Two-way changes: Rockets add Nate Williams, Nate Hinton; drop Trevor Hudgins, Darius Days

Nate Williams and Nate Hinton are replacing Darius Days and Trevor Hudgins as the recipients of Houston’s final two-way contract slots for the 2023-24 season.

Reserve guard Nate Williams had an encouraging preseason for the Houston Rockets, averaging 8.6 points (63.3% FG, 33.3% on 3-pointers) and 2.8 rebounds in just 10.2 minutes per game.

Thus, as the Rockets finalize their roster for the 2023-24 regular season, it should come as no surprise that Williams is part of it.

Williams and Nate Hinton, who played a key role on Houston’s successful 2023 summer-league team, are replacing Trevor Hudgins and Darius Days as Houston’s final two-way contract players.

Each NBA team can carry 15 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals, which allow the player to play in up to 50 of 82 regular-season games while going back and forth between the NBA and G League (Houston’s affiliate is the Rio Grande Valley Vipers).

Though Hudgins and Days are no longer in Houston’s immediate plans, they could become candidates for roles with the Vipers, assuming they are not claimed on waivers by another NBA team.

Jermaine Samuels Jr. — like Hinton, a young and versatile forward — continues to hold the third two-way spot with the Rockets.

Because the G League season has yet to begin, all three prospects are expected to be with Houston when its regular season opens on Wednesday, Oct. 25 in Orlando. Tipoff is at 6 p.m. Central.

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