5 biggest NBA trade moves made by the Houston Rockets in the 21st century

#3 Shane Battier

2016 NBA Finals - Game Three

On draft night in 2006, the Houston Rockets took a huge gamble by sending their 8th overall pick and Stromile Swift in an NBA trade to Memphis Grizzlies for 5-year veteran Shane Battier.

Battier, who was a fan favorite in Memphis, quickly endeared himself to the Houston faithful. In his four-and-a-half season stint with the Rockets, Battier averaged 8.8 points but was a key contributor in defense on the most successful Rockets teams in recent times.

He formed a solid partnership with the likes of Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, and he also became an integral part of an exciting Houston Rockets team.

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#4 Russell Westbrook

Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers - Game Five

Daryl Morey made another blockbuster NBA trade as the Houston Rockets General Manager when he sent Chris Paul to the OKC Thunder in exchange for Russell Westbrook. The idea was to pair up the former MVP with another one in James Harden, who has been the best scorer in the NBA in the last few years.

The trade has not necessarily worked out, as Russell Westbrook struggled badly in the postseason. But the player was solid in the regular season before the league stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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#5 James Harden

Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers - Game Five

In the summer of 2013, the Houston Rockets took the league by storm when they offered veteran Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, two future first-round picks and a second-round pick for the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, James Harden.

No one could have predicted the ascent of Harden, especially the OKC Thunder, as the 6' 6" guard evolved into a lethal scorer in the following years.

Harden has been selected to six All-NBA teams and has also been on the first team in five of the last six years. He's the only Rockets player to earn first-team honors since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1996-97.

James Harden won the MVP award in 2017-18 and had three second-place finishes (2014-15, 2016-17 and 2018-19). He has been placed within the top nine votes every season with the Houston Rockets, which shows the great vision the franchise displayed while doing the NBA trade.