The Houston Rockets' 6 Worst Trades in Franchise History

The NBA trade deadline is approaching and the Houston Rockets are usually active traders. While this year it looks like they may stand pat, current Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey is known for his shrewd trades and free agent pickups.

However, the Houston organization has had its share of bad trades in the past. Whether it was a draft day deal or shipping out a superstar, these are the six worst trades the Rockets have made. 

Terrence Williams

The Rockets will have to see how their lottery-protected 2012 first round draft pick turns out in this year's draft, but this one seems like a loss.

Williams has been plagued by character issues his entire NBA career, but Morey saw the upside that exists in the forward's game. If Williams can earn more playing time for the Rockets, he may make a contribution. For now this trade looks to be unsuccessful. 

Nicolas Batum

Batum, drafted by Houston in 2008, is currently one of the most coveted players in the league.

After multiple trades, the Rockets walked away with Joey Dorsey and Donte Green. Batum is a solid role player for Portland, while Dorsey and Green have both been demoted down to the D-League at times. 

The Rockets would definitely like to have these deals back, as Batum could be producing for the Rockets right now instead of getting nothing from Dorsey and Green. 

Eddie Griffin

The Rockets felt good about Eddie Griffin coming out of Seton Hall University and traded Jason Collins, Brandon Armstrong and Richard Jefferson for his draft rights. Unfortunately, Griffin could never figure out his addiction issues. 

While he did contribute in small amounts to the Rockets, Jefferson has had a successful NBA career and helped the Nets become a formidable Eastern Conference team in the early 2000s. 

This is a case in which the talent may have been evaluated correctly, as Griffin was thought to be a star in the making coming out of college. Griffin just could not overcome his personal issues to be able to contribute to Houston's long term goal. 

Elvin Hayes

Elvin Hayes was traded to the Baltimore Bullets straight up for Jack Marin. Even though Marin was a solid player, he was no Hayes. Hayes had reportedly been feuding with coach Tex Winter and was shipped to the Bullets even though he was still a marquee player.  

Averaging 21 points per game and 12.5 rebounds for his career, Hayes was chosen in 1996 as one of the 50 best NBA players up to that point. With Hayes teaming with Wes Unsled, the Bullets made three title games, winning one. 

Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley was no doubt a great NBA player, but the Rockets gave up too much for him. While he played well for Houston, Barkley was often injured and did not get the Rockets the championship they were hoping for. 

Giving up Robert Horry, Sam Cassell, Chucky Brown and Mark Bryant, Houston could have reloaded with these young players after their back-to-back championship season but instead gambled on an aging Barkley. 

Barkley never lived up to his superstar potential in Houston and this remains one of the more costly trades the Rockets have ever made. 

Moses Malone

In 1982 Moses Malone won the MVP. In 1983 he captured the MVP award again. Unfortunately for the Rockets, they traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers before the season.

Traded for Caldwell Jones and Rodney McCray, Malone ended up leading the 76ers to the title in the '83 season. One of the few superstars who was traded in his prime, the Malone deal ushered in a new era for the Rockets.

They rebuilt by drafting Ralph Sampson with the first pick in the 1983 draft and Hakeem Olajuwon in the 1984 draft.