NBA: 5 biggest losers after the trade deadline

Houston Rockets

Deadline moves: Traded for Robert Covington, failed to add a center to replace Clint Capela

This could very well be Mike D’Antoni‘s last stand with the team, but it’s not right that he’ll have to do it without a legit center on the roster. The Houston Rockets traded Clint Capela and landed Robert Covington in a four-team, 12-player trade that took place a couple of days before the NBA Trade Deadline.

While there’s no question that Covington will be a good reliable player for the Rockets during the second half of the season, the fact that the team failed to land a starting center after losing Capela is quite disappointing. The team might be able to find one in the buyout market, but if they don’t I’m not sure how they’re supposed to defend the likes of Rudy Gobert, Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis and others come playoff time.

Daryl Morey is notorious busy on deadline day but wasn’t able to pull off any magic this time around. It’s small-ball/five-out ball or nothing for the Rockets moving forward.