Rockets acquire KJ McDaniels and Pablo Prigioni at NBA Trade Deadline

 

Morey was busy during the trade deadline. Photo Credit: Pat Sullivan/AP 

There is no secret that the Rockets front office is one of the most aggressive front offices in the NBA. General Manager Daryl Morey is always looking to bolster the Rockets roster with blockbuster trades. Morey wants to make the Rockets a title contender at all cost.

By: Niqko Marshall (@NDMHoops)
At the first trade deadline, this season the Rockets had acquired Corey Brewer and Alex Shved from the Timberwolves and Sixers. Most thought either of the two would be used to trade for a big name at the February deadline. 

Well, the Rockets tried their hand at Phoenix point guard Goran Dragic. Dragic had been a former member of the Rockets a couple years ago before he signed with the Suns in free agency. His relationship with Rockets coach Kevin McHale was a good one.

Dragic let Phoenix know that he was unhappy with his role and that he would not resign with them in the off season ultimately forcing the Suns hand to trade him. Dragic wanted to be traded to a contender but had a list of teams he would sign an extension with and the Rockets were not on that list. 

If the Rockets had gone all in on Dragic they would be risking only having him for half a season, but that would also bolster their team in the tough western conference and would improve their chances of winning a title.

It seems like the Rockets didn't want to take the risk as they opted to trade Shved and a second round pick to the Knicks for Prigioni, a backup point guard. They also sent Isaiah Canaan and the Denver Nuggets second-round pick to Philadelphia for KJ McDaniels, who is an athletic forward. 

McDaniels is only signed through this year, and Prigioni is signed through the next season. Houston may have plans to sign McDaniels to an extension as Corey Brewer will be a free agent next year.

It is also worth noting that the Rockets had interest in trading for former OKC guard Reggie Jackson.