'Kevin Porter Jr. Traded as Court Case Continues - Report'

Houston Rockets trade guard Kevin Porter Jr. to the Oklahoma City Thunder after he declined a plea agreement in an assault case.

The Houston Rockets have made the decision to trade guard Kevin Porter Jr., following his rejection of a plea agreement in a case involving an alleged attack on his girlfriend at a New York City hotel in September. According to ESPN, the Rockets will be sending Porter to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are expected to waive him immediately. As part of the trade, the Rockets will also be giving up two future second-round draft picks to the Thunder, who will be sending guard Victor Oladipo and forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl in return. The draft picks will come from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2027 and the Milwaukee Bucks in 2028.

This trade comes during a turbulent time for Porter. During a hearing in Manhattan on Monday, prosecutors revealed that the second-degree assault charge against Porter would be dropped due to "insufficient evidence" that he was responsible for the alleged neck injury suffered by Kysre Gondrezick, his girlfriend at the time. The charge was initially brought against Porter during his arraignment. The New York Post reported that a review of medical records showed Gondrezick had a pre-existing neck issue, which was not caused by Porter. Despite being offered a plea deal to lesser charges with counseling as a condition, Porter declined the offer. He is scheduled to appear in court on November 27 to face charges of second-degree strangulation and third-degree assault related to the incident at the Millennium Hotel.

The future of Porter's NBA career remains uncertain. Last season, he had an impressive performance, averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in 59 games for the Rockets. However, his recent legal troubles have cast a shadow over his future in the league. Porter signed a four-year, $82.5 million contract last October, with $15.9 million owed for the upcoming 2023-24 season. The contract has only $1 million guaranteed for 2024-25 and no further guarantees. As part of the trade, the Thunder will take on the remaining $16.9 million of guaranteed salary, while the Rockets will save $5.5 million in salary.

Rockets general manager Rafael Stone expressed his concern over the allegations against Porter earlier this month, stating that they were "deeply troubling." He emphasized that the team would comply with the league's domestic violence policy and that the matter was now in the hands of the NBA. It appears that the Rockets front office, led by Stone, has determined that a trade is the best course of action.

As for the players involved in the trade, Oladipo, a 31-year-old guard, averaged 10.7 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in 42 games for the Miami Heat last season before being traded to the Thunder in July. Robinson-Earl, a 22-year-old forward, had a modest performance in his second season in the league, averaging 6.8 points, 1.0 assists, and 4.2 rebounds in 43 games (20 starts) for the Thunder.

Overall, this trade signifies a significant move by the Rockets to distance themselves from Porter and address the ongoing legal issues surrounding him. It remains to be seen how this trade will impact Porter's career and whether he will have the opportunity to continue playing in the NBA.

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