In 2019, then-general manager Daryl Morey said the Rockets had reached a trade agreement to acquire a first-round draft pick in the “early 20s,” but it was contingent on Houston drafting a certain player. The deal was scuttled when that player was drafted one pick earlier.
At the time, Morey did not specify the team involved or the intended target. But today, nearly three years later, we finally have confirmation courtesy of Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report. Fischer writes:
In 2019, when Jazz CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge was still the president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics, they held serious draft night trade discussions with the Houston Rockets about acquiring Clint Capela for Marcus Smart and the No. 22 pick, sources told B/R.
The agreed-in-principle deal ultimately fell short, but the Rockets were targeting Brandon Clarke before the Memphis Grizzlies swept in to steal the Gonzaga product at No. 21.
