# 2020–21 Houston Rockets season

The 2020–21 Houston Rockets season was the 54th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), their 50th anniversary season in the Houston area in Texas since the team franchise relocated from the San Diego area in California and their 4th season under owner Tilman Fertitta.
On September 13, Mike D'Antoni informed the Rockets that he would not return as head coach after coaching the team for four seasons. On October 30, the Rockets hired Stephen Silas as their new head coach. On October 15, Daryl Morey resigned from his position as general manager after thirteen years and Rafael Stone was named as his replacement. For the first time since 2011–12, James Harden was not on the roster as he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a four-team deal; this reunited him with former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Kevin Durant for the first time since the 2011–12 season.
Without Harden along with Russell Westbrook, who was traded to the Washington Wizards for John Wall during the offseason and the majority of their players lost from last season's team, the Rockets entered a rebuilding period. They got off to an 11–10 start as of February 4, 2021, but their season was marked with an franchise–worst 20–game losing streak between early–February through mid–March, which tied for the ninth longest losing streak in NBA history and the longest since the record–setting 28–game losing streak from the Philadelphia 76ers between the late 2014–15 season and the early 2015–16 season.
By April 22, the Rockets were officially eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since the 2011–12 lockout season. This ended the NBA's longest active playoff streak at eight straight years. The Rockets finished the season at the bottom of the league with a record of 17–55, the third–worst season record in franchise history and their worst season since the dreadful 14–68 record from the 1982–83 season. This season also marked the first time since the 34–48 record from the 2005–06 season that they have suffered a losing record, ending a streak of 15 straight years of finishing a season .500 or above. As a result, the Boston Celtics now hold the league's longest active playoff streak, making the playoffs every year since 2015.

## Draft

The Rockets did not hold any picks for the 2020 NBA draft. This was the fourth time in franchise history that they did not hold any picks in the draft; the last time was in 2019.

## Standings
### Division

| Southwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
| y – Dallas Mavericks | 42 | 30 | .583 | – | 21‍–‍15 | 21‍–‍15 | 7–5 | 72 |
| x – Memphis Grizzlies | 38 | 34 | .528 | 4.0 | 18‍–‍18 | 20‍–‍16 | 6–6 | 72 |
| pi – San Antonio Spurs | 33 | 39 | .458 | 9.0 | 14‍–‍22 | 19‍–‍17 | 6–6 | 72 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 31 | 41 | .431 | 11.0 | 18‍–‍18 | 13‍–‍23 | 6–6 | 72 |
| Houston Rockets | 17 | 55 | .236 | 25.0 | 9‍–‍27 | 8‍–‍28 | 5–7 | 72 |

### Conference

Western Conference :
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | z – Utah Jazz * | 52 | 20 | .722 | – | 72 |
| 2 | y – Phoenix Suns * | 51 | 21 | .708 | 1.0 | 72 |
| 3 | x – Denver Nuggets | 47 | 25 | .653 | 5.0 | 72 |
| 4 | x – Los Angeles Clippers | 47 | 25 | .653 | 5.0 | 72 |
| 5 | y – Dallas Mavericks * | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 6 | x – Portland Trail Blazers | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 7 | x – Los Angeles Lakers | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10.0 | 72 |
| 8 | pi – Golden State Warriors | 39 | 33 | .542 | 13.0 | 72 |
| 9 | x – Memphis Grizzlies | 38 | 34 | .528 | 14.0 | 72 |
| 10 | pi – San Antonio Spurs | 33 | 39 | .458 | 19.0 | 72 |
| 11 | New Orleans Pelicans | 31 | 41 | .431 | 21.0 | 72 |
| 12 | Sacramento Kings | 31 | 41 | .431 | 21.0 | 72 |
| 13 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 23 | 49 | .319 | 29.0 | 72 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 22 | 50 | .306 | 30.0 | 72 |
| 15 | Houston Rockets | 17 | 55 | .236 | 35.0 | 72 |
Notes
* z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
* y – Clinched division title
* x – Clinched playoff spot
* * – Division leader

## Game log
### Preseason

2020 preseason game log Total: 3–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–1) :
Preseason: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
December 11
@ Chicago
W 125–104
Bruno Caboclo (17)
Bruno Caboclo (7)
John Wall (9)
United Center
1–0
2
December 13
@ Chicago
L 91–104
John Wall (21)
DeMarcus Cousins (6)
John Wall (4)
United Center
1–1
3
December 15
San Antonio
W 112–98
John Wall (15)
DeMarcus Cousins (11)
James Harden (4)
Toyota Center
2–1
4
December 17
San Antonio
W 128–106
Christian Wood (27)
Christian Wood (10)
James Harden (9)
Toyota Center
3–1 :
2020–21 season schedule :

