ROCKETS NEWS
Houston Rockets agree to trade with Hawks before deadline
Feb 6, 2025, 4:50 pm
ROCKETS NEWS
The Houston Rockets pulled the trigger on a trade with Atlanta before the trade deadline on Thursday.
According to reports, the Rockets are acquiring center Cody Zeller and a second round pick in exchange for the NBA rights to international player Alpha Kaba.
Can confirm the Rockets acquiring Cody Zeller and their 2028 2nd-round pick from Atlanta. In exchange, Atlanta is acquiring the rights to Alpha Kaba, sources tell @TheAthletic.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 6, 2025
Reports from Yahoo Sports indicate this is basically a salary dump for the Hawks, and Houston is buying back their draft pick.
Hoopshype is reporting that the Rockets will release recently acquired Jaden Springer to make room for Zeller.
Via YardBarker:
The Pelicans re-signed Zeller last summer to use his contract for salary-matching purposes in the Dejounte Murray trade. However, he has yet to play a game for the Hawks in 24-25, having been listed as away from the team for personal reasons for much of the season.
Time will tell if the Rockets decide to release Zeller in the coming days.
Opening Day is near, and roster decisions are heating up. Can the Astros keep both Cam Smith and Zach Dezenzo, or does that leave Jon Singleton out? Position battles are in full swing—who stays, who goes, and who earns a starting spot?
Watch ESPN Houston’s Jeremy Branham and Joel Blank break it all down in the video below!