(Editor’s note: We are reviewing all players from the Houston Rockets who finished the 2020-21 season on regular contracts, i.e. not hardship. To access other reviews in this ongoing series, click here.)
Rockets Player: Khyri Thomas, 6-foot-3 guard, 25 years old
2020-21 statistics in Houston: 16.4 points (48.5% FG, 33.3% on 3-pointers), 5.0 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 steals in 30.6 minutes per game
Professional Experience: Three NBA seasons
Contract Status: Signed for next two seasons at $1.8 million and $1.9 million, respectively; $2.2-million team option for 2023-24
Thomas was signed to a hardship exception late in the regular season. However, he quickly made a positive impression with head coach Stephen Silas and general manager Rafael Stone, and that deal was converted to a multi-year contract within days. Because the Rockets had saved a portion of their 2020-21 mid-level exception (MLE), they were able to sign Thomas to what could become a three-year deal.