Category: Houston Rockets Blog

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Rockets sign guard Mason Jones to 10-day contract

The Houston Rockets have signed guard Mason Jones to a 10-day contract.

Jones (6-5, 200) was an early entry candidate for the 2020 NBA Draft following his junior season at Arkansas and originally signed a two-way contract with Houston on Nov. 26, 2020. He has appeared in 22 games with one start for the Rockets this season. Per 36 minutes played, Jones is averaging 18.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.

The 22-year-old has scored in double-figures four times this season, including a career-best 24 points while shooting 6-of-8 from 3-point range at San Antonio on Jan. 16. Jones shot 9-of-10 from the foul line vs. Memphis on Feb. 28, marking the most free throw attempts by a Rockets rookie since Luis Scola in 2007-08.

Rockets sign Anthony Lamb, waive Mason Jones

The Houston Rockets have signed forward Anthony Lamb to a two-way contract. He had been playing for their NBA G League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley.

And in a related move, the Rockets have waived guard Mason Jones. He appeared in 22 games as a rookie this season.

Lamb (6-6, 225) was eligible for the 2020 NBA Draft following his senior season at Vermont. He earned America East Player of the Year honors as both a junior and a senior.

After starting the G League season with the Canton Charge, Lamb was acquired by the Vipers and appeared in six regular season games while averaging 18.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks. He also averaged 2.2 3-pointers made on 41.9% shooting.

Rockets notes, on Feb. 22 matchup with Bulls

Rockets Pregame Notes on Tonight’s Matchup With Bulls

· Chicago’s win on 1/18 snapped a seven-game losing streak to Houston, which was its longest in the all-time series.

· Since losing two straight at home to the Bulls from 1/23-11/16/10, the Rockets have won six of the past seven meetings at Toyota Center.

· Eric Gordon had 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting at Chicago on 1/18 after scoring 9 points on 3-of-9 shooting in the only meeting last season.

· John Wall missed the first games against the Bulls on 1/18… in 23 career games vs. Chicago, he is averaging 19.0 points and 9.0 assists.

Rockets and Bulls Connections

· Rockets forward David Nwaba appeared in 70 games with 21 starts for Chicago in 2017-18 while averaging 7.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 1.5 apg.

· Bulls guard Garrett Temple briefly played for the Rockets during his rookie season in 2009-10… he was teammates with Rockets guard John Wall for four seasons with Washington from 2012-13 through 2015-16… Bulls forward Otto Porter Jr. was also on the Wizards for those final three seasons.

· Rockets guard Mason Jones was college teammates at Arkansas with Bulls forward Daniel Gafford in 2018-19.

Injury/Status Report

· For the Rockets: DeMarcus Cousins (Out – Right Heel Soreness); Danté Exum (Out – Right Calf Strain); KJ Martin (Assigned to G League); Kevin Porter Jr. (Assigned to G League); Victor Oladipo (Out – Right Foot Strain); P.J. Tucker (Probable – Left Quad Contusion); Christian Wood (Out – Right Ankle Sprain).

· For the Bulls: Devon Dotson (Assigned to G League); Chandler Hutchison (Out – Right Lower Leg Contusion); Lauri Markkanen (Out – Right Acromioclavicular Sprain); Adam Mokoka (Not With Team); Otto Porter Jr. (Out – Low Back Spasms).

Rockets News & Notes

· Houston has scored 110+ points in each of the past two games (116.0 ppg) after not doing so in any of the five games prior (98.8 ppg)… the Rockets are 6-5 when scoring 110+ points this season and 5-12 when scoring below.

· The Rockets only have a total of three fewer offensive rebounds than opponents over the past 16 games after averaging 3.1 fewer over the first 12 games of the season.

· Eric Gordon had 17 points at Philly on 2/17, marking his first time scoring below 20 points in his 10 starts this season… he has scored 20+ points in 14 of his 22 games played this season after doing so six times in 36 games played in 2019-20.

· Justin Patton is set to make his Rockets debut tonight after signing a two-way contract on 2/19… in 30 G League games last season, he averaged 12.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.8 blocks while shooting 52.8% from the floor.

Rockets sign center Justin Patton from G League

The Houston Rockets have signed Justin Patton to a two-way contract. The center had been playing in the G League for the Westchester Knicks.

After earning Big East Freshman of the Year honors for Creighton, Patton (6-11, 241) was selected with the 16th overall pick by Chicago in the 2017 NBA Draft before his rights were traded to Minnesota. He was most recently with Milwaukee during training camp prior to this season.

In 83 career G League games, Patton has averaged 11.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.0 blocks. The 23-year-old ranked fourth in the G League with 2.8 bpg last season.

Rockets sign Ray Spalding, waive Brodric Thomas

The Houston Rockets today announced they have called up center Ray Spalding from their NBA G League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley, and signed him to a two-way contract.

In a related move, the Rockets have waived guard Brodric Thomas.

