Houston agreed to trade third-year guard Josh Christopher to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. It was the culmination of an extremely busy day of free agency activity for the Rockets.
It isn’t yet clear whether Christopher will be traded to Memphis as part of a sign-and-trade for Dillon Brooks, who is bound for Houston, or as a separate deal. Christopher averaged 6.9 points (45.5% FG, 27.7% on 3-pointers) in 12.3 minutes over two seasons with the Rockets. He was drafted at No. 24 overall in the 2021 NBA draft.
With roster spots and financial space beneath the NBA’s salary cap at a premium, the Rockets made a flurry of moves over the first 24 hours of the league’s 2023 free agency negotiating window.
Houston signed Brooks, veteran Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet, and young Phoenix Suns center Jock Landale, all while also trading for veteran Brooklyn Nets guard Patty Mills.
To make room for those newcomers, along with recently drafted 2023 first-round rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore, Houston traded away third-year forward Usman Garuba and second-year guard TyTy Washington (to Atlanta). Now, Christopher joins that list.
The Houston Rockets are trading Josh Christopher to Memphis, sources tell @TheAthletic.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) July 1, 2023
