:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8450537/20130108_mjr_su5_348.0.jpg)
Some 8 months after unsuccessfully trying to move up to the fifth spot in the draft, the Rockets have landed the player the Kings took with the pick, Thomas Robinson. In a three way deal that sees Marcus Morris, Patrick Patterson, Toney Douglas, and Cole Aldrich all leaving town, the Rockets have managed to potentially land their power forward of the future and shake up the entire trade deadline.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Y! Sports had the first report:
Sacramento has traded forward Thomas Robinson to the Houston Rockets, league source tells Y Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 21, 2013
The Rockets will send Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich and Toney Douglas to the Kings for Thomas Robinson, sources tell Y!
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 21, 2013
Well, that escalated quickly. In an apparent three way trade, the Rockets will send out Marcus Morris to the Phoenix Suns, Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich, and Toney Douglas to the Kings, and receive Thomas Robinson, Tyler Honeycutt, Fransisco Garcia and a Phoenix second round pick.
In one move, Daryl Morey has apparently cleared the decks of a power forward logjam, cleared a roster spot, opened up even more cap space for this year and next, and picked up a pair of assets. Wow. It's not any sort of blockbuster, but it definitely shakes up this roster.