Houston Rockets Receive: C Mo Bamba
Orlando Magic Receive: C Dwight Powell, DAL 2022 2nd Round Pick, HOU 2024 2nd Round Pick
Dallas Mavericks Receive: G D.J. Augustin, ORL 2026 2nd Round Pick
Getting Mo Bamba really should not be a problem for the Houston Rockets if they truly want him, especially since he does not hold the first-round value anymore. At just 23-years-old and standing 7’0” tall, Bamba still has a lot of potential to grow, but he is in the final year of his rookie deal as well.
Christian Wood is the key player in the Rockets’ frontcourt, but he was injury-prone last season and it would be wise for them to acquire a “backup plan” that way all the weight of the frontcourt does not fall on rookie Alperen Sengun should something happen to Wood again.
Daniel Theis is also a new addition to Houston’s frontcourt, but he is not really a lengthy, big body center like Wood or Bamba.
Dallas needs another ball-handler and facilitator, which is why D.J. Augustin could be a realistic target for them. Augustin is owed $7M this upcoming season, but he is just a bench player in Houston that will likely be on the move since the Rockets are going to be playing their young talents and not their aging veterans on big contracts.
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The Mavericks could easily acquire Augustin not only because of a trade exception they have, but because Dwight Powell is a player with a moveable contract to open things up to acquire the Rockets’ veteran. The Magic may not view Powell as a key asset for them, but if they were to trade Bamba, they could use another stable presence at the center position.
Dwight Powell is just that and he would join the likes of Wendell Carter Jr. and Robin Lopez at the center position in Orlando, giving them some options on how they want to take the floor.
If the Magic are willing to take on Powell’s contract, this deal could very well get done, giving the Rockets and Mavericks players to fit in their rotations, as well as giving Orlando more draft compensation in the second-round that they could utilize at a future date.
