Clippers trade for Rockets' Eric Gordon, dump Luke Kennard

Houston held onto Gordon all through their teardown and rebuild after dealing James Harden in 2021. With Gordon's contract non-guaranteed next season, the Rockets chose to cash in on him while they could and take some long-term salary from the Clippers in the process.

Kennard is a lights-out shooter, making over 44 percent of his threes in each of the last three seasons. Outside of Desmond Bane, Memphis has been struggling to make threes consistently. And while Kennard might make a lot ($13.7 million) for a guy who plays 20 minutes per night, the Grizzlies have so many players on rookie deals that they can easily take on his contract.

And it just wouldn't be a classic deadline deal without a pick swap.

Gordon is a Clipper. Kennard is on the Grizzlies. And somehow the Milwaukee Bucks have been dragged into the whole thing. The NBA trade deadline is wild.