Tag: Armoni Brooks

Rockets Christian Wood making his presence felt from beyond the arc

With a roster consisting of three-point specialists Eric Gordon, Armoni Brooks, and Garrison Matthews, forward/center Christian Wood has been a very efficient shooter from deep during the winning streak. He has made 14 out of the 25 three-pointers attempted and shot 83 percent (5 out of 6) on Sunday against the Pelicans

Over the last six games, the Houston Rockets have lived their 2021 mantra of “Light The Fuse” from beyond the three-point line. During that span, they are averaging 17.3 made 3-pointers, which equates to 40.8 percent and has led them to a six-game winning streak.

Rockets head coach Stephen Silas talked about the turnaround he has seen from his team from beyond-the-arc after the 118-108 over the New Orleans Pelicans:

Having more shooting on the floor, being more confident shooting the ball, being more intentional about drive-and-kick, and making the extra pass. During this streak, we are second in the league in three-point attempts. I am not worried about the makes, we are shooting 41 percent, but it’s the attempts that we need to have more space so that they will honor us and we can drive or roll (to the rim).

With a roster consisting of three-point specialists Eric Gordon, Armoni Brooks, and Garrison Mathews, forward/center Christian Wood has been a very efficient shooter from deep during the winning streak. Wood is averaging 2.3 3FGM on 56.0% shooting during the six-game winning streak including 83 percent shooting on Sunday against the Pelicans.

In 23 games this year, Wood averages 36.8 percent from the three-point range, which is close to his career average of 37 percent. He attributes his recent shooting success to having the necessary space on the floor created by Gordon, Brooks, and Mathews and his drive and determination to take the Rockets to the next level. That includes putting in extra work on the court.

“I am not going to have an off day,” said Wood when asked about his plans for Monday as the team will not practice. “I am going to come in and get some shots up and try to get ready for the next game, which will be a big one.”

On Tuesday, the Rockets will return to the practice court to prepare for their big game against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday at the Toyota Center.

Rockets reaction: Career night by Jae’Sean Tate in OKC sparks fourth straight win

Led by a career game from Jae’Sean Tate, Houston survived early injuries to Kevin Porter Jr. and Christian Wood to win its fourth straight.

The young Houston Rockets lost two of their best players (Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr.) to injury early in Wednesday’s game at Oklahoma City and trailed by double digits with under 8:00 left to play.

Led by a career game from second-year forward Jae’Sean Tate, the Rockets (5-16) somehow found a way to win, anyway, extending their winning streak to four games and counting. The gritty left-hander known best for his defensive contributions finished with an astonishing 32 points (11-of-15 shooting, 73.3%), 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 blocked shots, sparking Houston to a 114-110 come-from-behind victory (box score).

Other statistical standouts from Wednesday’s game included Garrison Mathews (14 points, 4-of-7 on 3-pointers); Armoni Brooks (18 points, 4-of-7 on 3-pointers); and KJ Martin (12 points, 6-of-8 shooting). Veteran big man Daniel Theis, who hadn’t played at all in the previous three games after Houston’s shift to a smaller lineup with Wood at center, came in after Wood’s injury and was ready for the opportunity, grabbing 9 rebounds in 21 minutes. The Rockets were +12 with Theis on the floor.

Houston scored 41 in the fourth quarter to blow past the Thunder (6-15), who were led by 39 points from rising star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said postgame that he did not yet have an update on the status of Wood (right ankle sprain) or Kevin Porter Jr. (left thigh contusion), though he noted that Wood was in a walking boot. The Rockets return to action on Friday at Toyota Center, where they will kick off a four-game homestand versus Orlando (5-18). For now, enjoy highlights and postgame reaction from Wednesday’s rally.

[lawrence-related id=58023,57910]

Takeaways: Rockets sting Hornets, clinch first winning streak of season

Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr. each posted huge double-doubles, leading the Rockets past Charlotte and into a two-game winning streak. Here’s some of what we learned at Toyota Center.

Earlier this week, the Houston Rockets had lost 15 straight games and were a mess offensively, having scored 90 points or fewer in three of their last five outings. Now, after shifting Christian Wood to center and embracing a smaller lineup with more shooters and floor spacing, they’re on a two-game winning streak in front of adoring fans at Toyota Center.

