Thomas Robinson to Houston in six-player deal

Rookie Thomas Robinson (205 cm, Kansas’12) is part of a six-player trade consummated by the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings less than two days before the NBA’s trade deadline. The Rockets will also receive Francisco Garcia (201 cm, Louisville’05) and Tyler Honeycutt (203 cm, UCLA’11). The Kings will get Patrick Patterson (206 cm, Kentucky’10), Toney Douglas (185 cm, Florida State’09), and Cole Aldrich (211 cm, Kansas’10).

The Rockets already sent Marcus Morris to the Phoenix Suns for a future second-round pick. Robinson, who has been languishing in the Kings’ bench playing behind Jason Thompson, is expected to see a boost in minutes with Patterson and Morris formerly sharing time at power forward for the Rockets.

This is yet another book-balancing move by the Rockets who are not expected to retain Garcia and Aldrich next season. The Rockets may not yet be done making moves, but if they are they should still be expected to be major players in NBA free agency before the 2013-14 season kicks off.