The Houston Rockets made a successful waiver claim Saturday on Kenny Wooten, a 22-year-old prospect big man who played last season for the G League affiliate of the New York Knicks. The news was first reported by national NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic.
A 6-foot-8 big man, Wooten averaged 7.6 points (64.3% FG), 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks in 24.9 minutes per game with the Westchester Knicks. Wooten went undrafted in 2019 after two years at the University of Oregon before joining the Knicks and their G League affiliate.
Wooten is well regarded for his athleticism and shot-blocking presence, having made the NBA G League’s 2020 All-Defensive Team and the Pac-12’s All-Defensive Team in 2018 and 2019. In college, Wooten averaged 2.4 blocks in 21.8 minutes per game, and despite playing only two seasons, he finished as Oregon’s No. 3 all-time shot blocker.
The Knicks signed Wooten in January 2020 to a two-way contract for two seasons, which the Rockets are inheriting by making the waiver claim. Wooten ended up not playing in any game for New York, because shortly after signing that contract, he suffered a thumb injury that required surgery. He was then waived by the Knicks earlier this week.
Two-Way Contract for Kenny Wooten in New York is for two-years (rest of the season and 2020/21). Wooten will have a total of 42 days of service: 24 days from now until 3/28 and 18 days from 3/29 to 4/15. He joins a list of six other Two-Way players under contract for 2020/21.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) January 15, 2020
It appears that Wooten and rookie guard Mason Jones will be Houston’s two two-way players for the upcoming 2020-21 season.
Based on the season’s delayed start and potential roster shortages due to COVID-19, the NBA’s standard rules for two-way players are being eased this year — with two-way players eligible to play in up to 50 games out of the regular-season total of 72. That’s a big change from the usual policy, which limits two-way players to 45 days of NBA service time (including not only games, but also practices and travel days).
The remainder of their contractual time is spent in the G League.
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Knicks are planning to sign Kenny Wooten to a two-way NBA deal, per @ShamsCharania.
Bounciest dude in the G League? (via @swishcultures_)pic.twitter.com/DGPfI6gHBi
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 13, 2020