Highlights: Get to know five newly signed Houston Rockets for 2023-24 season

The #Rockets made their contract agreements official with Jeenathan Williams, Jermaine Samuels Jr., Matthew Mayer, Nate Hinton, and Joshua Obiesie. Here’s a look at each player’s background.

On Thursday, the Houston Rockets confirmed a handful of 2023 free agency deals reached earlier in the week with guard/forward Nate Hinton, forward Matthew Mayer, guard Joshua Obiesie, forward Jermaine Samuels Jr., and guard/forward Nate Williams.

Hinton, Mayer and Samuels played for the Rockets in the NBA’s 2023 summer league in Las Vegas and helped the team reach the championship game. Houston finished 5-1.

Although NBA rosters are limited to 15 players on standard contracts (and up to three two-way deals) during each regular season, teams can carry up to 21 players in the offseason.

That expanded roster window continues through training camp and the preseason, which allows teams to evaluate various depth options before finalizing their regular-season roster. Teams may also consider many of these players for roles with their G League affiliate (in Houston’s case, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers).

From the team’s announcement, here are further details on the newly signed players along with highlights.

Rockets bringing summer standouts Matthew Mayer, Nate Hinton to training camp

With an expanded roster available through training camp and the preseason, the #Rockets agreed to contracts with 2023 summer-league standouts Matthew Mayer and Nate Hinton.

Although NBA rosters are limited to 15 players on standard contracts (and up to three two-way deals) during the regular season, teams are allowed to carry up to 21 players in the offseason. That expanded roster window continues through training camp and the preseason.

For the 2023-24 Houston Rockets, who recently wrapped up a successful 5-1 stint with a runner-up finish at the NBA’s 2023 summer league, standouts from that roster were clearly among the most appropriate candidates to fill those expanded roster roles.

So, shortly after signing Jermaine Samuels Jr. to a two-way deal, the Rockets have agreed to training camp contracts with fellow summer league standouts Nate Hinton and Matthew Mayer. Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle was first with the news.

Mayer, an undrafted 2023 rookie who played in college at Baylor and Illinois, averaged 12.5 points (51.6% FG, 43.5% on 3-pointers) and 7.3 rebounds in 25.2 minutes per game at summer league. The 6-foot-9 sharpshooter turns 24 years old in September.

Meanwhile, Hinton — an undrafted prospect from the 2020 class who played his college basketball at Houston — averaged 11.8 points (50% FG, 35% on 3-pointers), 5 rebounds, and 2.7 steals in 26.4 minutes. A versatile 6-foot-5 wing, Hinton turned 24 in June.

Should a prospect such as Hinton or Mayer play well enough in training camp and the preseason, Houston could certainly consider him for a spot on its roster for the 2023-24 regular season.

However, many players on camp deals will join the Rockets’ G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers.

Updated 2023-2024 Houston Rockets roster, salaries after free agency

After an extremely busy 2023 free agency, here’s an updated look at the #Rockets roster and salaries entering the 2023-24 NBA season.

When we last saw the Houston Rockets play a regular-season game in April, they were one of the NBA’s youngest teams and directed by a relatively unproven head coach in Stephen Silas.

The situation has changed significantly in the months since. Ime Udoka replaced Silas as head coach and brought in his own staff of assistants, while general manager Rafael Stone spent more than $60 million in 2023 free agency to sign veteran players Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jeff Green and Jock Landale.

Those veterans will surround Houston’s young core of Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Kevin Porter Jr., Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and newly drafted 2023 rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore.

As of early August, here’s an updated look at where things stand with the Rockets’ coaching staff and roster of players entering the 2023-24 NBA season. Many of the team’s newcomers will not have their jersey numbers revealed until closer to training camp, which is scheduled to start in early October.

Height and weight information is from NBA.com, while salary details are from HoopsHype figures. Ages are as of Aug. 1, 2023.

Takeaways: MVP Cam Whitmore leads Rockets’ standouts at 2023 summer league

With 2023 summer league in the books, here’s our look back at key #Rockets takeaways, including Cam Whitmore’s MVP run and Jabari Smith Jr.’s complete domination.

In Monday’s championship, the Rockets and summer-league head coach Ben Sullivan fell one game short of accomplishing their goal of winning the NBA’s 2023 summer league. With a 99-78 loss to the unbeaten Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston finished with a 5-1 record. 

Yet, as general manager Rafael Stone and new head coach Ime Udoka watched courtside, they witnessed several positive developments over those two weeks in Las Vegas. Many may help the Rockets become more successful as they enter a self-proclaimed Phase 2 of their rebuilding process, starting with the 2023-24 season.

Rookie point guard Amen Thompson (left ankle sprain) was ruled out of summer-league play after one game, and second-year forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason (rest) were ruled out after the second. But all three made a big impression on Stone and Udoka during their limited playing time.

