20 Biggest Trades in Houston Rockets History

1. Rockets Aquire James Harden from Thunder

Date: Oct. 27, 2012

Details: Traded Jeremy Lamb, Kevin Martin a 2013 1st round pick, a 2013 2nd round pick and a 2014 1st round pick for Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook, James Harden and Lazar Hayward.

Context: Fresh off a NBA Finals appearance with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Harden’s stock was rising quickly as his star potential became clear. With the wealth of talent and a limited payroll, Thunder general manager made the decision to prioritize extending power forward Serge Ibaka over Harden. The Thunder liked the idea of bringing in veteran scorer Martin and the potential of Lamb, making it easier to part with Harden in their minds.

The trade has led to one of the greatest “what-ifs” in NBA history, as Harden went on to have one of the most successful and impactful runs in Rockets history. In his 9.5 seasons in Houston, Harden racked up nine All-Star selections, seven All-NBA selections and the 2018 NBA MVP award, along with 18,365 points and the reputation of one of the best playmakers in the NBA. Many would argue he’s the greatest Rocket not named “Hakeem Olajuwon.”

2. Rockets Land Moses Malone

Date: Oct. 24, 1976

Details: Traded a 1977 1st round pick and a 1978 1st round pick to the Buffalo Braves for Moses Malone.

Context: Six days and two games after being traded from the Trail Blazers to the Braves (present day Los Angeles Clippers), Malone demanded more playing time, something the Braves wouldn’t give the young center. This led the franchise to ship the future three-time NBA MVP for a pair of 1st round picks that wouldn’t amount to much, continuing the longstanding trend of bad moves for the Braves/Clippers.

Malone landed in Houston and was productive immediately. He made his first All-Star appearance in 1978, and went on two rack up five selections in total, five All-NBA selections, two NBA MVP awards and two All-Defense selections in six seasons with the Rockets. He led the franchise to its first NBA Finals in 1981, losing to the Boston Celtics.

3. Rockets Trade for Clyde Drexler Midseason

Date: Feb. 14, 1995

Details: Traded Marcelo Nicola, Otis Thorpe and a 1995 1st round pick to the Portland Trail Blazers for Clyde Drexler and Tracy Murray.

Context: After over a decade in Portland and out of Playoff contention, Clyde Drexler requested the Portland Trail Blazers to trade him to a contender, which the franchise honored. They sent him back to Houston, where Drexler played in college as a member of the University of Houston Cougars, reuniting him with his “Phi Slamma Jama” teammate, Olajuwon.

The defending champion Rockets weren’t having the best season themselves, but the addition of Drexler helped the team limp to the sixth seed in the Playoffs. The pairing of Drexler and Olajuwon helped fuel the Rockets back to the finals, sweeping the Orlando Magic and finally giving Drexler a championship ring after three tries. He would retire with the Rockets after the 1997-98 NBA season.

4. Rockets Land Tracy McGrady

Date: June 29, 2004

Details: Traded Kelvin Cato, Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley to the Orlando Magic for Reece Gaines, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue and Tracy McGrady.

Context: McGrady’s time in Orlando ended in disaster, as the team finished dead last in the Eastern Conference, despite McGrady wining the scoring title in 2004 and earning the reputation as one of the game’s best players. The Rockets traded for the disgruntled McGrady to pair him with superstar center Yao Ming, something the shooting guard was very excited about. The Rockets moved on from star guard Francis and elite scoring guard Mobley to do it.

McGrady would go on to have a productive stint in Houston over parts of six seasons, before injuries brought an end to his prime years prematurely. He was selected to three All-Star teams and three All-NBA teams as a member of the Rockets.

5. Rockets Trade for Chris Paul

Date: June 28, 2017

Details: Traded Patrick Beverley, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, Darrun Hillard, DeAndre Liggins, Lou Williams, Kyle Wiltjer, $661,000 cash and a 2018 1st round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for Chris Paul.

