The Rockets have filled the open two-way slot on the roster, signing free agent guard William McDowell-White to a two-way contract, according to the NBA’s official transactions log.
McDowell-White, 22, was a G League affiliate player for the Rockets last season after going undrafted in 2019. He appeared in 17 games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and played a limited role, averaging 3.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 1.7 APG in 11.8 minutes per contest.
The 6’5″ Australian has also spent time with the Sydney Kings and Germany’s Brose Bamberg, among other international teams.
Houston could badly use some depth at the point guard spot, with Chris Clemons sidelined for the season due to a torn Achilles. John Wall, who is returning from an Achilles tear of his own, is the only other real point guard on the roster, though James Harden will do plenty of ball-handling as long as he continues to wear a Rockets uniform.
While McDowell-White will give the Rockets another option at the point, I wouldn’t expect him to play regular minutes to start the season, given his lack of NBA experience. On his two-way deal, he’ll be eligible to appear in up to 50 of the club’s 72 games.
He will only be needed when the Rockets are playing back-to-backs and the team will be resting Wall, just like last season with Westbrook. Houston has a lot more depth than most people seem to realize, except at PG obviously. Although they will use Gordon some at PG when Wall is resting.
Out of the 13 healthy players on the roster, the only one that won’t get very much playing time is KJ Martin. The other 12 should all get minutes during the season depending on what the rotation ends up being. The main 7 players will of course get most of those minutes, while the remaining 5 (McLemore, Nwaba, Brown, Tate, and Caboclo) will all play in various match-ups throughout the season.
McDowell-White, 22 the Aussie Harden ….
Woods is looking good. He made sense for Rockets. Knowing their two stars wanted out. Cousins also looks in good shape, thinner. But I would load manage Wall and Cousins. Better to have them strong for end of yr. Moving Harden will get them depth at PG