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Rockets Trade Donatas Motiejunas & Marcus Thornton To Pistons In 3 Team Deal - Voided

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  • Rockets Trade Donatas Motiejunas & Marcus Thornton To Pistons In 3 Team Deal - Voided

    Houston Rockets get first-round pick, Joel Anthony in trade with Detroit Pistons

    PHOENIX -- The Houston Rockets traded power forward Donatas Motiejunas and small forward Marcus Thornton to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for a protected 2016 first-round pick and Joel Anthony on Thursday.

    The pick is top-eight protected in 2016 and top-10 protected in 2017 and 2018, according to ESPN's Tom Haberstroh.

    Houston later turned around and sent Anthony and a future second-round pick (via the Nuggets) to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for the rights to Nigerian forward Chukwudiebere Maduabum.

    The Rockets were willing to let Motiejunas go despite being high on his ability to pass well and hit midrange jumpers.

    He averaged a career-high 12.0 points last season, but suffered a back injury late in the season. Motiejunas encountered numerous setbacks during his recovery from back surgery and has been limited to 14 games this season, averaging 5.6 points.

    "A little surprised," Motiejunas told ESPN after the trade. "But it's part of the business. So when the deadline comes, you're kind of afraid of that. It's just natural feelings."

    Thornton, 28, was acquired in the offseason as jump shooter who provides instant offense. After not playing in first two games of the season, Thornton was inserted and helped the Rockets on the offensive end, averaging 10.0 points. However, his minutes fluctuated when the Rockets wanted more defensive players on the floor.

    Anthony, a 33-year-old backup center, has seen limited action for the Pistons, averaging 1.2 rebounds and 0.7 points per game this season.

  • #2
    Detroit Pistons void trade with Houston Rockets, returning Donatas Motiejunas, Marcus Thornton, Joel Anthony to original teams

    HOUSTON -- A pair of trade-deadline deals were undone Monday when the Detroit Pistons voided a swap with the Houston Rockets.

    Power forward Donatas Motiejunas failed a physical with the Pistons due to back problems, sources said.

    In the process, the Pistons will keep their 2016 first-round pick and Marcus Thornton and Motiejunas will return to the Rockets. Joel Anthony, who was traded from the Pistons to the Rockets, who in turn sent him and a second-round pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for the rights to Nigerian forward Chukwudiebere Maduabum, comes back to Detroit.

    Detroit had asked for an extra 24 hours -- 72 hours is mandated to complete a trade -- so its medical team could examine Motiejunas. The teams had until 6 p.m. ET Monday to finalize the deal.

    Motiejunas underwent back surgery late last season and, after several setbacks, had played in 14 games for Houston in 2015-16. He made his season debut Dec. 5 and last played in an NBA game Dec. 31, when he played just six minutes. He went out with back soreness and was assigned to the D-League on Jan. 30 after getting cleared to play in games.

    After the All-Star break, Motiejunas was with the Rockets in Phoenix with the goal of participating in some games on a limited basis.

    The Rockets had valued acquiring a first-round pick at the trade deadline as the source for any deal.

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