Context: The Rockets, facing the era of a Golden State Warriors dynasty in the Western Conference, decided to swing for the fences and land a superstar running mate for Harden. This led to then-Rockets general manager Daryl Morey trading a large part of the team’s core and more for Paul, as the “Lob City” Clippers core had also run its course.

Adding Paul to the Rockets led to a 65-win season, a franchise record, and a hard-fought seven-game Western Conference Finals series against the Warriors, where the Rockets held a 3-2 series lead after five games. Unfortunately for the Rockets, Paul would injure his hamstring and miss the final two games of the series, which the team lost both. They’d be eliminated by the Warriors again the following year, losing in the second round in six games. Paul would be traded the summer of 2019 after two seasons with the Rockets.

6. Rockets Trade Away Malone

Date: Sept. 15, 1982

Details: Traded Moses Malone to the Philadelphia 76ers for Caldwell Jones and a 1983 1st round pick.

Context: Charlie Thomas purchased the Rockets in June of 1982, and decided Malone’s $2 million salary wasn’t worth the cost. The franchise matched the 76ers offer sheet, and then traded reigning MVP to the defending Eastern Conference champions the same day.

While the return for the then-two-time MVP is embarrassing, it allowed for the Rockets to rebuild and acquire star centers Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson in back-to-back drafts, leading to the franchise’s greatest era. 

7. Rockets Trade Away Harden

Date: Jan. 16, 2021

Details: As part of a four-team trade, the Rockets traded James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets for Rodions Kurucs, a 2021 1st round pick, a 2022 1st round pick, a 2023 1st round pick, a 2024 1st round pick, a 2025 1st round pick, a 2026 1st round pick and a 2027 1st round pick to the Rockets. The Cleveland cavaliers traded Dante Exum and a 2022 1st round pick to the Rockets. The Indiana Pacers traded Victor Oladipo to the Rockets.

Context: Harden had grown frustrated with the Rockets organization, a held out from playing during the 2020-21 NBA season in an effort to be traded. He eventually made his season debut on Dec. 26, but it was evident his production had dropped off, likely due to a lack of effort. The Rockets finally traded him to the Brooklyn nets in a massive four-team deal that netted them seven first round picks.

This trade has netted the Rockets Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard, while also allowing the team to rebuild toward its current core of players. Harden’s image since his holdout has damaged his reputation around the league, further spiraling after his subsequent exits from both Brooklyn and Philadelphia.

8. Rockets Trade Elvin Hayes for Jack Marin

Date: June 23, 1972

Details: Traded Elvin Hayes to the Baltimore Bullets for Jack Marin and undisclosed considerations.

Context: With the franchise’s move from San Diego to Houston, Hayes was happy to be back in the city he played college ball in. However, head coach Tex Winter, the mastermind behind Phil Jackson’s famed triangle offense, attempted to make Hayes a passing center, which was a failure and created friction between the two.

Hayes was traded for future two-time All-Star Marin, whose impact was far less than Hayes’. Hayes would go on to lead the Bullets to three NBA Finals, defeating the Seattle SuperSonics in 1978 to win it all.

9. Rockets Trade for Otis Thorpe

Date: Oct. 11, 1988

Details: Traded Rodney McCray and Jim Petersen to the Sacramento Kings for Otis Thorpe.

Context: After a few productive seasons with the Kings, Thorpe was traded to the Rockets to create one of the most formidable front courts in the NBA with Olajuwon during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Thorpe would become an NBA All-Star in 1992, and was a major part of the Rocket’s first championship team in 1994. 

After struggling as a team during the 1994-95 season, the Rockets decided to send Thorpe to the Trail Blazers in a package that landed superstar shooting guard Drexler.

10. Rockets Trade Away McGrady, Land Kevin Martin

Date: Feb. 18, 2010

Details: As part of a three-team trade, the Rockets traded Tracy McGrady to the New York Knicks and Joey Dorsey and Carl Landry to the Sacramento Kings for Jordan Hill, Jared Jeffries and a 2012 1st round pick from the Knicks and Hilton Armstrong and Kevin Martin from the Kings.

