Rockets Eyed Centers at Trade Deadline: Report

The Houston Rockets didn't make a big move before the trade deadline, but they were in conversations on several centers.

Jeremy Brener | Feb 14, 2024

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The Houston Rockets came up empty-handed at the trade deadline in the scheme of this current season, but that doesn't mean they didn't try.

The Athletic's Kelly Iko is reporting that the Rockets were linked to a couple big men before last week's trade deadline.

andre-drummond-chicago-bulls — Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

"Names like Kelly Olynyk, Chicago’s Andre Drummond, New York’s Jericho Sims and Xavier Tillman Sr. were mentioned as potential solutions — among others — but resistance was met with each concept that was floated, either from the opposing team or internally as a group," The Athletic writes.

Olynyk ended up being traded to the Toronto Raptors for a future first-round pick, while Tillman was sent to the Boston Celtics. However, Drummond and Sims remain with their teams despite being hot names on the trade rumor stove.

Ultimately, the Rockets ended up with Steven Adams, who will miss the entire season with a knee injury. However, he is under contract for the 2024-25 season and he is expected to be Alperen Sengun's backup next year.

The quiet trade deadline proved that while the Rockets were interested in trying to improve their current situation, they also feel comfortable with where they are. Whether or not that's a mistake will be revealed in the second half of the season.

Houston Rockets General Manager Rafael Stone 'Excited' About Cam Whitmore's Emergence

The Rockets finish off the first half of their season tonight when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.

Published Feb 14, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.