### Regular season

2020–21 game log Total: 17–55 (Home: 9–27; Road: 8–28) :
December: 1–2 (home: 1–0; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
December 23
Oklahoma City
Postponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: March 21)
1
December 26
@ Portland
L 126–128 (OT)
James Harden (44)
Christian Wood (13)
James Harden (17)
Moda Center 0
0–1
2
December 28
@ Denver
L 111–124
James Harden (34)
Jae'Sean Tate (7)
James Harden (8)
Ball Arena 0
0–2
3
December 31
Sacramento
W 122–119
James Harden (33)
Christian Wood (12)
John Wall (9)
Toyota Center 0
1–2 :
January: 8–7 (home: 3–4; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
4
January 2
Sacramento
W 102–94
John Wall (28)
Christian Wood (15)
John Wall (6)
Toyota Center 0
2–2
5
January 4
Dallas
L 100–113
Christian Wood (23)
Christian Wood (7)
James Harden (10)
Toyota Center 0
2–3
6
January 6
@ Indiana
L 107–114
John Wall (28)
DeMarcus Cousins (14)
James Harden (12)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
2–4
7
January 8
Orlando
W 132–90
Christian Wood (22)
Christian Wood (15)
James Harden (13)
Toyota Center 0
3–4
8
January 10
L. A. Lakers
L 102–120
Christian Wood (23)
John Wall (10)
James Harden (9)
Toyota Center 0
3–5
9
January 12
L. A. Lakers
L 100–117
Christian Wood (18)
DeMarcus Cousins (10)
James Harden (7)
Toyota Center 0
3–6
10
January 14
@ San Antonio
W 109–105
Christian Wood (27)
Christian Wood (15)
Jae'Sean Tate (10)
AT&T Center 0
4–6
11
January 16
@ San Antonio
L 91–103
Jones, Wood (24)
Christian Wood (18)
Jae'Sean Tate (5)
AT&T Center 0
4–7
12
January 18
@ Chicago
L 120–125
Victor Oladipo (32)
Christian Wood (9)
Victor Oladipo (9)
United Center 0
4–8
13
January 20
Phoenix
L 103–109
Gordon, Oladipo (22)
Christian Wood (11)
Victor Oladipo (6)
Toyota Center 0
4–9
14
January 22
@ Detroit
W 103–102
Eric Gordon (20)
DeMarcus Cousins (15)
DeMarcus Cousins (7)
Little Caesars Arena 0
5–9
15
January 23
@ Dallas
W 133–108
Eric Gordon (33)
DeMarcus Cousins (17)
John Wall (8)
American Airlines Center 0
6–9
16
January 26
@ Washington
W 107–88
John Wall (24)
DeMarcus Cousins (11)
John Wall (5)
Toyota Center 2,996
7–9
17
January 28
Portland
W 104–101
Victor Oladipo (25)
Christian Wood (12)
John Wall (6)
Toyota Center 3,154
8–9
18
January 30
@ New Orleans
W 126–112
Christian Wood (27)
Tate, Wood (9)
John Wall (9)
Smoothie King Center 1,440
9–9 :
February: 2–12 (home: 0–4; road: 2–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
19
February 1
@ Oklahoma City
W 136–106
Eric Gordon (25)
Christian Wood (11)
Victor Oladipo (7)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 0
10–9
20
February 3
@ Oklahoma City
L 87–104
Eric Gordon (22)
Brown, Wood (6)
Eric Gordon (4)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 0
10–10
21
February 4
@ Memphis
W 113–105
John Wall (22)
P. J. Tucker (8)
John Wall (8)
FedExForum 0
11–10
22
February 6
San Antonio
L 106–111
John Wall (27)
DeMarcus Cousins (11)
Victor Oladipo (5)
Toyota Center 0
11–11
23
February 8
@ Charlotte
L 94–119
Victor Oladipo (21)
DeMarcus Cousins (9)
Victor Oladipo (6)
Spectrum Center 0
