The Houston Rockets finalized their roster on Monday for the NBA’s upcoming restart of the 2019-20 season.
As expected, Two-Way forward William Howard — who had largely played for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Houston’s G League affiliate — is not with the Rockets in the Florida “bubble” and is not on their final roster.
That’s because the 26-year-old Howard, a France native, signed a deal during the NBA’s lengthy COVID-19 hiatus with French team ASVEL.
A 6-foot-8 forward, Howard averaged 12.8 points (36.4% on 3-pointers) and 5.3 rebounds in 31 minutes per game with the Vipers. He played only sparingly in two games for the Rockets, who signed Howard in late December after a previous stint with Utah’s G League affiliate.
Due to Howard’s absence and the addition of injured newcomer David Nwaba, who will not be available until the 2020-21 season, Houston’s final roster of 15 players is one of the smallest of the 22 teams participating in the restart. Regular-season play resumes on July 31 for the Rockets.
Only two teams (Portland and Brooklyn) have fewer players on their restart roster than the Rockets. That was a decision when picked up Nwaba, dropping Hartenstein to open a roster spot. Howard, btw, played 13 mins in 2 games with Rockets. He did not score, had 2 rebounds. https://t.co/ht099i6syb
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) July 20, 2020
Michael Frazier, who is Houston’s other Two-Way player, is with the Rockets in the Florida “bubble” and on the final roster. As such, he will be eligible to play once the season resumes. The 6-foot-3 guard, who is well regarded for his defense, averaged 14.9 points (33.3% on 3-pointers) and 3.3 rebounds in 28.1 minutes per game with the Vipers.
Like Howard, Frazier is also 26 years old. Players on Two-Way contracts are primarily G League participants, but they can spend up to 45 service days with their affiliate NBA team. Unlike most years, the league’s new rules surrounding the restart and associated health concerns after a long layoff will allow Two-Way players to be eligible for postseason play.
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The entire Houston roster can be viewed below. Besides Howard, other changes relative to their pre-COVID roster include the departures of young center Isaiah Hartenstein (released to make room for Nwaba) and veteran forward Thabo Sefolosha, who opted out of the restart.
Sefolosha’s spot was filled by veteran forward Luc Mbah a Moute, who is not yet with the Rockets in Florida due to an undisclosed reason. However, Houston Chronicle reporter Jonathan Feigen said Monday that Mbah a Moute is expected to arrive “soon,” according to a source. His inclusion on the final roster would seem to indicate that the Rockets remain confident as to his eventual availability for the restart.
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NBA rosters are set for the restart: The only players eligible to participate in the remainder of the season are those listed in the attached rosters or those who are signed later as substitute players in accordance with NBA rules. #Rockets roster (15): pic.twitter.com/2NQl0F2YY4
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) July 20, 2020
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