The Rockets' final return for trading James Harden earlier this season is underwhelming. There's no way around it.
Acquiring Victor Oladipo was the essential trade piece when Harden was dealt, either with the hope he would be part of the future and sign a long term deal, or he could be flipped for more assets.
What the Rockets ended up with: Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk; unprotected first round picks from the Brooklyn Nets in 2022, 2024, and 2026; unprotected pick swaps from Brooklyn in 2021, 2023, 2025, and 2027; and unprotected first round pick from the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023; first round pick swap from Miami in 2022.
Maybe there's a future in those picks and swaps, but Olynyk is a free agent after this season and Bradley has a team option.
First-year general manager Rafael Stone said Monday he has not second-guessed the Harden trade for a second, and explained his strategy in dealing Oladipo to Miami.
"We had kind of organizationally made the decision the Victor fit wasn't a good one," Stone said. "Then it became make a deal with some upside. From our perspective, we really like the guys in the deal. Kelly and Avery are both guys we've liked for several years. And then, opening up a spot for the current players on our roster, playing time opportunities particularly for (Kevin Porter Jr.) was important. ...
"We also got a swap out of Miami that we think could be material. There's lots of little parts to this deal that aggregated, from our perspective, into something we wanted to do. That's why we did it. ...
"We're trying to find good fits and one of the advantages of the rebuild construct we're doing is that I do think there is a place for veterans on your team, not just for this year but going forward, stabilizing influences, helping your younger players develop in the right way, in a quicker way. I think having a good mix of old and young is actually attractive. It doesn't mean these guys will be the perfect fit. I actually am very optimistic about both. Like I said, they are both guys we really like and have liked for some time. But you don't know people until you work with them. So I'm looking forward to getting to know them, to working with them, to having them fit in with this group, and then we'll make decisions at the end of that time."