With the Houston Rockets subject to a hard salary cap following the recent sign-and-trade acquisition of big man Christian Wood, roster spots are at a premium for new GM Rafael Stone. Every dollar matters.
So, who might the candidates be?
Veteran NBA guard and native Houstonian Gerald Green, who played with the Rockets from 2017 through 2019, made it clear Tuesday night that he would happily accept one of those remaining spots, if offered.
Here’s what Green told Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston:
Everybody knows how much I feel about this city, and what this city feels for me. For me, if I come back again… I’m going to have the same feeling I did when I came back in 2017.
It means everything to me. It’s my hometown. It’s my city. Not just the Rockets, but this whole city means everything to me. I said this once and I’ll say it again, I’ll die for this city.
As one example, months before Green signed with the Rockets in December 2017, he was actively involved in local Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts during and after the devastation that August.
Free agent G/F Gerald Green hopes to re-sign with the #Rockets & play for Houston again: “It means everything to me. It’s my hometown. It’s my city, not just the Rockets, but this whole city means everything to me. I said this once and I’ll say it again, I’ll die for this city.” pic.twitter.com/9Z8qAws91t
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) November 25, 2020
Free agent G/F Gerald Green hopes he’ll get the opportunity to re-sign with his hometown #Rockets: “Everybody knows how much I feel about this city and what this city feels for me. For me, if I come back again…I’m gonna have the same feeling I did when I came back in 2017.” pic.twitter.com/v1ksXkv8JP
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) November 25, 2020
Known best for his 3-point shooting, Green hasn’t played in the NBA since fracturing his foot last preseason. The 34-year-old fan favorite had season-ending surgery in October 2019, and he was traded for salary reasons in the February swap that brought in Robert Covington.
In two seasons with his hometown team from 2017 through 2019, the 6-foot-6 reserve swingman averaged 10.3 points (36.0% on 3-pointers) in 21.1 minutes per game, and he was also a respected veteran voice in the locker room. Among rotation players last season, only Ben McLemore (40.0%) and Danuel House Jr. (36.3%) shot a higher 3-point clip.
It will be about 14 months between Green’s foot surgery and when the 2020-21 NBA season begins in late December, and Green told Berman on Tuesday that he’s feeling great, physically. As such, the ball is now in Stone’s court to decide whether Green is the right fit for the roster.
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Free agent G/F Gerald Green recovered from his broken left foot (Lisfranc injury) suffered last Oct: “I feel great. It’s been a tough journey,but I feel really good getting up & down the floor-By far one of the toughest things I’ve ever had to deal with.I feel like I overcame it” pic.twitter.com/OLOjkOMDlm
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) November 25, 2020