaukee’s 2022 first round pick to Milwaukee for D.J. Augustin, D.J. Wilson, a 2021 first round pick, and 2023 first round pick.
Tucker, who was set to become a free agent at the end of the season and left the team after the All-Star break, helped the Bucks win a championship that summer.
Wilson played in 23 games after the trade and left as a free agent, while Augustin played in 20 games that season plus 34 the next before being waived. Neither player was expected to have an impact. The key to the trade was the picks, which turned into a 2021 pick swap. The Rockets moved up to 24 from 31 and selected Josh Christopher.
The Rockets also gave the Bucks back their 2022 first round pick, which they acquired from Cleveland in the James Harden trade, in exchange for Milwaukee’s 2023 first round pick, which was flipped at the deadline two years later, more on that later.
Impact of the trade: Christopher flopped, but the 2023 first rounder made up for that.
Rockets trade Victor Oladipo to Miami for Kelly Olynyk, Avery Bradley and a 2021 pick swap
Olynyk averaged an efficient 19 points in 27 games for the Rockets while handling getting traded from the defending Eastern Conference champs to the worst team in the league with incredible professionalism. He did everything the Rockets asked of him, including playing point guard, but he left in free agency after the season. Bradley played poorly and the pick swap didn’t convey.
Impact of the trade: Olynyk helped get them through the 2021 season, but that's it
2022
Rockets trade Daniel Theis to Boston for Dennis Schröder, Enes Freedom, and Bruno Fernando
The Rockets moved on from Theis months after signing him to a four-year, $36 million contract. It was a signing that flopped from the very start. He didn’t mesh well with Christian Wood and Alperen Sengun emerged much faster than people anticipated.
Adding Schröder gave the Rockets a little stability in the backcourt, Fernando played sparingly but earned a two-way contract for the next season, which he parlayed into a multi-year contract during training camp, Freedom never joined the team.
Impact of the trade: It helped the Rockets shed $7 million in salary which was used during last summer’s spending spree.
2023
Rockets trade Garrison Mathews and Bruno Fernando to Atlanta for Aaron Holiday, Frank Kaminsky and two second round picks.
Mathews and Fernando were success stories as two-way contracts, but they were blocking younger players from getting minutes. Kaminsky rarely played for the Rockets while Holiday never did, though he did return to the team as a free agent over the summer.
Impact of the trade: One of the second round picks the Rockets acquired was used in last week’s Steven Adams trade.
Rockets acquire Danny Green from Memphis, John Wall and a 2023 first round pick swap for Eric Gordon
Gordon was the last remaining player from the team Stone inherited in 2020, but it was time for both sides to move on. Wall and Green never stepped foot in Houston, but the pick swap was with the Milwaukee first round pick they took back in the Tucker trade two years prior and it allowed them to move up from 30 to 20 in the 2023 draft.
Impact of the trade: Moving up 10 spots in last June’s draft allowed the Rockets to select Cam Whitmore, which could end up being the steal of the draft.