NBA Watch League Pass

Houston Rockets trades: A decade of deals that shaped the modern team

Whitaker Lummus

•
Houston Rockets trades: A decade of deals that shaped the modern team image

Trades are often how teams take that next step toward a championship. The Houston Rockets are no strangers to blockbuster deals. Over the last decade, they have taken big swings and continue to do so in their pursuit of winning their first title since 1994. With the recent blockbuster Kevin Durant trade this offseason, it is a good time to look back at some of the other major moves that have shaped the franchise.

JAMES HARDEN

Fresh off a Finals berth, the Oklahoma City Thunder were looking to secure their core long term. However, James Harden was given the short end of the stick. He did not accept the Thunder’s contract offer immediately, so general manager Sam Presti decided they could not risk losing him for nothing and traded him to Houston.

In Houston, Harden was given the keys to the franchise and never looked back. He took the eventual back-to-back champion Golden State Warriors to seven games in the 2018 Western Conference finals and won the first MVP award by a Rocket since 1994. In a time when Harden was often overlooked, he kept his head down and brought Houston back to prominence.

KEVIN DURANT 

 The Suns were moving in a different direction, and Kevin Durant saw a greater fit, leadership, and value in Houston. With personal preference and team fit aligned, the trade became a win-win for both sides.

Durant had high praise for his new team while still a member of the Suns, noting the Rockets’ leadership and calling their 2024–25 season a strong foundation. He made it known that Houston was his preferred destination. Now, he joins a roster featuring young talent such as Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, and the sky is the limit for the Rockets.

CHRIS PAUL

 Chris Paul reportedly wanted out of the Clippers organization because he was frustrated with the team’s playoff shortcomings. This drove Los Angeles to trade him to Houston to avoid losing him for nothing. Paul opted into the final year of his contract with the Clippers and was traded to the Rockets, specifically telling the team he wanted to join James Harden in Houston.

Following the trade, Paul provided immediate leadership and played a key role in the Rockets’ run to the 2018 Western Conference finals.

RUSSELL WESTBROOK

 Oklahoma City was everything to Russell Westbrook, but when the Thunder traded his running mate to the Clippers, it signaled the franchise was moving toward a rebuild. Westbrook met with the front office about a trade and decided Houston was where he wanted to go.

The former MVP’s numbers jumped once he put on a Rockets uniform, with an increase of four points per game and a career high in efficiency. Although the pairing with James Harden was short-lived, the Rockets were not afraid to go all in to try to win a championship.

Houston has a storied history of big trades. So what makes it so appealing to free agents and unhappy superstars? For one, there is no state income tax in Texas. The city also boasts good weather, and the Rockets often seem to be in winning mode with a history of better-than-average coaches. The art of the trade requires repetition, and no one has pulled off more blockbuster deals than H-Town.

 

MORE ROCKETS NEWS:

Whitaker Lummus

Whitaker Lummus is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a sports media student at UNLV with 3–4 years of experience covering basketball. Whitaker has been credentialed for major events like NBA Summer League and MLB Big League Weekend.