Rockets to sign former Bucks guard Sterling Brown to one-year deal

Known best for his defense, the 6-foot-5 Brown averaged 5.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in 14.8 minutes per game for Milwaukee last season.

The Houston Rockets agreed to a one-year contract on Sunday with 25-year-old guard Sterling Brown, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.

Financial terms were not immediately disclosed. With the Rockets subject to a hard salary cap following the sign-and-trade acquisition of Christian Wood, a veteran’s minimum contract would seem to be most likely.

Known best for his defense, the 6-foot-5 Brown averaged 5.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in 14.8 minutes per game for Milwaukee last season. When given playing time, Brown’s athleticism, strength and bulk (232 pounds), and a 6-foot-10 wingspan allows him to be a tough, gritty defender. That physicality also makes him an strong rebounder for his position.

Brown was selected in the second round in the 2017 draft and is now entering his fourth NBA season. His best year as a professional came in the 2018-19 season, when he averaged 6.4 points in 17.8 minutes per game on 46.5% shooting from the field, including 36.1% on 3-pointers.

Should Brown recapture that 2018-19 form from 3-point range, it could make him a valuable “3&D” wing player for the Rockets. (For his career, Brown shoots 41.7% overall and 34.5% from 3-point range.)

In Houston, Brown should serve as useful depth behind established wing players such as James Harden, Danuel House Jr., and Eric Gordon.

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