Tsakalidis, a 7-2, 260-pound center, has played in 23 games this season, averaging 2.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11.2 minutes per game.

A first-round pick by Phoenix in the 2000 draft, Tsakalidis averaged five points and 4.2 rebounds last season, the best of his four with the Grizzlies.

"We'll find out," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said of how Tsakalidis might fit in. "It's hard to say. He has not played much this year, but he does have size. We obviously need to balance our roster a little bit. We'll see what kind of shape he's in."

Asked what he knows about Tsakalidis, Van Gundy said: "He's big and strong, and he's supposed to be a good guy. ... Hopefully, he learns quickly, and we'll see what he can do. To get bigger is not a bad thing. It's a good thing, actually."

Padgett, signed as a free agent last summer, has played in 24 games, averaging 1.8 points in 8.3 minutes per game. Only rookie Steve Novak has played less for the Rockets.

Because the salaries do not match, the Rockets used $2.9 million of the trade exception acquired last season to get Tsakalidis, who is signed through the remainder of the season. Padgett was technically traded separately in a minimum-contract deal.