11–12
24
February 9
@ New Orleans
L 101–130
John Wall (25)
Cousins, Tate (7)
John Wall (6)
Smoothie King Center 1,900
11–13
25
February 11
Miami
L 94–101
Gordon, Wall (17)
DeMarcus Cousins (11)
John Wall (7)
Toyota Center 3,251
11–14
26
February 13
@ New York
L 99–121
John Wall (26)
DeMarcus Cousins (10)
Eric Gordon (6)
Madison Square Garden 0
11–15
27
February 15
@ Washington
L 119–131
John Wall (29)
David Nwaba (11)
John Wall (11)
Capital One Arena 0
11–16
28
February 17
@ Philadelphia
L 113–118
John Wall (28)
David Nwaba (10)
Eric Gordon (6)
Wells Fargo Center 0
11–17
February 19
Dallas
Postponed (winter storm) (Makeup date: April 7)
February 20
Indiana
Postponed (winter storm) (Makeup date: April 14)
29
February 22
Chicago
L 100–120
David Nwaba (22)
David Nwaba (9)
John Wall (7)
Toyota Center 3,025
11–18
30
February 24
@ Cleveland
L 96–112
John Wall (20)
Tate, Tucker (7)
Victor Oladipo (5)
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 2,720
11–19
31
February 26
@ Toronto
L 111–122
Victor Oladipo (27)
Sterling Brown (10)
John Wall (12)
Amalie Arena 0
11–20
32
February 28
Memphis
L 84–133
Tate, Wall (14)
Sterling Brown (6)
Sterling Brown (3)
Toyota Center 3,284
11–21 :
March: 2–13 (home: 1–9; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
33
March 1
Cleveland
L 90–101
John Wall (32)
Justin Patton (6)
John Wall (5)
Toyota Center 3,046
11–22
34
March 3
Brooklyn
L 114–132
John Wall (36)
Jae'Sean Tate (10)
Oladipo, Wall (5)
Toyota Center 3,615
11–23
35
March 11
@ Sacramento
L 105–125
Victor Oladipo (23)
Sterling Brown (10)
Kevin Porter Jr. (10)
Golden 1 Center 0
11–24
36
March 12
@ Utah
L 99–114
Kevin Porter Jr. (27)
Kenyon Martin Jr. (10)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
Vivint Arena 5,546
11–25
37
March 14
Boston
L 107–134
Victor Oladipo (26)
David Nwaba (7)
Kevin Porter Jr. (7)
Toyota Center 3,264
11–26
38
March 16
Atlanta
L 107–119
Victor Oladipo (34)
Sterling Brown (11)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
Toyota Center 3,069
11–27
39
March 17
Golden State
L 94–108
Kevin Porter Jr. (25)
Lamb, Martin Jr., Wood (9)
Kevin Porter Jr. (7)
Toyota Center 3,259
11–28
40
March 19
Detroit
L 100–113
John Wall (21)
Christian Wood (11)
John Wall (7)
Toyota Center 3,061
11–29
41
March 21
Oklahoma City
L 112–114
Christian Wood (27)
Jae'Sean Tate (9)
John Wall (7)
Toyota Center 3,297
11–30
42
March 22
Toronto
W 117–99
Jae'Sean Tate (22)
John Wall (11)
John Wall (10)
Toyota Center 2,965
12–30
43
March 24
Charlotte
L 97–122
John Wall (20)
Christian Wood (10)
Wall, Augustin (7)
Toyota Center 3,163
12–31
44
March 26
@ Minnesota
L 101–107
Christian Wood (24)
Sterling Brown (11)
John Wall (15)
Target Center 0
12–32
45
March 27
@ Minnesota
W 129–107
Kevin Porter Jr. (25)
Jae'Sean Tate (9)
John Wall (12)
Target Center 0
13–32
46
March 29
Memphis
L 110–120
Kelly Olynyk (25)
Kelly Olynyk (9)
John Wall (8)
Toyota Center 3,319
13–33
47
March 31
@ Brooklyn
L 108–120
Kevin Porter Jr. (20)
Christian Wood (8)
Kevin Porter Jr. (6)
Barclays Center 1,773
13–34 :
