The Houston Rockets have made a strategic move ahead of the NBA trade deadline, acquiring center Cody Zeller and a 2028 second-round pick from the Atlanta Hawks. This transaction involved the Rockets waiving Jaden Springer, whom they had acquired from the Celtics just days prior. In a calculated approach to stock up on draft assets, the Rockets also sent the Hawks the rights to Alpha Kaba, a previously drafted player.

Zeller, who has not played this season following his acquisition by Atlanta, carries a cap hit of $3.5 million for this year as part of a three-year, $11 million contract. The Rockets now sit $3.1 million beneath the tax line after completing this deal, maintaining their roster stability while enhancing their future draft capital.