Houston Rockets

After just 50 games and three starts with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kevin Porter Jr. is on the move.

The Houston Rockets acquired the 20-year-old in a trade on Friday in exchange for a protected second-round pick. The team waived guard Chris Clemons in a related move.

Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman noted in a statement that the deal was made with his franchise's "culture and environment" in mind:

"After careful and thoughtful evaluation, we made the very difficult and collective decision to make this trade. Given the culture and environment we have worked to cultivate here in Cleveland, we feel this move is in everyone's best interest. Kevin has a bright career ahead of him as a professional basketball player and, at his core, is a good person. We wish Kevin and his family well in Houston."

While the 6'4" guard was a strong piece of Cleveland's rotation in his rookie season, averaging 10.0 points and 3.2 rebounds in 23.2 minutes per game, he never took the court in his second season for personal reasons. 

And when he returned to the sidelines to support his team, a confrontation with general manager Koby Altman reportedly resulted in the Cavaliers' decision to move on from the USC product. That outburst stemmed from Porter's locker being moved to make room for the recently acquired Taurean Prince, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst. 

According to USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt, one person said Porter "began yelling and throwing food" when he discovered the change before a run-in with Altman.

It is the latest development in some troubling months for Porter, who was arrested after he flipped his car in November. He admitted to drinking before the crash, and police found marijuana and a loaded handgun in his vehicle, according to Windhorst.

Authorities determined Porter was not impaired when he crashed his car, and a grand jury refused to indict him on marijuana or weapons charges after Porter proved he didn't know there was a gun in the vehicle.

Windhorst also recapped some concerns regarding Porter's social media activity toward the end of 2020:

"In October, Porter raised alarms when he posted a black square on his Instagram with the message 'Do you ever wish to see the end of your time?' After Cavs officials and teammates reached out, Porter deleted his Instagram account.

"He later posted a message on Twitter that read in part, 'I'm fine. Been thru my worse times already, can't get worse than what I already been thru. Love & Thank you.' That post was also later deleted."

But the Cavaliers saw promise in the 2019 first-round pick, having picked up his option in December to secure him for another year at $1.8 million. 

"We all want to see Kevin be successful and I still feel that way, so whatever it is that happens in the future for him, I hope nothing but the best for him," Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Monday. "It's part of our responsibility as coaches to give everyone our all and try to make the best of every situation, and I can say that we did that."

Porter now has a chance at a fresh start with Houston, a team in the midst of a rebuild after trading James Harden. The shooting guard gives the Rockets a high-upside scoring option who could help the team if he lives up to his potential.

Following his Houston Rockets debut Monday, guard Victor Oladipo lauded the team's potential to be a force in the future. 

According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, Oladipo said: "I know that better days are ahead for the Houston Rockets, and I'm looking forward to being a part of those special days."

Houston fell to the Chicago Bulls 125-120, but Oladipo put up big numbers as the starting point guard with John Wall out due to injury. He led the team in scoring with 32 points and added nine assists, five rebounds and two steals as well.

Oladipo was part of the four-team trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets last week. Oladipo was sent to Houston, while the Nets shipped Caris LeVert to Oladipo's former team, the Indiana Pacers.

While Oladipo is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, re-signing him could appeal to the Rockets since he is still just 28 years of age and has two career All-Star nods and one NBA All-Defensive First Team selection to his credit.

In 2017-18, Oladipo was developing into one of the NBA's best guards. He averaged 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.4 steals per game.

He followed that up with 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.7 steals per contest through 36 games the following year, but his season was cut short due to a ruptured quad, which also kept him out for much of the 2019-20 campaign.

Oladipo has returned to a high level of play this season, however, averaging 21.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.7 steals per contest in 10 games between the Pacers and Rockets.

After his final game with the Rockets, Harden said they "just aren't good enough" and could not be "fixed." While Oladipo is only one game into his tenure in Houston, he clearly has a different feeling. He said:

"We're not trying to be a good team. We're trying to be a great team. We have the ability to do so. We have the personnel to do so and the coach. Now it's all about doing it and buying into every day, every possession, and playing every game like it's our last. That's this team's mentality.

"We have to continue to get better, obviously, the chemistry continue to grow, the defense get better. But the mentality can never change, and the approach can never change. That's what we're all about, man. We're going to go out there to play with that chip, that brick, that whatever it is on our back, whatever is the biggest thing you can carry on your back, and go out there and compete for one another. If we do that, I truly believe we can be a very good team."

