Rockets Land Veteran Center Cody Zeller in Massive Deal

The Houston Rockets are acquiring veteran center Cody Zeller and Houston's 2028 second-round pick from the Atlanta Hawks.

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ESPN's Shams Charania shared via X.

Zeller, 32, has not played a minute this season in his first year with the Hawks.

The corresponding move for this trade has yet to be announced, which could result in the Rockets either waiving recent acquisition Jaden Springer or dealing another player, like Jock Landale.

The veteran center will join his sixth team in the league and his fifth team in the last four years.

Zeller began his career with the Charlotte Bobcats/ Hornets after they selected him with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft out of Indiana University.

Zeller has been away from the Hawks for personal reasons.

Prior to the trade, he hadn't reported to the Hawks since being acquired by the team in a sign-and-trade deal over the summer that facilitated Dejounte Murray's move to New Orleans.

The 32-year-old center is buried on the depth chart in Atlanta and wouldn't have had a spot in the rotation even if he had reported to the team for training camp.

Zeller's most valuable asset to the Hawks was his three-year, $11.03 million contract, which proved to be useful for salary-matching purposes and it paid off for them.

In his career, Zeller averages 7.9 points per game, 5.7 assists, and 1.3 assists while shooting 52 percent from the field and 72.7 percent from the charity stripe in 552 games.

With Zeller now on board, the Rockets will have to decide whether to waive Zeller or keep him on the roster. Chances are, the Rockets will waive him and open up a roster spot on the buyout market, which they can use to sign someone more apt to participate in Houston's late-season run.

The Rockets will look to make a significant run this season, and they're in a great position to do just that. As the deadline comes to an end, they sit as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and have the pieces to compete with anyone.

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