Jason Terry Headed to Houston

The Jet is flying to another city next season.

The Jet to Space City

According to reports, the Sacramento Kings have shipped veteran guard Jason Terry and two future second round picks to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Alonzo Gee and another player with a non-guaranteed contract.

The 36 year old Terry started the 2013-14 season with the Brooklyn Nets before being traded to Sacramento at the trade deadline. Terry missed the second half of the season while recovering from a left knee surgery.

On the other hand, Gee was part of the three way trade that brought Trevor Ariza to the Rockets last July. The 27 year old forward from the University of Alabama will be playing for his fourth team in five NBA seasons.

A Reliable Sixth Man

Terry is a 15 year NBA veteran who is best known for his role as the sixth man for the Dallas Mavericks, with whom he played 8 seasons with. During that tenure, the former 10th overall pick of the 1999 draft won the NBA’s sixth man of the year twice in 2009 and 2011.

Terry was also one of the key figures in Dallas’ 2011 championship team. Terry brought his jet-setting moves to the Boston Celtics in 2012-13 but was shipped to the Brooklyn Nets last season along with fellow superstars Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in a blockbuster 10 player trade. But after being hobbled by injuries, the Nets moved him to Sacramento along with Reggie Evans for Marcus Thornton.

Terry has career averages of 15.4 points per game, 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. However, the 35 games which he played last season were the fewest in his career while his 4.5 points per game scoring average was also a career low. Terry had not averaged in single digit scoring since his rookie season in 2000 where he managed just 8.1 points per game. Despite those declining stats, Terry was still able to average 1.1 three pointers per game last season. He is 4th in the NBA’s All-time three point FG made list and remains a dangerous three ball shooter at .379 last year.

Backcourt Shortage

While the Kings might have traded Terry to go under the luxury tax limit should they waive Alonzo Gee, the Rockets needed another steady backcourt presence after trading Aaron Brooks to the Nuggets late last season and Jeremy Lin to the Lakers during the offseason.

The Rockets starting backcourt of Patrick Beverly and James Harden is backed up by second year PG Isaiah Canaan, SG Troy Daniels and rookie Nick Johnson.  But with the inexperience of the three reserves, the arrival of Terry gives the Rockets a combo guard who can back up both Beverly and Harden while at the same time provide the much needed leadership and championship experience to the young Rockets core.