Rockets sign Nate Hinton, Jermaine Samuels Jr. to Exhibit 10 contracts

Nate Hinton and Jermaine Samuels Jr. will each play for Houston’s summer-league team and compete in training camp on Exhibit 10 contracts.

Nate Hinton and Jermaine Samuels Jr., who each played most of last season with the Rockets on two-way contracts, will play for Houston’s 2024 NBA summer-league team and compete in 2024-25 training camp on Exhibit 10 contracts.

The news was first reported by the Houston Chronicle, which reports that both could eventually land another two-way deal.

Hinton and Samuels played only sparingly with the Rockets, though they each played much more significantly with the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers, Houston’s G League affiliate.

Hinton averaged 14.6 points (43.3% FG), 6.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 31.0 minutes, while Samuels tallied 19.6 points (48.5% FG, 32.6% on 3-pointers), 8.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 35.3 minutes.

Hinton is a 6-foot-5 guard, while Samuels is a 6-foot-6 forward. Both are 25 years old and well regarded for their defensive play.

Samuels and Hinton each played significant roles in Houston’s successful run at the NBA’s 2023 summer league in Las Vegas, where the Rockets finished with a 5-1 record and a runner-up finish.

This year’s summer Rockets will begin play on Friday, July 12, with a matchup versus the Los Angeles Lakers. Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. Central, with the game televised nationally on ESPN.

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Jermaine Couisnard signs with New Orleans Pelicans as free agent

Former Oregon guard Jermaine Couisnard signed with the New Orleans Pelicans as an undrafted free agent.

Former Oregon guard Jermaine Couisnard, as expected, wasn’t drafted in the NBA draft this week, but he did manage to sign a contract as a free agent.

Couisnard signed with the New Orleans Pelicans and will play in the NBA Summer League next month in hopes of making an impact and possibly making the big club.

Depending on how he does this summer, the Pelicans might see a fit to make Couisnard a two-way player, splitting time with New Orleans and their G-League squad, the Birmingham Squadron.

At Oregon, Couisnard solidified the shooting guard/small forward spot and even saw some time at point guard due to injuries to others or foul trouble. In his two seasons as a Duck, Couisnard averaged 15.2 points, 2.9 assists and four rebounds a game.

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N’Faly Dante agrees to a two-way deal with the Houston Rockets

N’Faly Dante agrees to a two-way deal with the Houston Rockets after he became a free agent, going unselected in the NBA draft this week.

The Houston Rockets know a little about great play from the center position.

Once the home of the Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, the Rockets have signed former Oregon Ducks center N’Faly Dante to a two-way deal after he went undrafted this week.

The “two-way” deal means Dante will most likely be going back and forth from the Rockets to the Grande Valley Vipers of the G-League throughout the season. After the 2024 season, the NBA plans to disband the minor league and it’s unknown what the plans are after that.

As for Dante, unfortunately, he went undrafted after his appeal for a sixth season at Oregon was denied by the NCAA. He was looking for an extra year after battling numerous injuries that cost him time and games as a Duck.

In what turned out to be his final season in Eugene, Dante averaged 17 points and 6.4 rebounds while playing in 22 games for the Ducks.

Rockets rookie Cam Whitmore erupts with career-high 42 points in NBA G League

On strong shooting efficiency, Rockets rookie Cam Whitmore scored a career-high 42 points Saturday in a 33-point win for Houston’s NBA G League affiliate.

Rookie guard Amen Thompson, a first-round pick by the Rockets in the 2023 NBA draft, is no longer with Houston’s G League affiliate after being recalled to the parent club on Saturday morning.

Fellow rookie Cam Whitmore, also drafted by Houston in the 2023 first round, is still with the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers. And in Saturday’s Thompson-less game at the Birmingham Squadron, Whitmore made a big impression in RGV’s 132-99 win (box score).

Whitmore finished with a career-high 42 points in only 29 minutes, shooting 15-of-23 from the field (65.2%) and 5-of-11 on 3-pointers (45.5%). Only 19 years old, the athletic 6-foot-7 forward from Villanova also tallied 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and made 4-of-5 free throws (80.0%), and the Vipers were +31 during his minutes.

Whitmore’s potential role with the 2023-24 Rockets, if any, may not become clear until there’s an injury, trade, or a string of sub-standard performances later in the season. But in the meantime, his strong showings in the G League are certainly turning heads for the likes of general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Ime Udoka.

Here’s a look at Whitmore’s highlights, top plays, and fan reaction.

Rockets recall Amen Thompson from G League; Monday return appears likely

After a pair of rehabilitation starts, the Rockets recalled rookie guard Amen Thompson from the G League. He should be available Monday versus San Antonio.

Rookie guard Amen Thompson appears ready to rejoin the Houston Rockets after two strong games with the G League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers, including a 29-point triple-double in his memorable debut. Thompson, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft, was recalled to the NBA team on Saturday.

