TRADE ALERT
Houston Rockets make a move as NBA trade deadline nears
Feb 2, 2024, 11:41 am
The Rockets have acquired Steven Adams. Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images.
The Memphis Grizzlies traded center Steven Adams to the Houston Rockets for guard Victor Oladipo and three draft picks on Thursday night.
Neither Adams nor Oladipo has played this season because of injuries.
The Grizzlies, who announced the deal late Thursday night, said they acquired three second-round draft picks from the Rockets in the trade. ESPN reported two of the picks will be in this year's draft and the other one in 2025.
Adams was hurt last season and had surgery on his right knee just before the start of this season. He's expected to miss the entire season, but should be ready to play next season.
Adams, the 12th overall pick in the 2013 draft out of Pittsburgh, played two years with the Grizzlies before the knee injury and averaged 8.6 points and 11.5 rebounds, including a 5.1 average in offensive rebounds. He played seven seasons with Oklahoma City and one with the New Orleans Pelicans before coming to Memphis.
Oladipo, who also has dealt with injuries, has a career average of 16.9 points a game since he was selected out of Indiana with the second overall pick in 2013. But his scoring average has decreased over the last three years.
Oladipo's best season came in 2017-18 when he averaged 23.1 points with Indiana, along with 4.3 assists and 2.4 steals per game.
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After losing out on Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (no-trade clause), it appears the Astros have pivoted to another infielder.
According to multiple reports, the Astros are close to finalizing a deal with former Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker.
The Astros and free-agent first baseman Christian Walker are in serious talks and progressing toward a deal, sources tell @Ken_Rosenthal and me.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) December 20, 2024
While several reports are indicating that a deal is close, Jim Bowden is reporting that the deal is done pending a physical.
Christian Walker deal is done with #Astros pending physical
— Jim Bowden⚾️ (@JimBowdenGM) December 20, 2024
Bob Nightengale is reporting that it's a three-year, $60 million contract.
Christian Walker has agreed to a 3-year, $60 million contract with the Houston Astros.@Ken_Rosenthal said close.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 20, 2024
Another thing to keep in mind is that the Astros will have to surrender two draft picks because Walker turned down a qualifying offer from Arizona.
Christian Walker declined a qualifying offer from the DBacks, so if a deal with the Astros gets done, Houston will lose its second and fifth-highest selections in the 2025 draft. However, if/when Alex Bregman signs elsewhere, the Astros will get a comp pick after the fourth round
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) December 20, 2024
So what are the Astros getting with Walker? Walker has now won the Gold Glove for three straight seasons and provides a power bat that should greatly benefit from the Crawford Boxes.
Walker (age 33) hit 26 dingers last season while posting a .251 batting average and a .803 OPS. He also hit over 30 home runs in both 2022 and 2023.