Joel Anthony traded to Sixers, Rockets avoid luxury tax

Joel Anthony, originally thought to be heading to the Rockets from Detroit in the Donatas Motiejunas/Marcus Thornton deal, is actually heading to the Philadelphia 76ers in what was just revealed as a three-team trade. The Rockets also send the second-round pick obtained from Denver to Philly as an incentive to take Anthony off their hands.

To be clearer: Anthony goes to Sixers through Houston, who acquired him from Detroit in 3-player trade. Rockets ship out second-round pick.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 18, 2016

Rockets sending Denver's second to Philadelphia to move Joel Anthony.

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) February 18, 2016

The deal saves salary for Rockets and puts them under the luxury tax threshold. It was never expected that owner Les Alexander was willing to overpay for an underachieving roster, and today's results at the deadline validate that line of thinking.

This was a move made for purely financial reasons. When the Rockets realized they weren't getting a roster upgrade, they simply made a move to cut salary and snag a future pick.

The Rockets also obtain the rights to Chukwudiebere Maduabum from Philly, an undersized power forward/center who has only ever played internationally and in the D-League.

The #sixers are sending the rights to Chukwudiebere Maduabum as part of the Joel Anthony trade.

— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) February 18, 2016