Houston Rockets: Royce White Sage Is Finally Over

Oct 17, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Royce White (30) runs up court against the Memphis Grizzlies during the fourth quarter at the Toyota Center. The Rockets won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

The sideshow that the Houston Rockets had to deal with last season with first-round pick Royce White has now come to an end.  The Rockets successfully dealt him to the Philadelphia 76ers Friday evening, creating more cap space for the Rockets to sign free agent center Dwight Howard.

The Rockets sent the rights to Turkish center/forward Furkan Aldemir, a second-round pick in last season’s draft, and cash to get the Sixers to take on the remaining $1.7 million guaranteed on White’s rookie contract.

The trade reunites White with Sam Hinkie, who he developed a fairly good relationship with when Hinkie was in Houston.  The Sixers will have to make a decision on White: his contract for next season is guaranteed, and if his option for next season is not picked up by October, then he’ll become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2014.

Me & @dmorey haven't always seen eye to eye, but you have to respect his ability to make moves like Harden & Howard, that's cool.

— Royce White (@Highway_30) July 5, 2013

White, 22, did not play for the Rockets at all last season, and stopped attending practices after a Nov. 10 dispute over agreements he that wanted in place related to his anxiety disorder, as well as his assignments to the NBA Development League.

Picked 16th overall in the 2012 draft, White averaged 11.4 points and 5.7 rebounds in 16 games with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers before leaving the team prior to the playoffs.