As with all NBA teams, the Houston Rockets had to trim their roster by Monday’s deadline for the 2023-24 regular season. Teams can carry up to 21 players during the offseason, training camp and preseason, but that number falls to a maximum of 15 standard contracts and three two-way deals once the season begins.
The Rockets (training camp roster) began that process last week by waiving young prospects Matthew Mayer and Nate Hinton. Those players could soon be candidates for roles with Houston’s NBA G League affiliate club, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers.
On Monday, Houston made a series of other moves:
- Waived Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, who was acquired from Oklahoma City in the recent trade involving Kevin Porter Jr. and Victor Oladipo
- Waived Darius Days and converted Nate Williams to the vacated two-way contract slot
- Waived Trevor Hudgins and converted Nate Hinton to that vacated two-way contract slot
Hinton and Samuels were part of Houston’s extremely successful team (5-1, runner-up finish) in the NBA’s 2023 summer league.
It’s important to remember that because the Rockets finished with the league’s second-worst record (22-60) last season, Houston is very high on the waiver claim order prior to the 2023-24 season. Thus, general manager Rafael Stone will have high priority if the Rockets like someone who was released as part of another team’s cuts. That could potentially prompt another move later in the week.
For now, here’s where Houston’s roster stands to start the 2023-24 regular season, which opens on Oct. 25 in Orlando. Career statistics and biography information are available at rockets.com.
The 2023-24 Rockets are led by new head coach Ime Udoka.