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Sixers' trade with Houston becomes official

Houston Rockets power forward Royce White has been traded to the 76ers.  Pat Sullivan / AP
Houston Rockets power forward Royce White has been traded to the 76ers. Pat Sullivan / APRead more

The 76ers formally announced the acquisition of Royce White and the rights to Furkan Aldemir in a deal with the Houston Rockets on Saturday.

The deal was made on July 5, but it couldn't become official Wednesday, the first day teams were permitted to make trades and sign free agents.

The Sixers like Aldemir, a Turkish power forward/center who is playing professionally in Istanbul. The 6-foot-10, 240-pounder will stay overseas, at least for now.

The move enables the Rockets to get rid of White's $1.7 million contract for next season and give a maximum contract to free agent Dwight Howard.

The  Sixers will likely use White's deal as an expiring contract. There is a team option for the 2014-15 season.

The 16th overall pick in the 2012 draft has an anxiety disorder that contributed to his not playing in the NBA last season. The forward out of Iowa State last practiced with the Rockets on Nov. 10 and played 16 games with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

White has been in a disagreement with the Rockets over how to deal with his anxiety issues.

The Minneapolis native's fear of flying and his anxiety issues cause him to panic on planes. He also reportedly wakes up three to four times a night.

He originally enrolled at Minnesota but transferred to Iowa State having never played for the Gophers. He averaged 13.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5 assists in his lone season with the Cyclones.

Aldemir was selected with the 53d overall pick in 2012 by the Los Angeles Clippers and traded to the Rockets as part of a four-team deal that sent Lamar Odom to the Clippers.