Rockets to play in NBA Summer League from Las Vegas in August

Houston could have one of the NBA’s most intriguing Summer League rosters, with three 2021 first-round picks and several young prospects.

The usual NBA Summer League didn’t take place in 2020, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. But with restrictions being eased across the United States, it is now set to return in the league’s 2021 offseason.

The NBA announced Thursday that its annual offseason showcase would return from August 8-17 in Las Vegas. Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, all 30 teams will play at least five games at the event.

In recent years, the NBA Summer League — which primarily features younger players — hasn’t been that interesting, from a Houston perspective. After all, the Rockets haven’t made a first-round draft pick since 2015, and they were routinely among the NBA’s oldest teams in the latter years of the James Harden era. As a result, they haven’t had many prospects of significance to place on their summer roster.

But that likely changes in 2021, given the youth movement that began with Harden’s forced trade. Houston’s finishing 2020-21 roster featured several players in their first or second NBA season, including Jae’Sean Tate, KJ Martin, Kevin Porter Jr., Anthony Lamb, and Armoni Brooks. It’s unclear how many will play in Summer League, since some (particularly Tate, Martin, and Porter) are expected to play key roles at the NBA level in 2021-22. But on paper, they meet the usual criteria.

The Rockets are currently slated to make three first-round selections in the NBA’s 2021 draft. Assuming general manager Rafael Stone holds those picks, the 2021 Summer League is likely to also represent the first chance for fans to see those rookies in a Houston uniform.

Further information such as a schedule of opponents and game times, ticketing options, and TV coverage will be announced at a later date.

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