Context: The Rockets had decided that the McGrady-Yao era was over, and shut down the recently-returned-from-injury McGrady until a trade could be found. They entered into a three-team trade with the Kings and Knicks, dealing McGrady to the latter and bringing in Martin, one of the game’s best scoring shooting guards.

Martin would become a major piece in the trade that’d land Harden over two years later.

11. Rockets Land Steve Francis

Date: Aug. 27, 1999

Details: As part of a three-team trade, traded Antoine Carr, Michael Dickerson, Othella Harrington, Brent Price and a 2003 1st round pick to the Vancouver Grizzlies for Steve Francis and Tony Massenburg from the Grizzlies and Don MacLean and a 2001 1st round pick from the Orlando Magic.

Context: The 1999 NBA Draft saw Francis selected second overall to the Grizzlies – but Francis had no desire to live or play in Canada. The future star point guard held out until the Grizzlies finally traded him to Houston.

Francis would help the franchise transition out of the Olajuwon era and into the Yao era. He’d go on to win the 1999-00 Rookie of the Year award, and earn three All-Star selections in his first stint with Houston.

His eventual rift with head coach Jeff Van Gundy would lead to the franchise dealing him away to the Magic in a package for Tracy McGrady. He’d sign as a free agent with the Rockets in 2007, finishing his career in Houston.

12. Rockets Land Kenny Smith

Date: Sept. 27, 1990 

Details: Traded John Lucas, Tim McCormick and a 1994 1st round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Roy Marble and Kenny Smith.

Context: A little over seven months after being traded to Atlanta, the Hawks sent Smith to the Rockets. Smith’s scoring ballooned to 17.7 points per game, helping the Rockets achieve a then-franchise-record 52 wins, despite Olajuwon missing 25 games. He’d go on to be a vital part of the Rockets’ championship core, winning two titles with Houston. He replaced the aging Sleepy Floyd as starting point guard, as his timeline meshed better with Olajuwon’s. He’d play with the Rockets until 1996.

13. Rockets Acquire Alperen Şengün

Date: July 30, 2021

Details: Traded a 2022 1st round pick and a 2023 1st round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Alperen Şengün. Both picks did not convey.

Context: The Rockets lucked out big time with the Şengün, as they were able to offload picks acquired from other trades that wound up not conveying. In return, the team received what has become arguably their best player (not counting Durant). 

Şengün was drafted 16th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Thunder, before being traded the following day. Time will tell just how high Şengün’s star will rise, but the young center made his first All-Star team in 2025.

14. Rockets Trade Championship Core for Charles Barkley

Date: Aug. 19, 1996

Details: Traded Chucky Brown, Mark Bryant, Sam Cassell and Robert Horry to the Phoenix Suns for Charles Barkley and a 1999 2nd round pick.

Context: Barkley was traded to the Suns, as the core that he once led to the 1993 NBA Finals had peaked seasons ago. In return for a package that included major Rockets championship role players like Cassell and Horry, Houston landed the aging superstar power forward. Houston was attempting to give the stagnating Olajuwon era another major boost, like they did with acquiring Drexler in 1995.

Barkley would play a then-career-low 53 games while battling injuries, and averaged less than 20 points per game for the first time since his rookie season. Despite this, he’d earn his final All-Star selection in 1997. He’d close out his career in 2000 after four mostly-injury-riddled seasons with the Rockets.

15. Rockets Trade Paul for Westbrook

Date: July 16, 2019

Details: Traded Chris Paul, a 2021 first round pick, a 2024 first round pick, a 2025 first round pick and a 2026 first round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Russell Westbrook. 

Context: After years of trying to build a winning core around Westbrook, the Thunder and their loyal star point guard decided it was time to part was, amicably. The Rockets and Thunder reunited the former teammates in Houston, as the former shipped Paul and package of picks north.

The two team would face each other in the 2019-20 NBA Playoffs, held in Orlando in the “bubble,” where Paul would surprisingly lead a young Thunder team to a seven-game 1st round series against his former team. Harden and Westbrook managed to win the series, but experienced little success afterward.

