Rockets trading Kevin Porter Jr., second-round picks to Thunder

Rockets trading Kevin Porter Jr., second-round picks to Thunder

The Houston Rockets are trading guard Kevin Porter Jr. and a pair of future second-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder for guard Victor Oladipo and forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday. The Thunder are expected to waive Porter immediately, making him a free agent.

Wojnarowski cites the picks will be a 2027 second-rounder from the Timberwolves and a 2028 second-rounder from the Bucks.

The Thunder are acquiring a 2027 second via Minnesota and a 2028 second via Milwaukee in the deal, sources said. Porter Jr., is facing assault charges based on an incident with a girlfriend. OKC is essentially buying the two picks and releasing Porter Jr.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 17, 2023

Porter was arrested in September after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, former WNBA player Kyrse Gondrezick. The New York Police Department released this statement below after the incident.

“Upon arrival officers were informed that a 26-year-old female sustained a laceration to the right side of her face and was complaining about pain to her neck,” a New York Police Department spokesperson said. “A preliminary investigation on scene determined that a known individual struck her multiple times upon her body and placed his hands around her neck.”

It doesn’t appear likely the situation is being close to resolved, at the time of this writing.

According to Spotrac, Porter Jr. was entering the first year of a four-year, $63.4 million rookie scale extension he signed ahead of the 2022-23 season. Though the second year (2024-25) — which held a $15.6 million cap hit — was partially guaranteed until June 30, 2024. Since he was waived before opening night, only $1 million will be guaranteed for 2024-25.

The third year of the four-year extension would’ve also been guaranteed on June 30, 2024 (originally non-guaranteed), while the final year would have been guaranteed on June 30, 2025. The contract also carried $4.8 million of unlikely incentives baked into each season of his contract–equating to $19.0 million.

Oladipo is going to miss most, if not the entire season after tearing his patellar tendon in Game 3 of the Miami Heat’s first-round series against Milwaukee. Oladipo was traded to Oklahoma City for draft capital earlier this season. Robinson-Earl is a sneaky-good add for the Rockets. Listed at 6-foot-9, he adds additional frontcourt depth. He averaged 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds on 54.8 percent true-shooting.

This move was really made by Thunder general manager Sam Presti for the second-round picks, which seem to be the new premium in NBA trades today.

In lieu of the transaction, Houston subsequently waived Matthew Mayer to clear a roster spot, per a Rockets press release.

This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

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