Brooklyn Nets Receive K.J. McDaniels From Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets have dealt K.J. McDaniels to the Brooklyn Nets, filling the Nets’ roster at 15 players.

On the day of the NBA’s trade deadline, the Brooklyn Nets continue to make moves in the trade market. This time, they received swingman K.J. McDaniels from the Houston Rockets, as reported by The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Houston has traded K.J. McDaniels to the Brooklyn Nets, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 23, 2017

The addition of McDaniels comes following the Nets’ release of Marcus Thornton, whom the team acquired from the Washington Wizards yesterday. Thornton’s release opened up one roster spot on the Nets, which was subsequently filled by McDaniels.

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Earlier this week, ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported that McDaniels was on the trade block, citing McDaniels’ “busted jumper” and that “Houston is chasing a win-now move.” The Rockets have barely used the 24-year-old, further exemplifying the likelihood of him being dealt prior to the trade deadline.

Since his arrival in Houston, McDaniels has played just 76 games and posted 2.4 points, one rebound, and 0.2 assists in 6.3 minutes per game. He tallied his best numbers with the Philadelphia 76ers in 52 games of the 2014-15 season: 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 25.4 minutes per game.

Woj also reported that the deal gives Houston $3 million in cap space, which could be useful for the buyout market.

Unloading McDaniels to the Nets frees $3M in cap space to use on the buyout market for Houston.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 23, 2017

McDaniels will likely have a larger role with the Nets, who are currently in the rebuilding phase and not contending for the playoffs. Since the Nets dealt Bojan Bogdanovic as part of the trade with the Wizards, that freed up one wing spot in the starting lineup. It’s unclear whether the Nets will go with rookie Caris LeVert or Sean Kilpatrick for the starting job, but either way, McDaniels would be a great addition to have as a backup.

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With the 3:00 PM deadline quickly approaching, it’ll be interesting to see whether the Nets make anymore moves, especially with big man Brook Lopez, who has seemingly been on the trade block since joined the team.