The Rockets have made a pair of moves today. The team has signed Akeem Richmond and waived Geron Johnson, the team announced in a press release. These moves do nothing to alleviate Houston’s current preseason roster logjam, and the team still has 20 players under contract. The Rockets will still need to pare down their roster by five prior to the deadline. Signing Richmond this close to the wire is likely aimed at retaining his D-League rights for the season, though the is merely my speculation. It isn’t known yet if Johnson’s deal included any guaranteed money, nor if Richmond’s does.
Johnson was inked only yesterday, with the team waiving Akil Mitchell to clear the required roster slot. Johnson went undrafted this past June, but the Rockets were among the teams that worked him out prior to the draft, and he subsequently joined Houston’s summer league team in July. The 22-year-old guard averaged just 8.9 points in 27.9 minutes per game as a senior with Memphis last season, but he did log 4.9 RPG, excellent numbers from a backcourt player.
The 6’0″ Richmond went undrafted this year out of East Carolina, after spending his first two seasons with Rhode Island. His career collegiate numbers are 11.7 PPG, 2.2 RPG, and 1.1 APG. His career shooting numbers were .384/.384/.824.