While their Western Conference competitors engineered seismic deals that altered the NBA landscape — trading for Luka Dončić, Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler and De’Aaron Fox — the Houston Rockets remained at a relative standstill as Thursday’s NBA trade deadline passed.

The Rockets are acquiring their 2028 second-round draft pick from Atlanta in exchange for taking on the salary of veteran Hawks center Cody Zeller.

The Houston Rockets reportedly could be key players leading up to Thursday's NBA trade deadline even if they don't land a big-name player. According to

The Houston Rockets made a last-minute move ahead of the NBA trade deadline Thursday afternoon to acquire center Cody Zeller and a 2028 second-round pick from the Atlanta Hawks, according to a person with knowledge of the transaction.

Houston's only trade heading into deadline day was a deal with the Boston Celtics that saw them net Jaden Springer while swapping second-round picks with the C's. The Rockets will be sending out a 2028 second-round pick to the Hawks in exchange for Zeller, allowing them to shore up their bench with another small trade.

The Houston Rockets don't seem inclined to break up their young core to acquire a star ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline. Well, unless Devin Booker is

The Atlanta Hawks are trading Cody Zeller and Houston's 2028 second-round pick to the Rockets, sources tell ESPN. Source: x.com Lauren L. Williams: For tomorrow’s game vs. Phoenix: Questionable Bogdan Bogdanovic (right knee inflammation) Trae Young (illness) Out Kobe Bufkin (right shoulder surgery) Jalen Johnson (right shoulder inflammation) Larry Nance Jr.