HOUSTON – Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has acquired forward Thomas Robinson, guard/forward Francisco Garcia and forward Tyler Honeycutt from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for forward/center Patrick Patterson, guard Toney Douglas and center Cole Aldrich.
Robinson (6-10, 237, Kansas) was selected by Sacramento after his junior season at Kansas with the fifth-overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. In 51 games this season with the Kings, Robinson has averaged 4.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per contest. As a junior at Kansas, he was named 2012 Big 12 Player of the Year and a Consensus NCAA All-American First Team after averaging a career-best 17.7 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 39 appearances. In addition to leading the Jayhawks in scoring and rebounds, Robinson became the first unanimous AP First-Team All-American since Blake Griffin in 2009. He recorded 27 double-doubles to lead the nation and surpass Drew Gooden’s Kansas single-season record of 25 set in 2002. He also ranked second nationally in rebounding in 2011-12. His 463 rebounds on the year were second only in Kansas history to Wilt Chamberlain’s 510 boards in 1956-57. Robinson also helped Kansas (32-7) reach the National Title game, posting 18 points and 17 rebounds vs. Kentucky.
Garcia (6-7, 195, Louisville), who is in his eighth NBA season, has averaged 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 462 games (128 starts) with the Kings. The longest tenured King, Garcia was originally selected by Sacramento as an early entry candidate out of Louisville with the 23rd overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. In 40 games (15 starts) with the Kings this season, Garcia has averaged 5.2 points, 1.7 boards and 1.1 assists in 17.8 minutes per outing.
Honeycutt (6-8, 188, UCLA), who is currently in his second NBA season, is averaging 0.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 3.6 minutes per game over nine contests with Sacramento this season. Honeycutt was selected by the Kings after his sophomore year out of UCLA with the 35th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Patterson (6-9, 235, Kentucky) was in his third season with Houston, averaging 11.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 47 games (38 starts) with the Rockets in 2012-13. He was selected after his junior season at Kentucky by Houston in the first round (14th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft.
Douglas (6-2, 185, Florida State), who was acquired by the Rockets on July 11, 2012, averaged 8.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 49 games this season.
Aldrich (6-11, 245, Kansas) was acquired by Houston in a trade with Oklahoma City on Oct. 27, 2012. In his first season with the Rockets, Aldrich averaged 1.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 30 games.