Houston Moved White and Rights to Create Salary-Cap Flexibility
The July 13, 2013 exchange sent Royce White, the draft rights to Turkish big man Furkan Aldemir and cash from the Houston Rockets to Philadelphia. The 76ers offered a conditional 2014 second-round selection that would not convey if its protective terms were met. Houston was creating financial room during its pursuit of Dwight Howard, who signed as a free agent rather than arriving through this trade. White had not appeared in an NBA regular-season game for the Rockets following disputes over his availability and team arrangements. Moving his guaranteed contract was a tangible financial purpose even without a player returned to Houston.
The Protected Pick Never Supplied Houston a Player
The second-round obligation eventually expired without conveying, so Houston cannot claim a drafted prospect or NBA appearances from the incoming pick. That doesn't make the transaction wholly valueless to the Rockets: eliminating salary and a difficult roster fit opened flexibility during a major free-agency period. The price was the rights to Aldemir and cash alongside White, a real resource cost that should be included in the analysis. The original failing grade treats the absent pick as proof of no benefit, ignoring the cap-management objective. Yet Houston's later Howard seasons remain the consequence of a separate signing, not direct on-court trade compensation.
Philadelphia Got Forty-One Games From Aldemir, None From White
Philadelphia waived White in October 2013 before he played an NBA regular-season game for the franchise. Aldemir's contribution arrived later: the Sixers signed him in December 2014, and he appeared in forty-one games during 2014-15. He started nine times, totaled 540 minutes and scored ninety-three points while averaging 4.3 rebounds. That is a modest but measurable return for the overseas draft rights the team acquired in 2013. The Sixers did not receive a future first-round pick or immediate rotation cornerstone, and White's eventual professional stops elsewhere cannot be used to improve their trade grade.
Short-Term Financial Goals and Later Reserve Minutes Both Count
Houston exchanged prospect rights and cash to clear an unwanted contract, while Philadelphia accepted the risk and collected a young player's rights with no effective draft-pick payment. Aldemir's later NBA minutes make the Sixers' side the stronger tangible basketball return, though his single 41-game season doesn't justify star-level grading. Houston still advanced a reasonable salary-cap objective when pursuing a major free agent. The separation between those two forms of value matters: the Rockets' protected second never arrived, and the 76ers' Royce White asset never produced court time. A modest Philadelphia edge recognizes actual reserve appearances without dismissing Houston's financial outcome.
Final Verdict
Slight 76ers Edge. Philadelphia earns B- because Furkan Aldemir eventually played 41 Sixers games and made nine starts, and the team also received cash; Royce White was waived without an NBA appearance. Houston gets C for removing White's contract during its free-agency planning even though the incoming conditional 2014 second-round pick never conveyed. Dwight Howard signed separately, so his Houston career isn't a direct player return from this trade.