The Houston Rockets are trading forward Trevor Ariza and the No. 16 pick in Wednesday’s draft to the Detroit Pistons for a future first-round pick, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Washington forward Isaiah Stewart was selected Wednesday night with the No. 16 pick, which originally belonged to Portland.
Houston reportedly will also purchase Detroit’s 2021 second-round pick (via the Los Angeles Lakers) for $4.6 million.
Effectively a salary dump deal, the transaction gives the Rockets, who are hard-capped, the ability to use their mid-level exception in free agency. As for the Pistons, they now have the Nos. 7 and 16 picks in the draft as they look to add young talent to a bottom-dwelling roster.
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