5:37pm: The signing is official, according to a team press release.
12:37pm: The Rockets and free agent wing Josh Okogie have reached an agreement on a one-year contract, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Charania reports that it’s a $3.1MM deal for Okogie, which suggests it’ll be worth his minimum ($3,080,921). It will be fully guaranteed, per Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
Okogie, who will turn 27 in September, opened the 2024/25 season with Phoenix before being traded to Charlotte in January’s Nick Richards deal. He appeared in a total of 40 games for the Suns and Hornets, making seven starts and registering averages of 7.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 15.6 minutes per contest, along with a .443/.348/.741 shooting line.
Considered a talented, versatile perimeter defender, Okogie had excellent on/off-court splits during his stint with the Hornets, albeit in a small sample. The team had a +2.6 net rating in his 274 minutes of action and a -13.7 mark when he wasn’t on the court.
Okogie’s contract with the Hornets called for his $7.75MM salary for 2025/26 to become guaranteed if he remained under contract through June 30. The two sides agreed to push back that deadline to July 15 as the front office explored the trade market for the 6’4″ swingman, but Charlotte had no luck finding a deal and ultimately waived Okogie last week.
The Rockets recently released Jeenathan Williams, who had a non-guaranteed contract of his own, in order to move team salary approximately $3.6MM below the first tax apron, giving the club the ability to bring in one more veteran-minimum player to fill its 14th roster spot. It looks like Okogie, whose deal will count for about $2.3MM against the cap, will be that player, giving Houston another defensive-minded option on the wing.
Barring cost-cutting moves, the Rockets won’t have the ability to add a 15th man while remaining below their first-apron hard cap until later in the regular season.
lol jeenathan what in gods name
r/tragedeigh
I was wondering when the Rockets would add a shooting guard. Their backcourt depth still seems light, but adding Okogie helps
Great for their defensive line, but who else on this team can create shots/offense besides KD?
FVV, Thompson and Sengun.
Never rule out the guy they just gave a lot of money to, Jabari can also have a breakout
We’ll see
Sweet last add and a cherry on top of a magnificent offseason for Hou
Although OKC is still the better team I find the Hou rebuild a lot more impressive than Okc’s
Ironically (not so) OKC gifting Sengun to Hou plays a major role . OKC had a ton of luck baked in, Hou has built this up with savvy move after savvy move hitting every checkpoint. Not a knock on Presti, anyone would take Lady Luck on their side I just think future rebuilders might wanna take a look deeper into Hou than Okc’s path as its a more realistic path. Knicks have also been on a quasi Hou path and provide a good template for building up properly as well that I dont think they get enough credit for currently
Another player off the board for New York. I really thought JB had changed the culture, and players would want to come to New York now. Shamet is a last resort good, but I was hoping for an upgrade over him.
Why not? Top five or six in the west got stronger. Good depth signing for Houston. OKC, Rockets and Nuggets going to be fun.
Is Josh the “Okogie From Muskogee”?