Led by an 23-of-49 showing on 3-pointers (46.9%), the smaller Rockets set a new season-high for treys in a second straight game, leading them to Saturday’s 146-143 overtime win over Charlotte (box score). Individually, Houston’s clear standouts were Wood (career-high 33 points, 16 rebounds) and Kevin Porter Jr. (23 points, 12 assists, 8 rebounds).

Most impressively, these victories by the Rockets aren’t simply a product of a weak schedule. The Hornets (13-9) and Bulls (13-7) are each clearly in the Eastern Conference playoff field at the moment, and yet the young Rockets (3-16) found a way to close out tight games in the fourth quarter and averaged 126.5 regulation points per game in those two wins.

Granted, in the case of Charlotte, the Hornets were on the second night of a back-to-back in two different cities. But Porter and the Rockets used that to their advantage by pushing pace and getting out in transition, which often led to good looks for shooters such as Garrison Mathews (20 points, 5-of-9 on 3-pointers), Armoni Brooks (15 points, 5-of-11 on 3-pointers), and Eric Gordon (22 points, 7 assists, 4-of-7 on 3-pointers).

The Rockets will conclude their three-game homestand on Monday versus Oklahoma City (6-13). On paper, with a home-and-home sequence looming against the Thunder followed by home games versus Orlando (4-16) and New Orleans (5-16), it could be a chance for Houston to build on its sudden momentum and stack some wins together, for a change.

For now, scroll on for a look at highlights and key takeaways from Saturday’s encouraging showing from the Rockets versus Charlotte. Veteran guard Terry Rozier led the visitors with 31 points in the loss, but Houston limited him to just 9-of-23 shooting (39.1%) from the field.

[lawrence-related id=57811,57593]

Houston Rockets report card: Player grades from Wednesday’s win over Chicago

Stephen Silas chose to go to a smaller lineup in Wednesday’s streak-busting win, and it seemed to work to the benefit of Christian Wood.

On the same day that job speculation swirled with regards to head coach Stephen Silas and rookie Jalen Green was lost to a leg injury, the Houston Rockets pulled off their most satisfying win in quite some time.

Wednesday’s 118-113 victory (box score) over the visiting Chicago Bulls (12-7) snapped a 15-game losing streak for the Rockets and improved them to 2-16 on the 2021-22 season. It was a raucous environment in front of Houston fans at Toyota Center, allowing the home team to head into Thanksgiving with something to finally be thankful for.

The Rockets made a tactical change heading into the game, with Silas removing usual starting center Daniel Theis from the starting lineup (and rotation) while allowing Christian Wood to return to that position — which is where he excelled in the 2020-21 season a year ago.

Jae’Sean Tate slid up to the “power forward” spot, while veteran Eric Gordon started in Tate’s usual spot at small forward. That made for a smaller lineup, but one with much improved shooting and creation ability. As a team, Houston connected on 17-of-36 shots (47.2%) from 3-point range, and seven players shot 50% or better from long range.

In the loss, All-Star wing Zach LaVine led the visiting Bulls with 28 points on 11-of-23 shooting (47.8%). Chicago had entered Wednesday’s game in possession of the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.

See below for a roundup of players who took advantage of their new opportunities. Houston returns to action with Saturday’s game versus Charlotte (12-8), which marks the second of a three-game homestand at Toyota Center. For now, they head into a two-day “Thanksgiving break” feeling good about themselves, which is a welcome change.

[lawrence-related id=57479,57477]

Rockets clean up Houston school as part of ‘Hoops for Troops’ initiative

Armoni Brooks, Josh Christopher, and KJ Martin participated in a school clean-up project as part of the NBA’s “Hoops for Troops” initiative.

Throughout Tuesday, players and representatives from the Houston Rockets teamed up with members of the U.S. Armed Forces for a clean-up project at Oates Elementary in northeast Houston.

Their work is part of the NBA’s broader “Hoops for Troops” initiative, which represents a partnership between the NBA and the Department of Defense. Under this partnership, team representatives work alongside members of the U.S. military to support local communities.

Rockets and Toyota Center staff were joined by representatives from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy in the helping spruce up the school’s campus and building. Current players Armoni Brooks, Josh Christopher, and KJ Martin participated in the clean-up effort, along with former Rockets player Robert Reid.

“We’re just doing anything that the city needs us to do to help the next generation,” Christopher said after Tuesday’s event. Video of the work performed by players and staffers can be viewed below.

