Kevin Porter Jr: Rockets ‘working to trade star with draft compensation’ following charges of assault and strangulation

In the aftermath of charges surfacing against combo guard Kevin Porter Jr., the Houston Rockets are reportedly looking to trade him, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Charania reports that the Rockets are willing to move draft compensation along with Porter in order to get him off their team.

Despite this, it’s not likely that any team in the league would be willing to take him as charges of felony assault and strangulation have surfaced in the aftermath of an incident regarding Porter and his girlfriend Kysre Gondrezick. 

It’s possible that the Rockets could waive Porter if they deemed it necessary, but they would have to pay a significant portion of the four-year, $63million deal he signed back in October of 2022.

According to Spotrac, Porter is owed $15.86m this season. His deal would see him partially guaranteed to the same amount in the 2024-25 season.

The Houston Rockets are ‘exploring options to trade guard Kevin Porter Jr.’, per reports

Porter was charged with felony assault and strangulation in an incident in New York City with his girlfriend, WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick 

Per the terms of his contract, $1m of the $15.86m he is owed next season has already been guaranteed as of July 1 of this year. He’s guaranteed an additional $3m on Opening Night of 2023, then an additional $6m will be added on five days after this season’s trade deadline passes.

If the Rockets waived Porter, they would have to buy out his contract for at least the combined $16.86m that he has been guaranteed so far.

Porter’s deal is not guaranteed for the 2025-26 season and the team has a club option to keep him for the 2026-27 season before he eventually becomes a free agent in the summer of 2027.

Gondrezick went to the hospital after an alleged attack at the Milennium Hotel in New York City. The NYPD told DailyMail.com that Gondrezick had a laceration on the right side of her face when police arrived, and a preliminary investigation determined she was struck multiple times.

She was taken to the hospital with at least one broken bone and bruising after the alleged attack, according to NBC.

The NBA player had reportedly returned from a night out in the early hours of Monday morning. Gondrezick, unhappy with how late he had come back, locked the door.

Once Porter got into the room – with the help of hotel security – he allegedly beat up Gondrezick. 

This attack led to Porter being charged with second-degree assault and strangulation.

Gondrezick was found with lacerations on her neck and right side of her hotel by police

Porter was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court and released on $75,000 cash bail

Gondrezick’s sister – Kalabrya Haskins – deleted a threat addressed to Porter on Monday

In a statement, the Rockets said they are ‘in the process of gathering information surrounding the matter,’ and an investigation is ongoing.

Porter was released on $75,000 cash bail, with the judge ordering him to stay away from Gondrezick and imposing a temporary protection order against him. 

‘This is a serious domestic violence case,’ Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Mirah Curzer said in court.

One of Gondrezick’s family members responded to the incident by threatening Porter on a now-expired Instagram story post.

Kalabrya Haskins – the widow of late quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who died at age 24 after getting hit by a dumpster truck on a Florida highway last year – shared the message.

‘@kevinporterjr if you think you gone touch my sister & not get touched,’ Kalabrya wrote. ‘Count ya f***ing days. Better hope and pray you’ll be able to ever walk again let alone dribble. 

‘You may have gotten away with this s**t in the past cause yo mama ain’t beat ya a**, but we spank lil punk a** painting nail sissy b****es like you everyday. Don’t show up to that crib. We gone do it to you. Lil b***h.’