If K.J. McDaniels works out, becomes even close to a reliable 3-and-D player with the Nets, it will go down as a great bargain. That’s because the Nets acquired the 6’6” swingman for $75,000 in cash, the minimum an NBA team can pay in “cash considerations.” The Nets didn’t give up a heavily protected second rounder or swap picks or trade draft rights to a Euro-stash. Just cash and very little of that.
For the Rockets, it was a pure salary dump. They want money to sign players in the upcoming “buyout market,” those players, mostly veterans, who get dropped this time of year and are looking to help a contender.