The Rockets have invited each of the military members who helped with the school project to attend their game vs. Phoenix on Sunday, Nov. 14 as part of Military Appreciation Night. All fans in attendance will be able to enjoy $1 hot dogs, along with $5 beers and beverages.

Recently, the team partnered with GovX.com to offer half-off tickets to a number of upcoming home games for active duty, reserved, veteran, and retired service members in addition to first responders and healthcare professionals. More details are available at Rockets.com.

[lawrence-related id=56612,56590]

[listicle id=56296]

Houston Rockets player salaries for 2021-22, future seasons

As Houston finalizes its roster for the 2021-22 regular season, here’s a rundown of what is on the salary books for this year and beyond.

Although the Houston Rockets are clearly rebuilding and in the early stages of a youth movement, they aren’t yet flush with cash.

For example, when the Rockets traded former MVP Russell Westbrook to Washington in December 2020, they took back another high-priced guard, John Wall. The Wizards had to send out a comparable annual salary figure to make the trade work under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and Houston received a future first-round pick for taking on a contract that was viewed as less desirable. Even though Wall is no longer playing for the Rockets due to a mutual agreement, his contract remains on the books entering the 2021-22 season, with both parties hopeful of a trade once he is owed less money.

Thus, even though the Rockets began their rebuild by trading Westbrook and James Harden, they don’t yet have a clean financial slate. They also have veterans Eric Gordon and Danuel House Jr. who are still under contracts that were signed in 2019 — when Harden was still in Houston, and a rebuild wasn’t yet being planned by the front office.

Then again, it’s not as if Houston desperately needed cap space in 2021, anyway. Even if the Rockets had the financial ability to sign top free agents during this past offseason, it seems doubtful that any elite veteran player would have wanted to sign with a team that just finished the 2020-21 season with the NBA’s worst record. In a year or two, though, the Rockets could be viewed as a team on the rise with a young core led by Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr. and Christian Wood. In that context, Houston could quickly become a desirable destination for free agents.

That’s assuming they have the money, of course. Courtesy of the HoopsHype salary database, here’s a look at who second-year general manager Rafael Stone has on the books entering 2022 and beyond. This list is sorted by annual salary, ranging from the most to the least.

[lawrence-related id=55774,55737]

After signing Armoni Brooks, Rockets waive Dante Exum for roster spot

After signing Armoni Brooks to a standard deal, Houston had to make a roster move before its season opener, and Dante Exum was the choice.

With the NBA’s roster deadline looming for the 2021-22 season, Houston waived veteran guard Dante Exum on Saturday. The move came two days after second-year sharpshooter Armoni Brooks was given a standard contract, which meant that one player had to be let go in order for the Rockets to be at the regular-season limit of 15 players on standard deals.

Exum was signed in mid-September to a multi-year contract based heavily on incentives, which might have made him a useful trade commodity for salary matching purposes, under the right circumstances. However, the Rockets clearly left themselves an exit strategy with regards to Exum, since each year of the deal was non-guaranteed.

Ultimately, it seems Exum did not show enough in training camp or the preseason for head coach Stephen Silas and general manager Rafael Stone to be sold on the basketball merits of keeping him around. Moreover, if Exum didn’t show enough on the floor to be of value — even on a young Houston roster that finished last season with the NBA’s worst record — other teams were unlikely to have much trade interest.

By contrast, Brooks shot 45.0% on 3-pointers in Houston’s four exhibition games, and that made him a better candidate for the final standard roster spot. The Rockets do still have a pair of two-way contract slots — currently occupied by Daishen Nix and Anthony Lamb — that could be awarded in the coming days, should Stone and Silas see someone on the waiver wire that they view as a potential upgrade. Like Houston, teams throughout the league will be making cuts to reach the regular-season threshold. However, that player would be limited to a maximum of 50 NBA games, so long as he’s under that two-way NBA/G League deal.

After effectively making an Exum-for-Brooks swap, Houston’s 15 standard contracts appear to be finalized for the time being. Players on standard deals are eligible to play in all of the NBA team’s games.

[lawrence-related id=55737,53626]

[listicle id=54323]

Rockets sign Armoni Brooks to standard contract for up to four years

Armoni Brooks now has a standard contract with Houston for up to four years in length, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Second-year sharpshooter Armoni Brooks will sign a standard contract with the Houston Rockets for up to four seasons in length, as first reported Thursday by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The first season of the contract is guaranteed (2021-22), and each future year includes a trigger date for Brooks’ salary to become guaranteed for that season.

