The Rockets really have no interest in playing a center, huh?
Houston just traded starting center Clint Capela to the Hawks. In that four-way deal, the Rockets also got Jordan Bell, who can play center.
But Houston is re-routing Bell to the Grizzlies for Bruno Caboclo.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
Houston has traded Jordan Bell to Memphis for Bruno Caboclo, source tells ESPN. Teams exchange second-round picks too.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2020
Memphis has the right to swap the least favorable of Dallas' and Miami's second-round picks in 2023 for Houston's second-round pick in 2023 -- as long as Houston's pick is not 31 or 32, league source tell ESPN. https://t.co/YShcTchY0a
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2020
Both Bell and Caboclo are on expiring minimum contracts.
Houston has a fascination with Caboclo. There’s still time for the Rockets to add a center, including someone bought out. But for now, it’s the P.J. Tucker show with Thabo Sefolosha, Isaiah Hartenstein and Tyson Chandler in relief.
Bell doesn’t fit as well in Memphis with the Grizzlies also acquiring Gorgui Dieng. But I’d generally rather have Bell than Caboclo. Bell’s minimum salary is also slightly lower than Caboclo’s.
And in case you’re wonder, Houston can afford the salary difference while remaining under the luxury-tax line. What a strange coincidence.