In his post-trade deadline press conference on Friday, Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone made it clear he was open-minded to keeping newly acquired veteran Danny Green around for the remainder of the 2022-23 season. He also, however, left the door open for a split, depending on Green’s wishes.
Later that day, fellow deadline acquisitions Justin Holiday and Frank Kaminsky were with the Rockets in Miami and dressed out, but Green was not present. Now, there seems to be an explanation.
As first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic, Green agreed to a contract buyout with the Rockets. Because Green’s contract expires after the 2022-23 season, there is no long-term impact to Houston’s salary cap picture or long-term financial planning.
While Green was acquired by Houston in the three-team trade sending Eric Gordon to the Los Angeles Clippers, he was involved largely for salary matching purposes. The primary incentive for that trade was the 2023 first-round draft swap right obtained from the Clippers in that deal.
With three players (Gordon, Bruno Fernando and Garrison Mathews) sent out at the deadline and only Holiday and Kaminsky likely sticking around, Houston has an open roster spot. It remains to be seen whether the Rockets will fill it as the 2022-23 season winds down.
14-year NBA veteran and three-time champion Danny Green has agreed to a contract buyout with the Houston Rockets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Green is expected to soon decide his next team among several interested contenders.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 12, 2023
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