The Houston Rockets have traded forward James Ennis to the Philadelphia 76ers for swap rights to a 2021 second-round pick, according to the Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Rockets traded James Ennis for swap rights to a 2021 second-round pick, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium. https://t.co/I7ztF23sr3
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 7, 2019
Moving Ennis saves the Rockets $2.4 million and only puts them $2.4 million above the luxury tax. This move clearly indicates that Houston is trying to get closer to being under the luxury tax, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Houston is inching their way closer to getting under the luxury tax. The Rockets save $2.4M with the James Ennis trade to Philadelphia and are now $2.4M above the tax threshold. Houston started the season with a tax bill of $14.6M. Houston will create a $1.6M trade exception.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 7, 2019
Ennis, 28, is averaging 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and shooting 37.3 percent from three in 23.6 minutes per game this season. Next season, Ennis has a $1.8 million player option as part of the two-year, $3.46 million deal he signed with Houston in the summer.
On Wednesday, the Rockets traded for NBA champion Iman Shumpert as part of a three-team deal featuring the Sacramento Kings. Houston is currently the fifth seed in the western conference with a 32-22 record.