Meanwhile, those absences provided opportunities for other players on the summer roster —  most notably, rookie forward Cam Whitmore (summer-league MVP) and second-year guard Trevor Hudgins, who remains on a two-way contract with Houston. Both Whitmore and Hudgins made major contributions as the Rockets won three of their final four games, even without three big names.

With summer league officially in the books, here’s a look back at some key statistics and takeaways from six games in Las Vegas.

(Editor’s note: Ben DuBose also contributed to this article.)

Takeaways: Summer Rockets stay unbeaten as Trevor Hudgins steps up versus Thunder

Led by an efficient 26 points and 7 assists from Trevor Hudgins, Ben Sullivan’s summer #Rockets remain unbeaten (3-0) after routing Oklahoma City. Cam Whitmore had 16 points and 8 rebounds.

With rookie Amen Thompson (left ankle sprain) and second-year forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason (rest) sitting out the remainder of the NBA’s 2023 summer league, the expectation entering the final three games for the Houston Rockets was for rookie forward Cam Whitmore to receive a more featured role.

As it turned out, second-year guard Trevor Hudgins took on much of the playmaking burden. He came through in a big way in Tuesday’s 105-92 win (box score) over Oklahoma City. The Rockets (3-0) remain unbeaten and in contention for the 2023 summer-league playoffs (format) in Las Vegas.

Hudgins, who signed with Houston in the 2022 offseason as an undrafted free agent out of Northwest Missouri State, showed why he remains on a two-way NBA contract by scoring a game-high 26 points on efficient 10-of-20 shooting (50%), including five 3-pointers. He also ran the offense well; he finished with 7 assists to one turnover.

Whitmore had 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals, making 6-of-14 shots (42.9%) but just 1-of-8 on 3-pointers (12.5%). Rookie forward Matthew Mayer added 19 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for summer head coach Ben Sullivan (Ime Udoka’s top assistant) on 6-of-11 shooting (54.5%) and 3-of-8 on 3-pointers (37.5%).

Rookie wing Keyontae Johnson led the Thunder (1-1) in Tuesday’s loss with 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting (64.3%), while big man KJ Williams had 19 points (61.5% FG) and 13 rebounds.

Read on for highlights, postgame interviews with players and coaches, and reaction by fans and media members to Tuesday’s game. Houston returns to action Thursday versus Golden State, with tipoff at 6 p.m. Central and television coverage on ESPN.

Rockets free agency rumors: Brook Lopez stock up, James Harden down

As the NBA’s free agency and trade rumors heat up, Milwaukee big man Brook Lopez looks to be a realistic #Rockets target. Elsewhere, KJ Martin appears tradable for the right deal.

As of 5:00 p.m. Central on Friday, June 30, free agency agreements can officially be reached around the NBA. That’s a very impactful date for the Houston Rockets, who have a league-leading figure of approximately $60 million in room beneath the salary cap.

For months, rumors swirled of a potential reunion with former franchise icon James Harden. However, many recent reports suggest that Harden could return to his current team, the Philadelphia 76ers.

However, there’s more optimism surrounding a potential deal with Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez. New Rockets coach Ime Udoka referenced wanting to add “different types of bigs” in his introductory press conference, and Lopez provides two clear strengths — interior defense and 3-point shooting — that Houston’s incumbent center, Alperen Sengun, does not have at the moment.

Other names frequently whispered include Memphis wing Dillon Brooks and Toronto guard Fred VanVleet. Both could bring a needed dose of defense and toughness to Houston, with VanVleet also a capable playmaker who is often less ball-dominant than Harden.

Entering free agency week and the official start of the 2023-24 league year, here’s a roundup of where things stand with the Rockets.

2023 Lakers draft prospect profile: Matthew Mayer

A look at Matthew Mayer from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The Los Angeles Lakers could be looking for not just additional depth, but also for a good player or even an All-Star. To do so, they may end up looking to trade the No. 17 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, as Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported on Friday.

In addition, they will have the No. 47 selection, which could turn out to be used on a viable player, especially if the past has been any indication. Los Angeles has hit on a number of second-round picks and even a couple of undrafted free agents in recent years.

One player it recently worked out is Matthew Mayer, a forward from Baylor University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Illinois’ Matthew Mayer played with just one shoe for more than a minute of March Madness

It is shocking how long it took for him to reunite with his sneaker.

Illinois senior Matthew Mayer lost his shoe during the first half in the opening round of March Madness against Arkansas.

Rather than immediately attempting to put the shoe back on his foot, however, the 23-year-old forward made a much stranger decision. After getting the ball in the backcourt, he passed it to a teammate and then he tossed his shoe onto the Illinois sideline.

Instead of calling a timeout, Illinois then ran a half-court possession with Mayer spotting up on the perimeter. Arkansas then forced a turnover, then Illinois quickly forced a turnover, then Arkansas forced yet another turnover.