That seemingly puts Thompson on course to be available for Houston’s next NBA game, which takes place Monday at home versus San Antonio. The tip at the Toyota Center is 7 p.m. Central. Thompson has missed over five weeks with a Grade 2 sprain of his left ankle

The Rockets’ schedule eases considerably next week: one game against the Spurs (3-18) and a pair versus Memphis (6-15). Two of those three are at home, where Houston (10-9) is 9-1 this season.

Thus, it could be an opportune time to ease Thompson back into the rotation before the schedule stiffens later in the month.

Once he returns, Thompson should help the Rockets fill some of the backup point guard minutes behind Fred VanVleet while bringing considerable length, athleticism and defensive versatility.

Just 20 years old, Thompson had averaged 6.3 points (40.9% FG) and 2.8 rebounds in 16.8 minutes to begin his NBA career. His injury occurred in Houston’s fourth regular-season game.

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Reaction: Rockets rookie Amen Thompson dazzles in NBA G League debut

In the first game of an NBA G League rehab assignment, Rockets rookie Amen Thompson finished with 29 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists for the Vipers.

After missing five-plus weeks with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain — suffered in the fourth game of the Rockets’ 2023-24 regular season — rookie guard Amen Thompson finally returned to the court.

Thompson, drafted at No. 4 in the 2023 first round, began his on-court return process Wednesday with Houston’s NBA G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers. Thompson has gradually increased his physical workouts in recent weeks, and Rockets head coach Ime Udoka had previously indicated that a G League assignment would be part of that buildup process.

Though the Vipers lost Wednesday’s game to the Oklahoma City Blue, 128-126 (box score) in overtime, Thompson made quite an impression. The 6-foot-7 rookie finished with 29 points, 16 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks, shooting 12-of-26 from the field (46.2%), 2-of-3 on 3-pointers (66.7%), and 2-of-2 on free throws.

Once cleared for NBA games, Thompson could help the Rockets fill backup guard minutes behind Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green while bringing considerable length, athleticism and defensive versatility.

Here’s a sampling of Thompson’s many highlights from Wednesday’s game, along with reaction by fans and analysts across social media.

RGV resumes its G League schedule in Birmingham on Friday and Saturday (schedule), and Thompson appears likely to still be with the team at that time. His potential return to the Rockets, and the NBA, could come next week — when Houston hosts home games on Monday versus San Antonio and Wednesday versus Memphis.

Rockets sending rookie Cam Whitmore to NBA G League affiliate

With playing time scarce at the NBA level, the Rockets are sending rookie prospect Cam Whitmore to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, their G League affiliate club.

With playing time scarce at the NBA level, the Rockets are sending rookie prospect Cam Whitmore to the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers, their NBA G League developmental affiliate. The news was first reported by Michael Shapiro of Chron.com.

Whitmore, who played college basketball at Villanova, was drafted at No. 20 in the 2023 first round. From there, Whitmore quickly turned heads by winning MVP of the NBA’s 2023 summer league and leading the Rockets to a runner-up finish in Las Vegas.

But at just 19 years old, the versatile 6-foot-7 wing is easily the youngest player on Houston’s roster, and head coach Ime Udoka appears to be prioritizing his bench minutes for veteran role players who can help the team win more games this season.

Thus, rather than sit on the bench and only play sparingly in mop-up duty during the fourth quarter of blowouts, it makes more sense to send Whitmore to Rio Grande, with which he can receive more consistent playing time to bolster his longer-term development.

Whitmore and the Vipers will begin their 2023-24 season (schedule) on Friday, Nov. 10 in Memphis. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Central.

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NBA G League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers finalize 2023-24 training camp roster

The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers, the NBA G League Affiliate of the Houston Rockets, have finalized their 2023-24 training camp roster.

The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers, the NBA G League Affiliate of the Houston Rockets, finalized their 2023-24 training camp roster. RGV’s full schedule, which begins Nov. 10, is available here.

According to the team, the Vipers’ training camp roster includes returning players from the 2022-23 season: Trhae Mitchell (fourth season), Ray Spalding (fourth season), Shawn Occeus (fourth season), Josh Reaves (third season), Darius Days (second season), Jalen Lecque (second season) and Jarrett Culver (second season).

Also joining the Vipers’ training camp roster is Latvia native and forward Ricards Vanags, who was selected as the No. 10 pick during the G League’s 2023-24 international draft.

During the 2023 NBA G League draft, the Vipers selected forward Kyree Walker with the No. 62 pick. After the draft, the Vipers acquired Keyshawn Bryant from the Windy City Bulls.

RGV’s training camp roster stands at 18 and can be found below. It includes three players — Nate Hinton, Jermaine Samuels Jr. and Nate Williams — on two-way contracts with the Rockets.