April: 3–13 (home: 2–7; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
48
April 2
@ Boston
L 102–118
Christian Wood (19)
Christian Wood (10)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
TD Garden 0
13–35
49
April 4
New Orleans
L 115–122
Kelly Olynyk (26)
Christian Wood (12)
Augustin, Porter Jr. (5)
Toyota Center 3,268
13–36
50
April 5
Phoenix
L 130–133
Christian Wood (23)
Kevin Porter Jr. (9)
Kevin Porter Jr. (8)
Toyota Center 3,093
13–37
51
April 7
Dallas
W 102–93
John Wall (31)
Kelly Olynyk (18)
John Wall (7)
Toyota Center 3,399
14–37
52
April 9
@ L. A. Clippers
L 109–126
Christian Wood (23)
Kelly Olynyk (11)
Kevin Porter Jr. (13)
Staples Center 0
14–38
53
April 10
@ Golden State
L 109–125
John Wall (30)
Tate, Olynyk (11)
John Wall (7)
Chase Center 0
14–39
54
April 12
@ Phoenix
L 109–125
Christian Wood (25)
Christian Wood (15)
Kevin Porter Jr. (14)
Phoenix Suns Arena 4,145
14–40
55
April 14
Indiana
L 124–132
John Wall (31)
Christian Wood (13)
John Wall (9)
Toyota Center 3,293
14–41
56
April 16
Denver
L 99–128
Kelly Olynyk (23)
Kenyon Martin Jr. (7)
Kevin Porter Jr. (5)
Toyota Center 3,342
14–42
57
April 18
@ Orlando
W 114–110
Christian Wood (25)
Christian Wood (10)
Kevin Porter Jr. (7)
Toyota Center 3,772
15–42
58
April 19
@ Miami
L 91–113
Porter Jr., Wood (18)
Kelly Olynyk (8)
John Wall (6)
American Airlines Arena 0
15–43
59
April 21
Utah
L 89–112
John Wall (21)
Armoni Brooks (10)
John Wall (6)
Toyota Center 3,253
15–44
60
April 23
L. A. Clippers
L 104–109
John Wall (27)
Christian Wood (19)
John Wall (13)
Toyota Center 3,313
15–45
61
April 24
@ Denver
L 116–129
D. J. Wilson (25)
Olynyk, Wilson (8)
Kelly Olynyk (11)
Ball Arena 4,035
15–46
62
April 27
Minnesota
L 107–114
Kelly Olynyk (28)
Christian Wood (18)
Olynyk, Porter Jr., Wood (5)
Toyota Center 3,225
15–47
63
April 29
Milwaukee
W 143–136
Kevin Porter Jr. (50)
Kelly Olynyk (13)
Kevin Porter Jr. (11)
Toyota Center 3,232
16–47 :
May: 1–8 (home: 1–3; road: 0–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
64
May 1
Golden State
L 87–113
Martin Jr., Porter Jr. (16)
Martin Jr., Olynyk (9)
Kevin Porter Jr. (6)
Toyota Center 3,702
16–48
65
May 2
New York
L 97–122
Christian Wood (19)
Kelly Olynyk (10)
Kelly Olynyk (7)
Toyota Center 3,431
16–49
66
May 5
Philadelphia
L 115–135
Kelly Olynyk (27)
Kelly Olynyk (11)
Kelly Olynyk (8)
Toyota Center 3,583
16–50
67
May 7
@ Milwaukee
L 133–141
Kenyon Martin Jr. (26)
Kelly Olynyk (12)
House Jr., Martin Jr., Olynyk (7)
Fiserv Forum 3,280
16–51
68
May 8
@ Utah
L 116–124
Martin Jr., Thomas (27)
Kenyon Martin Jr. (10)
Jae'Sean Tate (10)
Vivint Arena 6,506
16–52
69
May 10
@ Portland
L 129–140
Augustin, Olynyk (21)
Kenyon Martin Jr. (9)
Jae'Sean Tate (9)
Moda Center 1,939
16–53
70
May 12
@ L. A. Lakers
L 122–124
Brooks, Olynyk (24)
Kenyon Martin Jr. (10)
Khyri Thomas (11)
Staples Center 4,087
16–54
71
May 14
L. A. Clippers
W 122–115
Olynyk, Tate (20)
Martin Jr., Olynyk (9)
Kelly Olynyk (11)
Toyota Center 3,803
17–54
72
May 16
@ Atlanta
L 95–124
Augustin, Brooks (18)
Cameron Oliver (12)
Augustin, Tate (5)
State Farm Arena 3,045
17–55 :
2020–21 season schedule :

