Within the final hour of the NBA Trade deadline, the Houston Rockets have made another move. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Rockets have acquired big man Cody Zeller from the Atlanta Hawks.
The Atlanta Hawks are trading Cody Zeller and Houston’s 2028 second-round pick to the Rockets, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025
Zeller joined the Hawks after they acquired him from the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the Dejounte Murray deal. However, the former No. 4 overall pick has not suited up this season due to personal reasons.
The Indiana native has been in the league since 2013 and provides veteran experience. For a contending team like the Rockets, his presence could be valuable. On the court, it is unlikely that Zeller will play a big role on the team.
Houston Rockets Trade for Cody Zeller
The Houston Rockets’ Trade Deadline
The Rockets, who are 32-18, are aiming to make a second-half push to inch closer to title contention. Before landing Zeller, the Rockets made a trade to acquire Jaden Springer from the Boston Celtics. Like Zeller, Springer likely will not play a big role in Houston. However, he provides a lot on the defensive side of the ball and has a lot of potential.
Despite their lack of major trades, the Rockets were a popular team in the rumors regardless. This is especially true regarding players like Jimmy Butler and Kevin Durant. Ultimately, nothing happened, which was the plan the whole time. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Rockets did not want to break up their core, even if it landed them a superstar.
“Amid a growing belief leaguewide that Kevin Durant actually could be traded this week, sources say nothing has changed in Houston regarding its posture on a major in-season change.”
“The Rockets, as covered by @TheSteinLine repeatedly this season, want to give their young team a playoff shot. There have been no signals yet to suggest a possible audible at this deadline.”
The Last Word
The Rockets stand as one of the most shocking teams in the league. They are playing great basketball on both sides of the court. Houston has not made the playoffs since 2020. However, given their performance this season, it is practically inevitable they will break this cold streak this season. With the deadline having passed, the Rockets will soon be put to the test to see exactly what they have with their current group.
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