Some of the biggest moves in Houston Rockets franchise history have happened at the trade deadline. Some of those moves have helped carry the team to success while others have put the team in a hole.
Either way, making a deal at the trade deadline can be pivotal for a team's future, and throughout their five-plus decades of existence, the Rockets have made plenty such moves.
1974
The first trade deadline deal in team history came in 1974 when the team shipped Matt Guokas and All-Star Jack Marin to the Buffalo Braves in exchange for seven-footer Kevin Kunnert and backup point guard Dave Wohl.
1990
According to RealGM, it would be another 16 years before the Rockets made another deal at the trade deadline. This time, Houston traded second-year small forward Derrick Chievous to the Cleveland Cavaliers for three second-round picks (1991, 1992 and 1993.)
1995
Just a few days before the '95 trade deadline, the Rockets made a move to acquire aging star Clyde Drexler and small forward Tracy Murray from the Portland Trailblazers. In exchange, the Rockets would send former All-Star Otis Thorpe, Marcelo Nicola and a 1995 first-round pick to Portland.
On the actual day of the deadline, The Dallas Mavericks sent Morlon Wiley and a 1995 second-round pick to Houston for Rockets point guard (and current Washington Wizards head coach) Scott Brooks.
1999
During the 1999 lockout season, the Rockets reached an agreement with the Vancouver Grizzlies to acquire former Rocket Sam Mack in exchange for second-year wing Rodrick Rhodes.
2005
In the first of two trades, the New York Knicks sent a package of Vin Baker, Moochie Norris, and a 2006 second-round pick to Houston for former All-Rookie performer Maurice Taylor.
With trade number two, the Rockets added bench big Zendon Hamilton and veteran point guard Mike James while they traded Reece Gaines and second-round picks in 2006 and 2007 to the Milwaukee Bucks.
2006
In a minor move, the Rockets were able to add a solid scorer off the bench in Derek Anderson while giving up rookie Gerald Fitch to the Miami Heat.
2008
Again, the Rockets were part of two trades at the '08 deadline. The first trade sent bench forward Kirk Snyder and a 2010 second-round pick to the Houston Rockets for Gerald Green. Green's first stint in Houston didn't last long but the high-flying guard would join the Rockets for a few seasons later in his career.
The second trade was a three-team deal involving the Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, and New Orleans Pelicans. In the trade, the Rockets acquired Sergei Lishouk(draft rights), Bobby Jackson, Adam Haluska, and a 2008 second-round pick. At the same time, Houston gave up Mike James, Bonzi Wells, and Malick Badiane (draft rights) in the deal.
2009
In another three-team trade, the Rockets sent starting point guard Rafer Alston to the Orlando Magic. In return, Houston received Kyle Lowry from the Memphis Grizzlies and Brian Cook from the Orlando Magic.
Lowry would go on to have three solid seasons in Houston but wouldn't truly become the star he is today until his breakout 2013-14 season with the Toronto Raptors.
2010
Yet another three-team deal, Houston decided to move on from franchise star Tracy McGrady. The Rockets also traded Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey to the Sacramento Kings. In return, the Rockets brought in Kevin Martin, Hilton Armstrong, Jordan Hill, Jared Jeffries, and a 2012 first-round pick.
The biggest part of this trade, Martin would average 21.3 points per game in 144 games as a Rocket.
2011
At the 2011 deadline, the Rockets would ship reigning Most Improved Player Aaron Brooks to the Phoenix Suns for Goran Dragic and a 2011 first-round pick.
The team also went out and grabbed DeMarre Carroll and noted draft bust Hasheem Thabeet from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Shane Battier and Ish Smith.
2012
During the lockout season, the Rockets acquired veteran center Marcus Camby from the Portland Trailblazers while trading away Jonny Flynn, Hasheem Thabeet, and a 2012 second-round pick.
Houston added another veteran in Derek Fisher (and a 2014 first-round pick) from the Los Angeles Lakers, sending Jordan Hill to LA.
2013
The Rockets gave up underperforming forward Marcus Morris to the Phoenix Suns for the price of a 2013 second-round pick.
Then, Houston acquired three role players: Tyler Honeycutt, Thomas Robinson and Francisco Garcia from the Sacramento Kings for three players of their own in Cole Aldrich, Patrick Patterson and Toney Douglas as well as cash considerations.
2014
In 2014, the Rockets once again traded Aaron Brooks. This time, to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for former first-round pick Jordan Hamilton.
2015
Houston was a part of two trades at the 2015 deadline. The first was when the team traded Isaiah Canaan and a 2015 second-round pick to the 76ers for young wing K.J. McDaniels.
In the second trade, Houston added Italian point guard Pablo Prigioni from the New York Knicks for Alexey Shved and second-round picks in 2017 and 2019.
2016
The Rockets acquired a 2016 first-round pick from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Donatas Montiejunas and Marcus Thornton and a 2017 second-round pick.
2017
For the tenth-straight season, the Rockets made a deal at the deadline. In 2017, the team made three deals.
The Los Angeles Lakers sent Brazilian point guard Marcelo Huertas to Houston for Tyler Ennis and the draft rights to Brad Newley.
The Rockets also sent away K.J. McDaniels to the Brooklyn Nets for cash considerations.
In the last trade, the Rockets acquired sixth-man extraordinaire Lou Williams from the Lakers for Corey Brewer and a 2017 first-round draft pick.
2019
The team's first deal of the 2019 deadline, the Rockets were a part of a three-team deal that sent a 2020 second-round pick to the Sacramento Kings and Marquesse Chriss, Brandon Knight, a 2019 first-round pick and 2022 second-round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In return, the Rockets received Wade Baldwin, Nik Stauskas, Iman Shumpert a 2021 second-round pick
Houston was very active at the 2019 deadline. The team added a 2021 second-round pick while shipping journeyman James Ennis off to Philadelphia.
After just acquiring the new players, Houston also made moves to free up cap space, sending Stauskas, Baldwin, Maarty Leunen and a 2021 second-round pick to the Indiana Pacers for cash considerations.
2020
Houston was a part of a four-team deal at the most recent trade deadline as they gave up Gerald Green and a 2020 first-round pick to the Nuggets as well as big men Nene and Clint Capela to the Atlanta Hawks. In return, the Rockets picked up Jordan Bell and Robert Covington from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Just one day after acquiring Bell from Minnesota, the Rockets would ship the big man off to the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis would send former first-round pick Brno Caboclo to Houston in the deal.
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