Name Pos. HT WT School Status
Keyshawn Bryant F 6-6 190 South Florida Trade
Jarrett Culver G 6-6 195 Texas Tech Returning
Darius Days F 6-8 240 LSU Affiliate
Nate Hinton F 6-5 210 University of Houston Two-way
Bo Hodges  G 6-5 210 Butler Tryout
John Knight III  G 6-3 205 Southern Utah Tryout
Jalen Lecque G 6-4 185 Returning
Matthew Mayer F 6-9 225 University of Illinois Affiliate
Trhae Mitchell F 6-6 195 South Alabama Returning
Joshua Obiesie F 6-6 196 Affiliate
Shawn Occeus  F 6-4 210 Northeastern Returning
Josh Reaves G 6-5 214 Penn State Returning
Alex Reese C 6-9 245 Alabama Tryout
Jermaine Samuels F 6-7 230 Villanova Two-way
Ray Spalding F 6-10 215 Louisville Returning
Ricards Vanags F 6-8 182 International Draft
Kyree Walker  F 6-7 215 Draft
Jeenathan “Nate” Williams Jr. G 6-5 205 University at Buffalo Two-way

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Rio Grande Valley Vipers release 2023-24 NBA G League schedule

Houston’s NBA G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (@RGVVipers), released its complete schedule for the 2023-24 season. Here’s a look at the highlights.

The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers, the NBA G League affiliate of the Houston Rockets, announced their 2023-24 schedule.

This season’s Vipers schedule features 50 games, including 24 home matchups at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, Texas; 24 games on the road; and two games at the G League Winter Showcase.

For a third straight season, the schedule is split into two parts: a 16-game Showcase Cup and a subsequent 34-game regular season. The Showcase Cup begins Friday, Nov. 10 and finishes with a single-elimination tournament to crown a champion at the 2023 AT&T NBA G League Winter Showcase from Dec. 19-22.

Following the Showcase Cup, records for the 31 teams will reset in advance of a 34-game regular season, which tips off Dec. 27.

Television details are not available, though most games last season were available on either an ESPN network or the ESPN+ streaming service. RGV’s 2023-24 roster is not known, either, though it could feature two-way Rockets players Trevor Hudgins, Darius Days and Jermaine Samuels Jr., along with 2023 summer-league standouts Matthew Mayer and Nate Hinton.

Scroll on for a month-by-month breakdown of Vipers’ 2023-24 slate for the regular season, which they hope will be followed by another strong postseason run. The Vipers advanced to the NBA G League finals in both 2022 and 2023. They won it all in 2022.

Rockets guard Josh Christopher appreciates Kevin Porter Jr. sacrificing his playing time

“Throughout this whole season, KPJ has had my back,” Josh Christopher says. “I was definitely honored and really appreciative that he would let me rock like that. That was love.”

HOUSTON — Becoming a consistent player in an NBA rotation is very difficult to do. You must earn the trust of your coaches and the players you battle with on a nightly basis.

For Houston Rockets reserve shooting guard Josh Christopher, it has been a constant struggle to display his entire skills while limited to under 12 minutes per game this season.

Yet, if there is one thing you can say about Christopher, who was selected in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft, it’s that he is always ready when his name is called. Christopher’s hustle in his 18 minutes played helped the Rockets defeat Denver, 124-103, on Tuesday.

“I love Josh, and he knows how I feel about him,” said Rockets head coach Stephen Silas. “We have had a lot of talks about his playing time and what can get him on the court and how he can stay on the court longer. There was a time when he wasn’t in the rotation. We sent him to the G League. He came back and got into the rotation, and his minutes have been kind of up and down.”

Christopher made the best of nearly nine on-court minutes in the fourth quarter. He came up with three big steals to go along with seven points as Houston won its final home game of the season.

Christopher played extended minutes because of the grit he displayed throughout the quarter. He also received an assist from the sidelines by Kevin Porter Jr., a teammate and good friend.

“Josh was playing well, and he had been in for eight or nine straight minutes, and I was going to take him out,” Silas said postgame. “Scoot (Kevin Porter Jr.) was like, ‘You want to let him ride?’ I was like, ‘Yeah if you’re good, I’m good.’ He was like, ‘Let him ride.’ I was going to take him out again, and Scoot was like, ‘Nah, leave him in.’”

For those who have watched the Rockets play this season, they know it is not unusual for Porter to advocate for Christopher to get more playing time. Porter has raved about Christopher after he helped the Rockets defeat the Los Angeles Lakers last month.

“I have always harped on Josh being ready at all times,” Porter told RocketsWire after the game. “He was making plays, and the lead kept growing. In high school, the rule is to feed the hot hand, and he was rolling, so it was only right for him to continue to play.”

Christopher reiterated the support he had received from Porter after Tuesday night’s game at Toyota Center.

“Throughout this whole season, KPJ has had my back,” Christopher said with an appreciative tone. “He has been talking to me because we have been in the same position, as far as not knowing what is going on in the league or what is next for us.”

“He has had my back this year, so I wasn’t surprised. But I was definitely honored by it (the extended playing time) and really appreciative that he would let me rock like that. That was love.”

Christopher’s mentality of dealing with difficulties in life was instilled and taught to him by his father, Laron, at a very young age.

“One thing you know about Josh is that he is always going to be ready for the opportunity,” the elder Christopher said postgame as he waited on his son to finish talking to family and friends.

He elaborated on a phrase he uses with his son when he is going through rough times, not only on the basketball court but in life.

“Adversity visits the strong and stays with the weak,” he said. “So, he is always going to be ready, always have a strong mind.”

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