Trade grades: Rockets come out on top in Anderson/Chriss deal
The Houston Rockets had Ryan Anderson on the trade block for most of the last two seasons and late Thursday night, they finally found a taker. Houston sent Anderson and 2018 second-round pick De'Anthony Melton to the Phoenix Suns for Marquese Chriss and Brandon Knight.
Grading the trade, it looks like the Rockets came out on top.
Rockets: B
Anderson was rendered further expendable after losing his starting job to P.J. Tucker last season. There's no slam-dunk return for the Rockets here, but despite their individual challenges, Chriss and Knight still have age on their side.
Chriss, the No. 8 pick of the 2016 draft, has been a disappointment thus far. While he's demonstrated no shooting touch, he still possesses elite-level athleticism, something that can be utilized to fit the Rockets' system.
Meanwhile, Knight hasn't played in an NBA game since February 2017 thanks to various injuries. There was a time just over three years ago, however, when Phoenix regarded him highly enough that they dealt Eric Bledsoe and a future first-round pick - that ultimately became Mikal Bridges - to get him. From 2013-16, Knight averaged 18.1 points and 5.1 assists on 35.1 percent 3-point shooting.
While the Rockets won't be getting that starting-caliber point guard, their hope is he'll be a serviceable backup in limited minutes. Houston has no plans to waive and stretch Knight, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe.
Financially, the move gives Houston a little more flexibility next summer. If they don't exercise Chriss' team option before the Oct. 31 deadline, they'll save up to $5.6 million in 2019 with the difference between Anderson and Knight's contracts. The fact the Rockets didn't have to package a first-round draft pick with Anderson to get rid of him - the standard pot-sweetener with bad contracts - is a significant boon as well.
Suns: D-
Anderson is a sieve defensively, but he's a stretch four who is a career 38.2 percent 3-point shooter. In other words, he could be a solid addition to a contending team's bench.
The Suns, however, are far from a contending team right now. Phoenix apparently has no plans to flip Anderson elsewhere, with ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reporting that they plan on starting him at power forward. But what makes the trade the most vexing is the Suns taking on the 30-year-old Anderson's contract - which has two seasons and almost $42 million left on it. On Friday however, Wojnarowski reported that Anderson agreed to reduce the guarantee on his 2019-20 salary to $15.6 million - which only applies if he is waived.
That means if Anderson plays the contract out, Phoenix has added about $6 million in salary for 2019-20 - an unwise move for a team that should be clearing as much cap space as possible in order to augment their young roster.
That leaves Melton as the potential sleeper for the Suns, who aren't deep at point guard. The USC product is known for his high defensive motor. He averaged 16.4 points and four assists in five Vegas Summer League games. However, the Suns drafted another point guard - Frenchman Elie Okobo - 15 spots before Houston selected Melton.
Still, with a glut of wings and unproven points, the Suns could still be in the market for a lead guard. Phoenix has had an abysmal track record in terms of personnel moves under owner Robert Sarver over the last decade, and while it's not a major trade, this deal doesn't appear to help that legacy.