The Rockets own the second-worst record in the Western Conference this season at 4-8, but there is no denying that they boast quite a talented roster.

When everyone is healthy and able to play together, the Rockets will field a roster that includes former All-Stars in Oladipo, Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, as well as an up-and-comer in Christian Wood and some solid veterans such as Eric Gordon, Ben McLemore and P.J. Tucker.

Houston has had to deal with a ton of controversy and distraction so far this season, but with Harden gone and being replaced by a player who wants to be there in Oladipo, the focus can now shift toward the on-court performance of the team.

Russell Westbrook wanted a trade away from the Houston Rockets after one season and questioned how the squad would contend after the departures of general manager Daryl Morey and head coach Mike D'Antoni, according to Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of The Athletic.

The point guard was also reportedly unhappy with "the team's culture and a lack of accountability."

Houston traded Westbrook to the Washington Wizards in December in a deal that brought back John Wall.

Concerns about the Rockets' competitiveness were shared by James Harden, first privately and then in public after a pair of losses to the Los Angeles Lakers.

"We're just not good enough—chemistry, talent-wise, just everything," Harden told reporters last week. "And it was clear these last two games."

The Rockets sent Harden to the Brooklyn Nets in a four-team trade the next day.

Houston failed to win a title despite reaching the playoffs in each of the last eight seasons with Harden on the roster. The squad had been aggressive in trying to provide support for the superstar, trading for Chris Paul and then Westbrook, but it still fell short.

A five-game loss to the Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals last postseason likely showed the roster as constructed was far from title contention.

Westbrook is no closer to a title with Washington, which is 3-8 to begin the 2020-21 season, but the point guard is reportedly more comfortable with coach Scott Brooks, who he played under for seven years with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown reportedly came up "loosely" in James Harden trade talks with the Houston Rockets.

Brian Windhorst of ESPN said on his Hoop Collective podcast (around 16:40 mark) that the Rockets and Celtics had a couple of conversations, and Brown was mentioned as a potential target. It does not appear there was anything nearing a formal offer from Boston, and it's unclear if the Celtics would have been willing to part with Brown if discussions got more serious.

The Rockets acquired four first-round picks, four pick swaps, Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum and Rodions Kurucs as part of a four-team trade that sent Harden to Brooklyn last week. 

Houston appeared to desire future draft pick compensation more than a surefire young star. It's known the Rockets were in negotiations with the Philadelphia 76ers that would likely have included Ben Simmons, a player with a stronger NBA resume than Brown. It does not appear likely the Rockets would have accepted a trade centered around Brown without a significant haul of draft picks, making a Boston-Houston match untenable.

“I'll say what’s super exciting about this deal is it gives us flexibility. In the NBA, picks, especially high picks, are the best currency...it gave us the flexibility to do different types of deals as they come up this year, next year, whenever," Rockets general manager Rafael Stone told reporters last week. 

Brown is in the middle of his finest NBA season, averaging 25.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists while remaining a stellar defender on the perimeter. Still only 24 years old, there's an argument to be made the Celtics are wise to have kept him to build around Brown and Jayson Tatum rather than blow up their future for a two-year window around Harden.

Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said James Harden's public disparaging of the team's roster did not impact the timing of his trade to Brooklyn.

"I can guarantee you it did not affect us at all," Stone told reporters.

The Rockets traded Harden as part of a four-team blockbuster that returned four first-round picks, four pick swaps, Victor Oladipo and Dante Exum, a move that will likely define Stone's tenure running Houston's basketball operations. The move came less than 24 hours after Harden said the Rockets roster was not worthy of championship contention and that he did not believe the situation was salvageable. 

Stone said the draft-pick flexibility offered by Brooklyn played a large factor in choosing that deal over others offered. 

“I'll say what’s super exciting about this deal is it gives us flexibility. In the NBA, picks, especially high picks, are the best currency. ... It gave us the flexibility to do different types of deals as they come up this year, next year, whenever," Stone said.

The addition of Oladipo, just two years removed from an All-Star berth, also played a factor. Oladipo is a more seamless fit with John Wall than Ben Simmons, the centerpiece of the Philadelphia 76ers' offer to Houston.