On Wednesday, reports emerged that Brooks was having his Exhibit 10 training camp contract converted to a two-way deal. According to salary cap guru Keith Smith of Spotrac, this was part of a phased process leading to Thursday’s news of a multi-year standard contract.

“Can’t convert [Brooks] to a new contract from a training camp deal,” Smith tweeted. “So, they convert to a two-way first, and then sign him to a new deal from there. Good front office work by the Rockets.”

A 6-foot-3 guard, Brooks averaged 11.2 points (38.2% on 3-pointers) and 3.4 rebounds in 26.0 minutes last season. The contract’s financial terms were not disclosed, but given Brooks’ young age (23) and relatively small NBA sample after going undrafted, it appears likely to be at or near the league minimum — perhaps similar to Jae’Sean Tate’s contract.

As of midday Thursday, it was not yet clear what Houston’s corresponding roster move would be. By Monday (i.e. before the start of the regular season), NBA teams must trim down their rosters to 15 players on standard deals, and the Rockets are already at 14 players on regular deals plus the non-guaranteed contract of Dante Exum. To accomodate Brooks, someone on a standard contract will need to be traded or waived.

[lawrence-related id=55731,55723]

[listicle id=54323]

Report: Rockets convert Armoni Brooks to two-way contract

Brooks was also on a two-way contract last season, and the conversion allows him to play for most of the 2021-22 season with the Rockets.

Houston has converted the contract of second-year sharpshooter Armoni Brooks to a two-way deal, Keith Smith of Spotrac reported late Wednesday. Brooks also played on a two-way contract last season.

Each NBA team can only have two players on two-way contracts, and entering Wednesday, the Rockets had Anthony Lamb and Tyler Bey signed to two-way deals. One of those players will presumably need to be let go from that contract in order to make room for Brooks.

Under the terms of a two-way, Brooks will be able to shuttle back and forth this season between the Rockets and Houston’s G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers. The 23-year-old will be eligible to play in up to 50 of the Rockets’ 82 regular-season games, and he will receive a flat salary of $462,629 (half of the rookie minimum).

Brooks was brought to 2021-22 training camp by the Rockets on an Exhibit 10 contract, but he had to be converted to either a two-way deal or a standard contract to stick around for the regular season.

The 6-foot-3 guard has played well in the preseason, averaging 10.0 points (56.3% on 3-pointers) in just 13.2 minutes over Houston’s first three exhibitions. Clearly, that was enough for general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Stephen Silas to want to keep Brooks around.

[lawrence-related id=55262,52453]

[listicle id=54323]

Rockets stats: Armoni Brooks stands out in exhibition loss at Toronto

Houston had 28 turnovers in a 107-92 preseason loss at Toronto, but Armoni Brooks was a bright spot with 15 points on five 3-pointers.

With 28 team turnovers as a clear leading storyline, the young Rockets were outplayed throughout the game in Monday’s 107-92 preseason loss (box score) at Toronto. Led by 17 points apiece from bruising forwards Precious Achiuwa and OG Anunoby, the Raptors improved to 2-2 in exhibition play with the victory. Houston fell to 1-2.

The Rockets, however, weren’t devoid of any bright spots in Toronto. In just 21 minutes off the bench, second-year sharpshooter Armoni Brooks made a clear case for more playing time by scoring a team-high 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting (50%) from 3-point range.

Eric Gordon (sore left ankle) and Danuel House Jr. (personal reasons) did not play. Beyond Brooks, other statistical standouts included:

  • Christian Wood (13 points, 50% FG, 7 rebounds, 26 minutes)
  • Jae’Sean Tate (10 points, 71.4% FG, 4 rebounds, 21 minutes)
  • Alperen Sengun (10 points, 50% FG, 5 rebounds, 18 minutes)
  • Kevin Porter Jr. (12 points, 27.3% FG, 4 assists, 27 minutes)

Houston’s starting backcourt of Porter and rookie Jalen Green struggled from 3-point range, shooting just 3-of-11 combined (27.3%). Green scored just 5 points, easily his lowest of three exhibition games.

See below for extended highlights from Monday, and stick with Rockets Wire for continued postgame coverage. Houston will conclude its four-game exhibition slate with Friday’s matchup at San Antonio.

[lawrence-related id=55050,54976]

[listicle id=54323]