Through all of the noise, the Houston Rockets stayed relatively quiet, making two minor moves. The first was exchanging second-round picks with the Boston Celtics, as Jaden Springer was the only player involved in the deal. He would eventually be waived, per Mike Scotto of HoopsHype.

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 Rockets' quiet trade deadline signaled that Houston's front office is all in on the current team, which entered Thursday ranked third in the West.

The Houston Rockets only made minor deals at the 2025 NBA trade deadline. But the results of some other teams' deadline activity make Houston's future look much brighter.

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.