The Rockets are converting Chris Clemons‘ Exhibit 10 contract into a two-way deal, league sources tell Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link). Both of Houston’s two-way slots are open, so no corresponding move will be required as Clemons fills one of those spots.
Clemons, a 5’9″ guard out of Campbell, was the nation’s leading scorer in 2018/19, averaging 30.0 PPG on .448/.357/.869 shooting. He has been impressive for the Rockets in Summer League and preseason play, averaging 20.8 PPG in five Summer League contests in Las Vegas and 13.2 PPG in five preseason games.
Two-way players are eligible to spend up to 45 days with their NBA club. However, that 45-day clock doesn’t start ticking until G League training camps open, so Clemons figures to start the season in Houston before eventually reporting to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
Jaron Blossomgame and Shamorie Ponds appear to be the leading candidates to claim Houston’s other two-way contract before the regular season begins.
Clemons captured MVP honors at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. That helped him earn a spot in Chicago at the NBA G League Elite Camp, where he again impressed and earned a plethora of NBA team workouts. He played well for the Rockets in NBA Summer League, and again in NBA preseason. Step by step, he kept excelling and advancing. He’s not done.
I thought he might make the 15-man roster, but it looks like he’ll have to play on a 2-way deal for now. The Rockets will likely cut Nene sometime before the AS break, and then Clemons should have his contract converted to a regular one.
Happy for him. He deserves it.