Houston Rockets Blog – Page 20 – NBA Blog

Return of Chris Paul changes Rockets rotation

Chris Paul recently returned to action for the Rockets. That’s big news. And it obviously affects the rotation. Here’s the Houston Chronicle reporting:

With the Rockets at full strength for the first time since the season-opener, they began spreading the playing time across the rotation extended by one player with the return of Chris Paul.

Paul on Saturday was still limited to just 24 minutes. Luc Mbah a Moute, in his first game back after sitting out in Phoenix with an illness, played just 21 minutes, including the final minutes after the benches were cleared. But even Saturday, the Rockets got a taste of how things will change.

Only James Harden, who played 36 minutes, logged more than 30 minutes. His time will likely decrease once Paul is up to his usual playing time with Harden returning about two minutes earlier in the second and fourth quarters than he would have had Paul been cleared to play more.

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Chris Paul Rockets return should be soon

The Rockets (9-3) have been one of the best teams in the NBA this season, and they’ll soon have Chris Paul, who has played just one game for them so far, back in the mix. Here’s the Houston Chronicle reporting:

Chris Paul may return for Rockets in near future

Rockets guard Chris Paul remains out for the Rockets, but looked significantly closer to a return as he joined the team for Friday’s light practice.

The practice was not much of a test of his readiness to return, still not projected until next week. Friday’s practice between games and before a back-to-back was more of a walk-through than a full practice and not as much of a test as his workouts have been.

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Rockets sign Isaiah Canaan

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed free agent guard Isaiah Canaan.

Canaan (6-0, 201) began his career with the Rockets in 2013-14 and has since played for Philadelphia and most recently Chicago last season. He has appeared in 185 career games with 60 starts.

While playing for the Sixers in 2015-16, Canaan averaged a career-high 11.0 points and ranked 15th in the NBA with 176 3-pointers made. Over a two season span from 2014-15 through 2015-16, he joined Mirza Teletovic as the only players to have averaged at least 2.0 3-pointers made while playing fewer than 24.0 minutes per game.

Canaan has hit at least three 3-pointers in a game 56 times during his career, including four or more 29 times, and a career-high 8 for Philadelphia at Oklahoma City on March 4, 2015.

Trevor Ariza out with foot sprain

The Houston Rockets announced today that forward Trevor Ariza suffered a left midfoot sprain in the game against Memphis on Monday, Oct. 23. He will not play during the team’s three-game road trip and will be re-evaluated by team doctors after the team returns to Houston.

Rockets center Nenê will miss the game at Philadelphia on Wednesday, Oct. 25 with left Achilles soreness. He will be day-to-day moving forward.

Rockets sign Briante Weber to two-way contract

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed free agent guard Briantê Weber to a two-way contract. Weber will immediately be transferred to Houston’s single-affiliation NBA G League partner Rio Grande Valley.

Weber (6-2, 175) was eligible for the 2015 NBA Draft following his senior season at Virginia Commonwealth University. Over the past two seasons, he has played for Memphis, Miami, Golden State, and Charlotte.

Last season, Weber was named All-NBA D-League Second Team after averaging 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 3.3 steals in 31 games for the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

NBA rosters have expanded from 15 to 17 players with the additional spots available for players under two-way contracts. Teams may have up to two players under two-way contracts who will spend the bulk of the regular season in the NBA G League and not more than 45 days with their NBA team. Only players with four or fewer years of NBA service are eligible to sign two-way contracts, which can be for either one or two seasons.

Rockets waive Daniel House Jr and Cam Oliver

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has waived forwards Daniel House, Jr. and Cam Oliver.

House was eligible for the 2016 NBA Draft following his senior season at Texas A&M and spent most of last season with Washington.

Oliver was an early entry candidate for the 2017 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at Nevada. He played for the Rockets at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Rockets waive George de Paula, Chris Johnson, Tim Quarterman and Isaiah Taylor

The Houston Rockets have waived George de Paula, Chris Johnson, Tim Quarterman, and Isaiah Taylor.

De Paula was an early entry candidate for the 2017 NBA Draft. He spent the past four seasons playing professionally in his home country of Brazil.

Johnson is a four-year veteran who last played for Utah in 2015-16. He spent last season with the Rockets G League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley.

Quarterman was an early entry candidate for the 2016 NBA Draft following his junior season at Louisiana State. He appeared in 16 games as a rookie for Portland last season.

Taylor was an early entry candidate for the 2016 NBA Draft following his junior season at Texas. He spent most of 2016-17 playing for Rio Grande Valley and appeared in four games for the Rockets late in the season.

Rockets sign guard George de Paula

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed free agent guard George de Paula (POW-la).

Although not confirmed, the deal is probably non-guaranteed and just for training camp.

De Paula (6-6, 194) was an early entry candidate for the 2017 NBA Draft. The 21-year-old spent the past four seasons playing professionally in his home country of Brazil. De Paula, who also goes by “Georginho,” played for the Rockets in MGM Resorts NBA Summer League 2017.

Rockets add Bobby Brown and Chris Johnson to training camp

The Houston Rockets have re-signed guard Bobby Brown and signed free agent guard/forward Chris Johnson in advance of training camp, which will take place from Tuesday, Sept. 26 through Monday, Oct. 2.

Brown joined the Rockets prior to the start of last season after spending the previous six years playing overseas. Over his final 14 games played in 2016-17, Brown shot 50.0% from the floor. He shot 40.0% from 3-point range during the regular season and 45.5% in the playoffs.

Johnson is a four-year veteran, most recently appearing in 70 games for Utah in 2015-16. He spent last season playing for the Rockets G League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley, averaging 13.5 points and 6.2 rebounds. Johnson was also the Rockets second-leading scorer at MGM Resorts NBA Summer League 2017 with 14.0 ppg on 50.0% shooting.

The Rockets five-game preseason opens on Tuesday, Oct. 3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. and concludes at home against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, Oct. 13. For the second straight year, the Rockets will host the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association at Toyota Center on Thursday, Oct. 5.

Rockets hire Sachin Gupta as Special Advisor

Sachin Gupta has re-joined the Houston Rockets, in the role as Special Advisor. In this role, Gupta will work closely with Morey and his executive staff of Gersson Rosas, Monte McNair, Eli Witus, and Jimmy Paulis.

“Sachin’s fingerprints are all over this team, from his first six seasons with the Rockets to contributions he’s made this past year,” said Morey. “Given what he brings to the table and how seamlessly he fits in with our group, we’re excited to have him back into the fold.”

“I am so proud to once again be part of the Rockets family,” said Gupta. “This is truly one of the elite organizations in sports, both on and off the court, from top to bottom. What they’ve built over the past several years is incredible and I’m excited to be back helping them in their pursuit of a championship.”

Gupta originally joined the Rockets in 2006 as Morey’s first hire and remained with the team for six seasons before leaving in 2012 to pursue his MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. During that time, Gupta served as a consultant for Philadelphia 76ers General Manager Sam Hinkie, and after completing his degree joined the Sixers full-time as Vice President of Basketball Operations in 2014.

This past season Gupta aided the Rockets during the trade deadline, draft, and free agency periods, playing an important role in the acquisition of nine-time All-Star Chris Paul.

Prior to working in the NBA, Gupta spent two years at ESPN, where he developed the widely popular NBA Trade Machine. Originally from the Boston area, Gupta holds a degree in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from MIT.