Houston Rockets agree to trade Kevin Porter Jr. and draft picks to Thunder
TRADE ALERT
17 October 2023
TRADE ALERT
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder have a trade in place.
ESPN Sources: The Houston Rockets are trading G Kevin Porter Jr., and two future second-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder — who are waiving Porter Jr., immediately. Thunder are sending the Rockets Victor Oladipo and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl in the transaction. pic.twitter.com/PBaHA0f5lW
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 17, 2023
Due to Kevin Porter Jr.'s legal issues, Houston is trading Porter Jr. and two future second round picks (2027 2nd-round pick via Timberwolves/2028 second-round pick via Bucks) to the Thunder for guard Victor Oladipo and power forward/center Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.
Per Woj:
Essentially the deal allows the Thunder to gather up draft assets and requires them to pay the $16.9 million of guaranteed salary left on Porter's new four-year contract -- and saves the Rockets $5.5 million in salary.
For Houston, Oladipo is a familiar face as he played in 20 games for the Rockets during the 2020-2021 season. He played 50 games for the Heat last year, scoring just under 11 points per game.
Robinson-Earl is heading into his 3rd season in the league, playing his first two seasons with the Thunder. He played in 43 games last season, scoring 6.8/PPG.
Juan Soto hit his first homer with the New York Mets, helping his new team beat the Houston Astros 3-1 on Friday night.
With two out in the third inning, Soto drove a 1-2 pitch from Hunter Brown deep to right for a solo shot that lifted New York to a 3-0 lead.
Soto's 390-foot shot came a day after he struck out on a full-count slider from closer Josh Hader with two on and two out in a 3-1 opening-day loss.
Before that, Soto singled and walked twice Thursday in his Mets debut. The slugger signed a record $765 million, 15-year contract as a free agent in December.
New York starter Tylor Megill (1-0) pitched five-plus innings of one-run ball. He allowed three hits, struck out six and walked one.
Edwin Díaz struck out one in a perfect ninth for his first save, finishing a three-hitter.
Brown (0-1) struck out seven in six innings. He allowed four hits and walked three.
Mark Vientos hit an RBI double for New York in the second and scored on a single by Jesse Winker.
Houston scored its only run in the fourth on Yordan Alvarez's sacrifice fly.
The Astros had a runner on first with one out in the eighth when Luisangel Acuña made a diving stop on Alvarez's grounder to second, popped up and threw to first for the out.
Houston was 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.
The Astros loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but Reed Garrett struck out Alvarez before retiring Yainer Diaz on a fly ball to right-center.
The Mets have won the last seven games started by Megill dating to Aug. 30.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti opposes Griffin Canning when the series wraps up Saturday night. Arrighetti looks to build on a strong rookie season when his 171 strikeouts were the third-most by a rookie in franchise history.