Slight Rockets Edge
Slight Rockets Edge. Houston landed Trevor Ariza, who became a four-year starter, plus the 2015 first-round pick that became Sam Dekker. New Orleans got a strong first season from Ömer Aşık but limited long-term return, while Washington salvaged Ariza's free-agent departure into Melvin Ely and a trade exception it soon used to help acquire Kris Humphries.
Houston Rockets Received
- Player Trevor Ariza
- Player Alonzo Gee
- Player Scotty Hopson
- Draft Pick 2015 protected first-round pick (#18- Sam Dekker )
New Orleans Pelicans Received
- Player Ömer Aşık
- Player Omri Casspi
- Cash cash considerations
Washington Wizards Received
- Player Melvin Ely
- Trade Exception trade exception
Trade Analysis
Houston came out ahead because the two assets that mattered most aged well. Ariza immediately became a full-time starter and held that role for four seasons, including Houston's runs to the Western Conference Finals in 2015 and 2018. The protected first-round pick also conveyed at No. 18 and became Sam Dekker, giving the Rockets another useful asset. New Orleans did get real short-term value from Aşık: he started 76 games, averaged 9.8 rebounds and helped a 45-win Pelicans team reach the 2015 playoffs. The return faded after that first season, however, and Aşık was later included with another first-round pick in the 2018 Nikola Mirotić trade. Washington deserves a strong grade too. Rather than lose Ariza in free agency with nothing coming back, the Wizards generated a trade exception and Melvin Ely; that exception was then used to help acquire Kris Humphries. This was not a one-team rout, but Houston received the best combination of immediate fit, multi-year production and first-round value.