The 2018 30-team NBA mega-trade that solves nothing and makes everyone mad
By Ian Levy
Houston Rockets
Sending out: Troy Williams (MIN)
Bringing in: Henry Ellenson (DET)
The Rockets love shooters and it can never hurt to have too many when you play the way they do, especially in the frontcourt. Troy Williams is an interesting end of the bench guy for Houston but, at his position, he’s extremely replaceable. Ellenson is something a bit more unique — a 6-foot-10 big who can play center, crash the glass and hit 3-pointers.
Admittedly, the 3-pointers thing is still a work in progress. He was a good mid-range shooter in college but didn’t step out behind the line that often. He’s made just 19-of-61 in his two-year NBA career but he’s a respectable 9-of-26 this season (34.6 percent) and has made 7-of-18 (38.9 percent) in the two G-League games he played this year.
Ellenson is very young and still on a rookie deal, which makes him inexpensive for the next few seasons. He’s not there yet but could develop into a Ryan Anderson type who can help on the glass, punish mismatches in the post and maintain the integrity of Houston’s 5-out offensive system.