With the Feb. 10 trade deadline for the 2021-22 NBA season rapidly approaching, here’s an updated look at who Houston has on its salary books. This list includes recent signings such as Trevelin Queen and no longer includes Danuel House Jr., who was waived in December.
As of Jan. 15, Garrison Mathews is the only player on the Rockets who is not eligible to be traded by the deadline. That’s because his new standard contract was not signed until late December.
As a result, general manager Rafael Stone heads into the deadline period with substantial flexibility. With the Rockets in the middle of a clear rebuilding program, they’re in a clear spot where veterans like Eric Gordon, Daniel Theis, David Nwaba, and perhaps even John Wall could be sent elsewhere to teams with more of a win-now emphasis.
Courtesy of the HoopsHype salary database, here’s a look at who Stone has on Houston’s books entering the Feb. 10 trade deadline. This list is sorted by annual salary, ranging from the most to the least.
Since nearly all NBA teams or at or above the salary cap during the season, teams have to send out close to much money in deadline trades as they take in, owing to the league’s collective bargaining agreement.