The Rockets have released three players, announcing today that guard Jerian Grant, forward Kenny Wooten, and forward Trevelin Queen have been placed on waivers (Twitter link via Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle).
Houston had a full 20-man roster and had to make cuts in advance of the regular season, but a couple of these moves are still noteworthy.
Grant, for instance, looked like a candidate to make the regular season roster following Chris Clemons‘ season-ending Achilles tear. With Clemons injured and Grant no longer on the roster, the Rockets lack an obvious backup for starting point guard John Wall. Houston will carry a $50K cap hit after waiving Grant, since he had a small partial guarantee.
Wooten, meanwhile, was on a two-way contract, so waiving him will open up one of the Rockets’ two-way slots, alongside rookie Mason Jones. My guess is that Houston intends to sign a point guard using that newly-created two-way opening, but we’ll have to wait to see what the team has in mind.
Queen, meanwhile, was a training camp invitee whose release was anticipated. He’ll be a candidate to join Houston’s G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, if the team participates in the revamped 2020/21 NBAGL season.
The Rockets are now carrying 17 players, including one on a two-way contract. The team has very little wiggle room below the hard cap and will likely start the season with 14 players on standard contracts along with a pair of two-way players, so additional roster moves are around the corner.
After loosing Chris Clemons for the season the rockets might want to keep Jerian Grant
They cut Wooten who was on a two-way contract. This allows them to add another PG on a two-way deal. But I don’t know if Grant is eligible for that.
he’s been in the league for 5 going in to 6 years so no he’s not eligible
Jerian has been hurt quite often. Just as he is was getting his legs underneath him he gets cut…
2020 must have been a hard year for a Travelin Queen
Trevelin darnit
Brodric Thomas and Gerald Green are both on camp deals so they will be cut next, then they can add another PG behind Harden and Wall on a 2-way deal.
ay lin could be a good addtion just give him a minimum and hes got playoff experience too. no need for da rockets to get another pg on a two way contract.
Houston doesn’t have the cap space to sign a vet PG.
well they could qualify for a disabled player exception for clemons and used that to sign a vet to a minimum
surprised to see them cut Jerian Grant. Thought he would finally fit well on that roster
I think he will be scooped by the Pistons. Solid back up 3rd PG, and can play with his brother. No risk good reward.
i dont think gerald green will be cut cuz he could be used as a third string guard
The Rockets don’t have enough room under the hard cap to keep Green, that’s why they already cut Grant. The only way they could have kept either of them would have been to cut Clemons, but his contract became guaranteed once he had a season-ending injury. Besides, Gerald Green doesn’t play PG anyway.
oh sorry man. i mean they already have brown and gordon so no need to add another guard
well they could qualify for a disabled player exception for clemons and used that to sign a vet to a minimum
wut r they gonna do with KMJ or nwaba? cut one of them? who knows? for now da rockets dont have much size in their frontcourt other than boogie, caboclo, woods, and house.