Houston Rockets: A Brandon Knight trade to the Grizzlies could be difficult
The Houston Rockets are reportedly in discussions with the Memphis Grizzlies to trade Brandon Knight away. What are they offering? Take a look.
The Houston Rockets are now five days away from the NBA trade deadline and the rumor mill is starting to pour in like crazy with some story lines finally accentuated on this team. There are an infinite amount of ways this team can improve before the deadline but it’s just a matter of how it’s going to be done.
It certainly won’t be with one wave of the magic wand but a series of what I like to call “domino” deals in order to get this ship righted.
The Houston Rockets must do their earnest to try to move those players that taking up valuable roster space so they can seek opportunities elsewhere. There are quite a few players on this roster that fit the bill but there’s one player that the team really feels it can move before the deadline.
What’s going on?
According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, a terrific writer with excellent insight by the way, says the Houston Rockets are pursuing a trade of Brandon Knight to the Memphis Grizzlies:
The Rockets have had trade discussions with the Grizzlies on a potential trade involving Brandon Knight, according to league sources. Houston has been offering a first-round pick to get rid of Knight’s contract.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) February 2, 2019
The first question I asked myself when I heard about this was “what the Houston Rockets were going to get in return?” But it appears as if this is more of a move to dump salary than to try to acquire some of the unwanted assets that the Grizz have to offer.
It’s a fire sale in Blues City and there are going to be a lot of teams that will reap the benefits of what was an exciting team to watch but just couldn’t get over the hump despite challenges. They’ve signaled that they’re officially in rebuilding mode and they’re probably going to take a step back in order to leap forward. They’re going to slash their payroll to a minimum in order to meet those objectives.
Daryl Morey knows this and he’s offering a first-round pick in order for the Grizz to take on his contract. If he’s able to pull such a deal off, he truly is the ultimate negotiator in ensuring that things get done.
The problem is that Knight’s $14.6 million salary for this season — pro-rated to $7.3M if the Grizz
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take the deal — and $15.6 million guaranteed for 2019-20 is hardly a conversation starter.
But when one offers the first-round pick, that can get a team like the Grizzlies talking as they can look to execute a buyout of his deal with the extra cash they’ll have available once they unload all of their high-priced contracts.
Moving Knight will not only open up a roster spot but will reduce the team’s luxury tax bill to a minimal amount. They currently have $131 million committed to salaries this season which is close to $8 million over the $123 million luxury tax line.
Unloading Knight will put them right on par with the line at $124 million for 2018-19. They’ll likely be bringing in more guys — specifically from the buyout market — but the hit won’t be as defined because they’ll be paid minimum salary by the Houston Rockets.
The franchise still can achieve significant savings if this trade goes through; and, of course, I’m all for it.
I think it’s going to be difficult to talk the Grizz into doing this but I don’t think it’s impossible. With the team more focused on the now rather than the future, it’s not a bad move to make.
I still think to this day that the Rockets would’ve been in better position had the off season trade involving Knight, Marquese Chriss, Ryan Anderson and De’Anthony Melton had not been made. The latter would’ve been seeing a lot of minutes at this juncture but it’s tough to say that team’s awful start would not have happened had both been on the roster.
We’ll see!
Next. Rockets: Three guys that need to step up amid Clint Capela's injury. dark
Knight, 27, is averaging 3.0 points and 0.8 assists while shooting .234/.156/.818 through 12 games this season. He hasn’t seen any action out on the court since Jan. 11.