Westbrook would make the All-Star and All-NBA Third teams in his lone season in Houston. He was traded to the Washington Wizards on dec. 2, 2020, as all signs pointed to the end of the Harden era in Houston.

16. Rockets Land Mario Elie

Date: Aug. 2, 1993

Details: Traded a 1995 2nd round pick for Mario Elie.

Context: Traded to the Rockets ahead of the 1993-94 season, Elie became a major contributor to the Rockets’ NBA title teams. Known as the “Junkyard Dog,” Elie would be a major role player off the bench. Elie hit a game-winning three-pointer during Game 7 of the 1995 Western Conference Semifinals against the Suns, having since been dubbed the “Kiss of Death.” He was promoted to starter during the 1995 NBA Finals, averaging 16.3 points per game during the series.

17. Rockets Land Shane Battier

Date: July 12, 2006

Details: Traded Rudy Gay and Stromile Swift for Shane Battier.

Context: Despite missing the mark on the potential of Gay, who the Rockets took at No. 8 in the 2006 NBA Draft, the Rockets brought in one of the league’s most unselfish and productive role players in Battier. He was a defensive presence at the wing, with the ability to guard several positions. Battier would make two All-Defensive teams while a member of the Rockets.

18. Rockets Land Luis Scola

Date: July 12, 2007

Details: Traded Vassilis Spanoulis and a 2009 2nd round pick to the San Antonio Spurs for Jackie Butler and Luis Scola.

Context: Scola was drafted in 2002 by the Spurs, but struggled for years in trying to sign the Argentinian power forward to an NBA contract. After one last failed attempt in 2005 to sign him, the Spurs cut their losses in 2007 by dealing him to the Rockets, who signed him soon after.

With the Rockets Scola finished third in the 2007-08 Rookie of the Year voting, at the age of 27. He spent five productive seasons with the Rockets, before being waived in the summer of 2012, for salary cap-relief purposes, as the Rockets signed superstar center Dwight Howard.

19. Rockets Land Scottie Pippen from Bulls

Date: Jan. 22, 1999

Details: Traded Roy Rogers and a 2000 2nd round pick to the Chicago Bulls for Scottie Pippen.

Context: Coming right out of the 1998-99 NBA lockout, the reigning-champion Bulls were faced with the reality that their dynasty was over, as Michael Jordan retired for the second time. Pippen had been feuding with Bulls management for years at this point, and the team traded their second-greatest player in franchise history to the Rockets for a package well below the value of the six-time champion.

Pippen was brought to the Rockets as the team looked for one last shot to propel their aging core to championship contention. Pippen clashed publicly with former Dream Team and new Rockets teammate Barkley, and saw a dip in his offensive production, despite making the All-Defensive First team.

Pippen expressed his desire to be traded after the Los Angeles Lakers bounced the Rockets from the first round in four games, which drew more public criticism from Barkley. Pippen wish to be traded to the Lakers, who were coached by former Bulls coach Phil Jackson, due to the system being the same triangle offense from the Bulls’ six title teams. The Rockets sent him to the Trail Blazers on Oct. 2, 1999.

20. Rockets Trade Away Sampson for Sleepy Floyd

Date: Dec. 12, 1987

Details: Traded Steve Harris and Ralph Sampson to the Golden State Warriors for Joe Barry Carroll, Sleepy Floyd and cash.

Context: Sampson had suffered a major cartilage tear in his left knee during the 1986-87 NBA season, for which he rushed his rehab to make it back in time for the Playoffs. This decision would be one he came to regret, as it led to a decline in production and availability over the remainder of his career.

Sampson was traded to the Warriors for All-Star point guard Floyd during the 1987-88 NBA season, who would play with the Rockets for the next 5.5 seasons. Floyd would start for the next 2.5 years for Houston, before being replaced in the starting lineup due to the acquisition of Smith. Floyd’s production and playing time would decline over the next couple seasons, before signing with the Spurs ahead of the 1993-94 NBA season, missing the Rockets’ championship window entirely.