While Harden's comments may not have been the reason Stone finally granted the 2018 NBA MVP's trade request, it's hard to ignore the timing as a coincidence. It was clear Rockets players had grown tired of Harden's antics. The team had kept him away from Wednesday's practice before executing the trade, and it didn't seem likely he would return before a deal was made.

Every day that passed where Harden sat out would have reduced Stone's leverage. It benefited both Harden and the team to expedite the process, so the young general manager struck on the deal he hopes will help land a new franchise star. 

Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas told reporters Sunday that Victor Oladipo would make his debut with the team during Monday night's matchup with the Chicago Bulls. 

Silas added that star point guard John Wall will miss the game, however, while Eric Gordon and DeMarcus Cousins are probable and Sterling Brown is questionable. 

Oladipo, 28, was one of the key acquisitions for the Rockets in the enormous, four-team trade that sent the disgruntled James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. The trade was as follows:

• Rockets: Oladipo, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, three unprotected picks from the Nets (2022, 2024, 2026), an unprotected 2022 pick from the Milwaukee Bucks via the Cleveland Cavaliers, four first-round pick swaps with the Nets (2021, 2023, 2025, 2027).
• Nets: Harden, 2024 second-round pick from the Cavs. 
• Cavaliers: Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince.
• Indiana Pacers: Caris LeVert, 2023 second-round pick from Houston. 

Oladipo may not be in Houston for long. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2020-21 season, and if the fit in Houston doesn't end up being ideal, he could be shopped before this season's trade deadline as Houston continues its rebuild/retooling effort following Harden's departure.

If the fit does work out, however, a core of Wall, Oladipo, Christian Wood, Eric Gordon, P.J. Tucker, Ben McLemore, Danuel House Jr. and Cousins could make a run at one of the lower seeds in the Western Conference playoff picture. 

"If it fits, things work out, if I'm happy," Oladipo told reporters Sunday regarding his potential future in Houston beyond this season. "Essentially, it's like a business plan. You've got to go through every aspect of the business plan before you kind of figure out if you want to invest in it."

The Rockets have struggled to start the season, going 4-7, but the Harden distraction and players ending up in the NBA's health and safety protocols haven't made life any easier for the team. With Harden now gone, the Rockets have a chance at a fresh start this season. With 61 games to go, there's plenty of time for this team to come together. 

"My goal for this season is to win, and win, and win some more," Oladipo told reporters. "I want to somewhat exhaust my potential here."

In his first public comments since being traded to the Brooklyn Nets, James Harden paid tribute to his old team. 

Harden wrote about his eight-year run with the Houston Rockets in a post on Instagram:

"What can I write? What words can convey all the ways I feel. Houston you welcomed me with no guarantees. Took a leap of faith and it changed my life and the lives of my family forever. This organization, this city has given me everything I could ask for and more. Before the scoring titles long before MVP you believed. For that I am forever indebted. The city opened its arms and welcomed me and my family as one of its own and for that I am forever indebted. I gave my mind body and soul in hopes of bringing the glory to the city. I fell short and for that I am forever indebted. It’s far from a good bye as I pay all my debts. TMC H Town!"

Harden was officially traded to the Nets on Thursday in a three-team blockbuster deal that saw the Rockets acquire four first-round draft picks and four first-round pick swaps. 

The deal came after Harden ripped Houston's roster and direction following Tuesday's 117-100 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Speculation about Harden's future in Houston had been an ongoing topic since the offseason when he reported to training camp late.

Harden appeared in eight of the Rockets' nine games prior to the trade. The eight-time All-Star was averaging 24.8 points and 10.4 assists.

Houston has undergone drastic changes since the end of last season. Harden and Russell Westbrook have been traded. Mike D'Antoni didn't renew his contract and was replaced as head coach by Stephen Silas. Daryl Morey stepped down as general manager, and Rafael Stone stepped in to run the front office.

In eight full seasons with the Rockets, Harden was named to eight consecutive All-Star teams and won the 2017-18 NBA MVP Award. He led the franchise to the postseason every year, including two trips to the Western Conference Finals.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have reportedly "maintained contact" with the Houston Rockets about a potential trade for power forward P.J. Tucker.

Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reported Thursday the Wolves are expected to "re-engage" the Rockets in discussions after James Harden's blockbuster trade to the Brooklyn Nets.

Minnesota isn't the only team trying to capitalize on Houston's roster overhaul, which began in the offseason when the Rockets traded Russell Westbrook to the Washington Wizards for a package that included John Wall.