Arkansas finally scored — Mayer wasn’t much help on defense with just one shoe on his feet.

While you might expect that by this point, Mayer would have found a quick moment to put the sneaker back on his foot, you would be mistaken!

Why didn’t Brad Underwood call a timeout? Why didn’t the officials blow their whistles to stop the play?

Illinois shockingly ran one more half-court set, with Mayer once more spotting up on the perimeter. They missed their field-goal attempt, Mayer got back on defense, and Illinois got a stop.

It was finally time: After more than a minute of the game clock had passed, the forward was finally reunited with his missing sneaker.

This is assuredly one of the strangest sequences you will see during the tournament. But that’s why they call it March Madness, amirite?

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Penn State, Jalen Pickett crush Illinois to stop losing streak

Jalen Pickett went off on Illinois to snap Penn State basketball’s losing streak.

Penn State’s offense was on full display at The Bryce Jordan Center on Tuesday night. They used their hot shooting night to beat Illinois 93-81.

This victory put a stop to the four-game losing streak Penn State had coming into the evening. The story of the game was [autotag]Jalen Pickett[/autotag].

After the loss to Maryland over the weekend, coach [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] put the spotlight on Pickett.

Frustrated with the lack of foul calls Pickett has been receiving, Shrewsberry said, “That kid is one of the best players in our league. He’s being treated unfairly.”

Pickett was red-hot in the first half. He looked to attack and get himself involved in the offense early.

He finished the first half with 24 points, shooting 10 of 12 from the floor and 4 of 6 from three.

Pickett also scored his 2,000th career point in the first half after hitting a three. This is a major milestone for the senior guard who is in his second season at Penn State.

The rest of the team followed their senior guard’s performance. Penn State shot 56% in the first half from both the field and three-point land.

After trailing at halftime in all four of their previous games, the Nittany Lions took a 53-40 lead into the locker room.

The hot shooting continued for Penn State.

Pickett finished with 41 points, shooting 15-20 from the field and 5-9 from three. This set the Bryce Jordan Center record for most points scored in a single game.

He also became the third men’s player to score 40 points in a game for Penn State, joining Gene Harris and Jesse Arnelle.

Guard [autotag]Seth Lundy[/autotag] added 15 points and seven rebounds. Freshman guard [autotag]Kanye Clary[/autotag] continued his run of good play adding 12 points on 50% shooting.

The team finished the game shooting 57.9% from the field and 42.9% from three point range.

This was the response they needed at home, hosting Illinois who came into the game 8-2 in their last 10 games.

Senior guard [autotag]Terrence Shannon Jr.[/autotag] was the game’s second leading scorer with 20 points. The Illini also had four others in double digits, including starting forwards [autotag]Coleman Hawkins[/autotag] with 12 points, [autotag]Matthew Mayer[/autotag] with 11 points and guard [autotag]Jayden Epps[/autotag] with 12 points.

Penn State goes on the road for their next game. They will face Minnesota, Saturday night at 9 pm eastern on Big Ten Network.

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Badgers lose third straight, fall to Illinois 61-51 on Saturday

Wisconsin lost their third straight contest Saturday, falling to Illinois 61-51 at home. The Badgers have now lost six of their last seven.

Wisconsin lost their third straight contest Saturday, falling to Illinois 61-51 at the Kohl Center. The Badgers have now dropped six of their last seven games and finished this week of action 0-3.

The contest was super low scoring heading into half, with Illinois holding a 20-16 lead and each team’s individual halftime point total was their lowest of the campaign. Down the stretch, the Fighting Illini pulled away and at one point held a 17-point advantage with 2:29 left in the game. The lead was greatly fueled by a 10-0 run the team went on.

For the Badgers, the return of Max Klesmit (upper body) was a welcomed one and it was evident throughout the first half and into the second that the team greatly benefited from the guard’s defensive prowess. He was able to secure two steals while he also supplied on the offensive end. His 12 points (4-10 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 1-3 FT) ranked second on the team.

Chucky Hepburn rebounded well from Wednesday’s three shot, three point performance in the loss to Maryland, supplying 15 points (6-14 FG, 3-5 3Pt), five rebounds, two steals and a rebound over 36 minutes.

On the opposite side, Matthew Mayer torched the Badgers, scoring a game-high 26 points (9-19 FG, 5-11 3Pt, 3-4 FT) while also adding six rebounds and a block. He turned it on in the second half, producing 18 points after halftime.

In addition to Mayer, Jayden Epps was able to chip in nine of his 13 points in the second half, helping the Fighting Illini pull out the victory.

The loss dropped the Badgers to 12-8 on the season and 4-6 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin will return to action Thursday (Feb. 2) on the road against Ohio State at 6 PM.

With the victory, Illinois improved to 15-6 on the campaign and they are now 6-4 in conference matchups. Overall, the team has won six out of their last seven games, including a two-game sweep over the Badgers this year.

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