HOUSTON – Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has completed a three-way trade with Detroit and Philadelphia. The Rockets received a protected 2016 first round pick from the Pistons and the draft rights of forward Chukwudiebere “Chu” Maduabum [chuck-WOO-DYE-berry mah-DO-a-bahm] from the Sixers. Houston traded forward/center Donatas Motiejunas and guard Marcus Thornton to Detroit and Denver’s second round pick in 2017 to Philadelphia. In addition, the Pistons traded center Joel Anthony to the Sixers.
Motiejunas (7-0, 222) was originally the 20th overall pick by Houston in the 2011 NBA Draft. In 191 career games with 80 starts for the Rockets, he averaged 8.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists.
Thornton (6-4, 205) is in his seventh NBA season. In 47 games with six starts for the Rockets this season, he averaged 10.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists.
Maduabum (6-9, 210) was originally the 56th overall pick by the L.A. Lakers in the 2011 NBA Draft. His rights were traded on draft night to Denver and later from the Nuggets to the Sixers on Feb. 19, 2015. Maduabum has played professionally in his home country of Nigeria as well as Qatar, Estonia, Mongolia, Iceland and most recently, Finland. He also spent parts of three seasons in the NBA Development League.