## Player statistics

After all games.
Houston Rockets statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| D. J. Augustin$^≠$ | 20 | 6 | 20.8 | .424 | .386 | .907 | 2.2 | 3.9 | .4 | .0 | 10.6 |
| Avery Bradley$^≠$ | 17 | 5 | 23.0 | .314 | .270 | .833 | 2.3 | 1.9 | .8 | .1 | 5.2 |
| Armoni Brooks$^≠$ | 20 | 5 | 26.0 | .406 | .382 | .583 | 3.4 | 1.5 | .6 | .3 | 11.2 |
| Sterling Brown | 51 | 14 | 24.1 | .448 | .423 | .806 | 4.4 | 1.4 | .7 | .2 | 8.2 |
| Bruno Caboclo$^‡$ | 6 | 0 | 6.0 | .471 | .000 | .500 | 2.3 | .2 | .0 | .3 | 2.8 |
| DeMarcus Cousins$^‡$ | 25 | 11 | 20.2 | .376 | .336 | .746 | 7.6 | 2.4 | .8 | .7 | 9.6 |
| Eric Gordon | 27 | 13 | 29.2 | .433 | .329 | .825 | 2.1 | 2.6 | .5 | .5 | 17.8 |
| James Harden$^†$ | 8 | 8 | 36.3 | .444 | .347 | .883 | 5.1 | 10.4 | .9 | .8 | 24.8 |
| Danuel House | 36 | 23 | 25.9 | .404 | .346 | .651 | 3.7 | 1.9 | .6 | .4 | 8.8 |
| DaQuan Jeffries$^‡$ | 13 | 3 | 20.1 | .413 | .282 | 1.000 | 3.2 | 1.2 | .6 | .5 | 4.9 |
| Mason Jones$^‡$ | 26 | 1 | 11.8 | .412 | .359 | .614 | 2.0 | 1.5 | .2 | .0 | 5.8 |
| Rodions Kurucs$^†$ | 11 | 0 | 6.8 | .238 | .133 | .500 | 1.0 | .4 | .5 | .4 | 1.2 |
| Anthony Lamb$^≠$ | 24 | 3 | 17.3 | .390 | .324 | .857 | 2.9 | 1.0 | .3 | .2 | 5.5 |
| Kenyon Martin | 45 | 8 | 23.7 | .509 | .365 | .714 | 5.4 | 1.1 | .7 | .9 | 9.3 |
| Ben McLemore$^‡$ | 32 | 4 | 16.8 | .357 | .331 | .719 | 2.1 | .9 | .6 | .1 | 7.4 |
| David Nwaba | 30 | 9 | 22.6 | .486 | .270 | .691 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .7 | 9.2 |
| Victor Oladipo$^†$ | 20 | 20 | 33.5 | .407 | .320 | .783 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 1.2 | .5 | 21.2 |
| Cameron Oliver$^≠$ | 4 | 0 | 21.8 | .576 | .308 | .250 | 5.3 | 1.3 | .5 | 1.0 | 10.8 |
| Kelly Olynyk$^≠$ | 27 | 24 | 31.1 | .545 | .392 | .844 | 8.4 | 4.1 | 1.4 | .6 | 19.0 |
| Justin Patton$^‡$ | 13 | 6 | 19.0 | .414 | .265 | .750 | 3.8 | 1.1 | .9 | 1.1 | 5.4 |
| Kevin Porter$^≠$ | 26 | 23 | 32.1 | .426 | .311 | .734 | 3,8 | 6.3 | .7 | .3 | 16.6 |
| Cameron Reynolds$^≠$ | 2 | 0 | 17.0 | .313 | .250 | .000 | 2.5 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | 6.5 |
| Ray Spalding$^‡$ | 2 | 0 | 9.5 | .500 | .000 | .000 | 2.0 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| Jae'Sean Tate | 70 | 58 | 29.2 | .506 | .308 | .694 | 5.3 | 2.5 | 1.2 | .5 | 11.3 |
| Brodric Thomas$^‡$ | 4 | 0 | 6.0 | .286 | .167 | .714 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .3 | .3 | 2.5 |
| Khyri Thomas$^≠$ | 5 | 2 | 30.6 | .485 | .333 | 1.000 | 3.6 | 5.0 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 16.4 |
| P. J. Tucker$^†$ | 32 | 32 | 30.0 | .366 | .314 | .783 | 3.6 | 4.6 | .9 | .6 | 4.4 |
| John Wall | 40 | 40 | 32.2 | .404 | .317 | .749 | 3.2 | 6.9 | 1.1 | .8 | 20.6 |
| D. J. Wilson$^≠$ | 23 | 1 | 14.3 | .416 | .339 | .696 | 3.8 | .9 | .4 | .5 | 6.1 |
| Christian Wood | 41 | 41 | 32.3 | .514 | .374 | .631 | 9.6 | 1.7 | .8 | 1.2 | 21.0 |
$^‡$Waived during the season $^†$Traded during the season $^≠$Acquired during the season

