The Rockets agree to trade forward Ryan Anderson to the Phoenix Suns.
Arrival of Anthony opened the door for forward’s exit
With the addition of Carmelo Anthony taking forward Ryan Anderson a step further removed from the Rockets rotation, the Rockets agreed to deal the veteran forward to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday for young forward Marquese Chriss and point guard Brandon Knight, a person with knowledge of the deal said.
The Rockets will also send second-round pick De’Anthony Melton to the Suns to complete the deal. Melton had a strong showing with the Rockets’ summer league team, but he had become a key to sweeten a deal to move the two years and $41.7 million remaining on Anderson’s contract.
ESPN initially reported the agreement on the trade.
Chriss, 21, averaged 8.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in his first two seasons after he was the eighth pick of the 2016 draft. The Rockets would likely seek to develop Chriss, at 6-10, as a power forward and backup center, using his skills as a rim-runner on screens.
Knight, 26, missed all of last season with a knee injury, but averaged 15.2 points and 4.3 assists in six seasons. He was considered one of the league’s more promising young point guards and averaged 19.6 points and 5.1 assists in the 2015-16 season with the Suns, before his injury issues.
Knight, like Anderson, is signed for two more seasons, worth $30.2 million.
Anderson had been among the keys to the Rockets’ retooled offense under Mike D’Antoni in 2016-17 with his shooting range valuable in the Rockets’ system. But he struggled in his second season with the Rockets and was replaced in the starting lineup by P.J. Tucker. By the Western Conference finals against the Warriors, Anderson rarely played with the Rockets’ switching style exposing him defensively.
The Rockets plan to play Anthony often at power forward making it more difficult for Anderson to get playing time. Anderson, a 10-year veteran, averaged 11.6 points, making 39.6 percent of his 3-pointers with the Rockets.