In two games for the Vipers this season, Spalding (6-10, 225) averaged 18.5 points, 13.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.50 blocks while shooting 60.0% from the floor. He was with the Rockets during the 2019 preseason prior to joining Rio Grande Valley.

Spalding was an early entry candidate for the 2018 NBA Draft following his junior season at Louisville and was the 56th overall pick by Philadelphia before his right were acquired by Dallas. He appeared in one game for the Mavericks in addition to 13 games for Phoenix in 2018-19.

Cavs trade Kevin Porter Jr. to Rockets, who waive Chris Clemons

The Cleveland Cavaliers have traded guard Kevin Porter Jr. to Houston. In exchange, the Cavaliers will receive a future second round draft pick from the Rockets, General Manager Koby Altman announced from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

In a related move, the Rockets have waived guard Chris Clemons, who appeared in 33 games as a rookie last season.

“After careful and thoughtful evaluation, we made the very difficult and collective decision to make this trade,” said Altman. “Given the culture and environment we have worked to cultivate here in Cleveland, we feel this move is in everyone’s best interest. Kevin has a bright career ahead of him as a professional basketball player and, at his core, is a good person. We wish Kevin and his family well in Houston.”

Porter Jr. (6-4, 203) was the 30th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by Milwaukee and was acquired by the Cavaliers in a trade with Detroit on June 26, 2019. He went on to appear in 50 games (three starts) with Cleveland last season, averaging 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.92 steals in 23.2 minutes.

Recent three-team James Harden trade amended into four-team trade to include Pacers

The Houston Rockets today announced that their three-team trade with Brooklyn and Cleveland has been amended into a four-team trade involving Indiana.

Click the link in this sentence to see the original three-team James Harden to Nets trade from a few days ago.

The Rockets traded guard James Harden to the Nets and a 2023 second round pick to the Pacers while acquiring guard Victor Oladipo (oh-lah-DEE-po) from Indiana, guard Danté Exum from the Cavaliers, and forward Rodions Kurucs (RO-dee-ahns KOO-rootz) from the Nets.

Houston also acquired the following draft assets:

– Three unprotected first round picks from Brooklyn in 2022, 2024, and 2026.

– The right to swap first round picks with Brooklyn in 2021, 2023, 2025, and 2027.

– Milwaukee’s first round pick in 2022 from Cleveland.

As part of the deal, the Pacers also received a future second round draft pick from Houston and a future second round draft pick from Cleveland.

“First and foremost, we want to thank Victor for what he gave to the Pacers through his play, his diligence in rehab coming back from a serious injury, and his community efforts,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “These decisions are obviously never easy and this one in particular was hard because of our relationship.

Continued Pritchard, “Caris is a high-quality person who will fit in with what we as an organization are doing, on and off the floor. He’s a versatile young talent who we think will be a great fit with the direction our team is taking. He can play multiple positions and affect the game at both ends of the floor.”

Originally drafted by the Pacers in the 2016 NBA Draft, LeVert was traded to the Brooklyn Nets on July 7, 2016. A 6-6, 205-pound guard, he spent part of five seasons with the Nets. He will wear jersey #22 with the Pacers.

Oladipo (6-4, 210) is in his eighth season and is a two-time All-Star. In 430 career games with 370 starts, he is averaging 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.7 steals. Over the past three seasons, he was the only player to have averaged at least 20.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.0 rpg, and 1.90 spg. In 2017-18, Oladipo was named Most Improved Player, All-NBA Third Team, and All-Defensive First Team.

Exum (6-5, 214) was the fifth overall pick by Utah in the 2014 NBA Draft. In 245 career games with 72 starts, the 25-year-old is averaging 5.7 points, 2.1 assists, and 1.8 rebounds in 18.6 minutes per game. Over the past three seasons, Exum averaged 14.6 ppg, 5.0 apg, and 4.2 rpg per 36 minutes played.

Kurucs (6-9, 230) was the 40th overall pick by Brooklyn in the 2018 NBA Draft. In 115 games with 55 starts, the 22-year-old is averaging 6.5 points, and 3.4 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game. Over his first two seasons, Kurucs averaged 13.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg, and 1.9 apg per 36 minutes played.

Spurs face in-flux Rockets team Saturday

The Spurs aren’t quite sure who will be out on the floor for the Rockets Saturday. Via the Express News:

That scouting report from Thursday night? The Spurs might throw it in the waste basket, although after what happened in their previous meeting with the Rockets, it would be a wonder if anyone not named Keldon Johnson could hit it.

“We will play it by ear and see what they got,” point guard Dejounte Murray said. “We’ve just to be ready to go.”

Their roster in flux because of injury and the relief-inducing trade of All-Star guard James Harden to Brooklyn, the Rockets defeated the Spurs 109-105 on Thursday with just nine players available.

Houston could have more warm bodies for Round 2 today at the AT&T Center. Or the Rockets could be even more short-handed than they were Thursday.

The Spurs are a solid 6-6 so far this season. They’re being led in scoring by DeMar DeRozan at 20.4 points per game, followed by six players who are all averaging between 11.2 and 15.7 ppg.