## Transactions
### Trades

| November 22, 2020 | To Houston RocketsTrevor Ariza Draft rights to Isaiah Stewart 2021 first-round pick | To Portland Trail BlazersRobert Covington |
| November 24, 2020 | To Houston RocketsChristian Wood (sign and trade) 2021 first-round pick 2021 second-round pick | To Detroit PistonsTrevor Ariza Draft rights to Isaiah Stewart 2027 second-round pick Cash considerations |
| November 25, 2020 | To Houston RocketsDraft rights to Kenyon Martin Jr. | To Sacramento Kings2021 second-round pick Cash considerations |
| November 27, 2020 | To Houston RocketsDraft rights to Issuf Sanon | To New York KnicksAustin Rivers (sign and trade) Draft rights to Tadija Dragićević Draft rights to Axel Hervelle Draft rights to Sergio Llull |
| December 2, 2020 | To Houston RocketsJohn Wall 2023 first-round pick | To Washington WizardsRussell Westbrook |
| January 13, 2021 (Four-team trade) | To Houston RocketsVictor Oladipo Dante Exum Rodions Kurucs 2022 first round pick 2022 first round pick 2024 first round pick 2026 first round pick 2021 first round pick swap 2023 first round pick swap 2025 first round pick swap 2027 first round pick swap | To Brooklyn NetsJames Harden 2024 second round pick |
| January 13, 2021 (Four-team trade) | To Indiana PacersCaris LeVert 2023 second round pick 2024 second round pick Cash considerations | To Cleveland CavaliersJarrett Allen Taurean Prince Draft rights to Sasha Vezenkov |
| January 22, 2021 | To Houston RocketsKevin Porter Jr. | To Cleveland Cavaliers2024 second-round pick |
| March 19, 2021 | To Houston RocketsD. J. Augustin D. J. Wilson 2021 first-round pick 2023 first-round pick | To Milwaukee BucksP. J. Tucker Rodions Kurucs 2021 second-round pick 2022 first-round pick |
| March 25, 2021 | To Houston RocketsAvery Bradley Kelly Olynyk 2022 first-round pick | To Miami HeatVictor Oladipo |

### Free agency
#### Re-signed

| Player | Signed |
| Bruno Caboclo | 2-year contract worth $4.3 million |

#### Additions

| Player | Signed | Former team |
| Mason Jones | Two-way contract / 10-day contract | Arkansas Razorbacks |
| Kenny Wooten | Claimed off waivers | New York Knicks |
| Sterling Brown | 1-year contract worth $1.6 million | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Jae'Sean Tate | 2-year contract worth $2.9 million | Sydney Kings |
| Brodric Thomas | Exhibit 10 contract / Two-way contract | Truman Bulldogs |
| Trevelin Queen | Exhibit 10 contract | New Mexico State Aggies |
| Jerian Grant | 1-year contract worth $1.8 million | Washington Wizards |
| Gerald Green | 1-year contract worth $2.5 million | Denver Nuggets |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 1-year contract worth $2.3 million | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Trey Mourning | Exhibit 10 contract | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| William McDowell-White | Two-way contract | Brose Bamberg |
| Josh Reaves | Exhibit 10 contract | Dallas Mavericks |
| Ray Spalding | Two-way contract | Charlotte Hornets |
| Justin Patton | Two-way contract | Westchester Knicks |
| Anthony Lamb | Two-way contract | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| Armoni Brooks | Two-way contract | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| DaQuan Jeffries | Claimed off waivers | Sacramento Kings |
| Khyri Thomas | 10-day contract / 3-year contract worth $5.8 million | Austin Spurs |
| Cameron Oliver | 10-day contract | Cairns Taipans |
| Cameron Reynolds | 10-day contract | San Antonio Spurs |

#### Subtractions

| Player | Reason left | New team |
| Jerian Grant | Waived | Promitheas Patras B.C. |
| Trevelin Queen | Waived | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| Josh Reaves | Waived | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| William McDowell-White | Waived | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| Gerald Green | Waived | — |
| Trey Mourning | Waived | — |
| Bruno Caboclo | Waived | Limoges CSP |
| DeMarcus Cousins | Waived | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Mason Jones | Waived | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Ray Spalding | Waived | — |
| Justin Patton | Waived | — |
| Ben McLemore | Waived | Los Angeles Lakers |
| DaQuan Jeffries | Waived / Claimed off waivers | San Antonio Spurs |
| Cameron Oliver | Contract expired | Cairns Taipans |

## Awards

Jae'Sean Tate was the only player to have been named to an all-NBA team as an All-Rookie First Team Player.