"Multiple teams" have reached out to the Rockets about Tucker's availability since word of the Harden deal went public Wednesday, per Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

The 35-year-old University of Texas product is best known for his ability to defend multiple positions and hit corner threes. That versatility was a major reason Houston was able to successfully run extreme small-ball lineups last season as he stepped in to guard opposing centers despite being just 6'5".

Tucker has averaged 6.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 52.6 percent from the field across 10 appearances so far during the 2020-21 season.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have struggled out of the gate, with their 3-8 record leaving them in last place in the Western Conference.

Star center Karl-Anthony Towns has been limited to four appearances because of a wrist injury, and Minnesota has been unable to find another reliable frontcourt contributor.

Tucker, who's in the final season of a four-year, $31.9 million contract, would be an ideal addition to provide some support around Towns without a long-term financial commitment.

For a team desperately needing a spark, he's the type of player who can provide it while also filling an important void on the roster.

The Houston Rockets began the post-James Harden era Thursday night, but the team may have moved on in earnest before the guard's trade to the Brooklyn Nets had even been completed. 

According to small forward Jae'Sean Tate, the Rockets held a team meeting following Tuesday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers—after which Harden told reporters his situation in Houston couldn't be fixed—and focused on accountability. 

"We drew the line there," Tate told reporters. "Everybody has so much to prove."

Tate led by example Thursday, sinking a three-pointer with one minute, 19 seconds left in regulation to take a four-point lead over the San Antonio Spurs. The Rockets won 109-105. 

Tate finished the night with an impressive 13 points, 10 assists and five rebounds, while center Christian Wood continued his ascent with 27 points and 15 boards. 

"Everybody on this team, especially with [Victor Oladipo] coming in, has a lot to prove," Wood said on the TNT broadcast after the win. "And, you know, we're all dogs out there."

Thursday proved the players are as committed as ever. With John Wall (knee soreness) and Eric Gordon (leg tightness) unavailable, a slimmed-down rotation held on against a solid Spurs team hunting for an easy win. 

The entire Rockets bench seemed to breathe a massive sigh of relief as they celebrated the victory. Thursday may have been the start of a new era for the franchise, but Houston's mindset changed the day Harden forced his way out of town. Now there's more to prove—and celebrate—than ever.

"Spirit is something I believe a lot in and talk a lot about," head coach Stephen Silas said. "We had spirit tonight."

First-year Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas only had James Harden for eight games before a blockbuster trade sent the guard to the Brooklyn Nets. The short timeframe still left a mostly positive impression on Silas.

"I had an opportunity to coach a Hall of Famer," Silas told reporters on Thursday. "And that’s one of the things I was excited about. ... It was a rocky start and a rocky midway and a rocky end, but he was nothing but professional to me. He gave me good advice. He was engaged. ... [It] just didn’t work out.”

Harden was averaging 24.8 points, 10.4 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game at the time of his trade. Silas did get to see one star performance from the prolific scorer before his departure as Harden went for 44 points and 17 assists in his season debut.

It's already been a whirlwind few months for Silas. 

The 48-year-old believed he was taking a job to coach a contending roster led by the backcourt of Harden and Russell Westbrook. Then Westbrook was sent to the Washington Wizards for a package centered around John Wall just before the preseason began. He lasted barely a month with Harden. Now the contender looks more like a rebuild.

"The two guys who I spoke to last were [Westbrook] and [Harden] and now they're not here anymore," Silas said of his interview process. "Those were the guys who vouched for me to get the job. I assume if they didn't like the conversations that they had with me, I wouldn't be here right now. So for neither guy to be here, most recently James, it is kind of, I don't know, sobering." 

Silas did say he's still grateful to Harden and Westbrook for helping him get his first head coaching job. But it's clear he wasn't expecting immediate trades of his highest-profile players. 

Now he's leading a team headlined by Victor Oladipo, P.J. Tucker, Christian Wood and Wall, though if this is a full rebuild, how long any of them sticks around this season remains to be seen. 

As far as Silas is concerned, there are no hard feelings between him and Harden. The guard may have been done with the Rockets as a franchise, but it appears he left on a strong note with his coach. 

"The relationship that I had with James was good," Silas said. "And we had some good conversations over the last couple of days. I talked to him yesterday kind of before all this stuff happened and then we texted back and forth after it happened. It was all positive. All good."