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Houston Rockets: Ryan Anderson traded to the Phoenix Suns

By Michael Knight

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 18: Ryan Anderson #33 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 18, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 18: Ryan Anderson #33 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 18, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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The Houston Rockets were finally able to trade the huge contract of one their stretch big men.

The Houston Rockets have finally done it. They’ve traded the huge contract of Ryan Anderson. They managed to find a trade partner after looking to find a place for him for the last couple of years.

The official trade was broken by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:

Houston has traded Ryan Anderson and De'Anthony Melton to Phoenix for Marquese Chriss and Brandon Knight, league source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 31, 2018

As you can see, the Rockets traded Ryno and, sadly, De’Anthony Melton, to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Marquese Chriss and Brandon Knight. This is a fairly decent haul for Houston who gets a little bit younger.

Chriss and Knight

Marquese Chriss and Brandon Knight are very good pickups for the Houston Rockets, though. They replaced Melton with a more experienced point guard who, when healthy, is a pretty decent player. They also get Chriss, who is entering just his third year. He is an athletic beast who can only get better as he learns to shoot better.

Brandon Knight missed all of last season with a torn ACL. He will be coming to a team where he will compete for backup guard minutes with Michael Carter-Williams. He isn’t the best defender in the world, but he can be great on offense when he’s at his best. Knight is just two years removed from averaging around 20 points per game. He’s a slight downgrade in payment, at $14 million per year, but should actually be playable.

Ryan Anderson

Ryan Anderson’s $20 million a year contract was one that has burdened the Rockets for quite some time. They tried to trade him last summer in their pursuit of Carmelo Anthony but came up short. Now, they have finally gotten rid of it.

Ryno had some nice years in Houston, but his defense was a glaring issue. He was unplayable against the Warriors last year and it was time to part ways with him.

Trading him without including a draft pick is fantastic news. Now, the Rockets can look to add another wing defender with the luxury of throwing in a first rounder.

Chris Paul brings leadership. Next

What do you think of the trade? We’ll be back tomorrow to break it down even more.

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