![]() Examining the Young Veterans Vying for a Roster Spot Gary Clark Frazier is known for his shooting ability although he is a good rebounder for being a 6-foot-4 guard. He spent last season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers where he earned the G-League Most Improved Player award after 16.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.5 steals in 45 games. The 25-year-old has been a pro since going undrafted in 2015. Michael Frazierįrazier has never appeared in an NBA regular-season game. Bennett showed off some of his scoring prowess and an improved outside shooting proficiency as a member of the G-League’s Agua Caliente this past season, averaging 12.2 points along with 4.8 rebounds in 21 minutes of action over 26 games. He has not appeared in an NBA game since the 2016-17 season when he played in 23 games for the Brooklyn Nets. The 26-year-old power forward has been a total bust. McLemore has career averages of 8.8 points, 1.2 triples, and 2.5 rebounds while shooting just 41.7 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from the three-point line. McLemore averaged 3.9 points in just 19 games for the Sacramento Kings last year. But he has yet to turn any of that potential into production. McLemore entered the league known for his athleticism and shooting ability after one season at the University of Kansas. The 26-year-old is the most experienced player among the eight players that will be trying to make the roster. The Rockets are currently over the cap but under the luxury tax threshold. Houston will likely carry 14 players, rather than the maximum 15 players to start the season to give them a little flexibility. Examining the Veterans Battling for a Roster Spot The defense is also a major concern as the Rockets ranked near the bottom in opponents’ scoring in the paint, opponent turnover percentage, and opponent free throw rate. Houston was one of the best shooting teams in the Association, but Westbrook’s addition is likely to change that. Rebounding, particularly on the defensive end, and shooting are significant concerns for the Rockets this season. In terms of roster makeup, the Rockets need the most help on the wing, which is another reason why Iguodala is such a high priority. Meanwhile, Shamorie Ponds, William McDowell-White, and Chris Clemons are rookies on non-guaranteed contracts. Iguodala also registered a plus-4.6 rating and ranked among the top-100 players in both Defensive Rating and Defensive win-share percentage.īen McLemore, Anthony Bennett, Gary Clark, Michael Frazier, and Isaiah Hartensteinare the veteran players on non-guaranteed deals. He averaged 5.7 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. The 35-year-old is a clutch shooter as well as one of the league’s best versatile defenders. Iguodala seems to be a perfect fit for the Rockets. Sources: Memphis wants three-time champion Andre Iguodala to report to training camp and is refusing right now to engage in buyout, which would prevent Iguodala from finishing a Hall of Fame career on his terms because this may be his final NBA season. Therefore, it seems that the Rockets would have to orchestrate a trade, likely costing them future assets. However, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Grizzlies have no interest in buying out his contract. One such player that the Rockets appear to have an interest in is Memphis Grizzlies veteran Andre Iguodala. Don’t be surprised if Houston adds a couple more names to the camp roster. The NBA mandates that every team carries a minimum of 14 players. Houston will have at least 18 players in training camp. While the number of fully guaranteed contracts is not a huge problem, it does indicate that the Rockets are unsure of what the makeup of the team is going to be. The 10 fully guaranteed contracts are the lowest amount of any team in the Association. The Rockets have just 10 players under fully guaranteed contracts following the signing of veteran center Nene. Houston’s biggest concern heading into training camp is its depth. In fact, Shumpert refused a contract offer by the Rockets recently. Faried and Shumpert are both free agents, but it is highly unlikely either player will return to the team. Kenneth Faried and Iman Shumpert are the other two players from the playoff roster that aren’t with the team. Chris Paul, of course, is one of those players, not currently with the team as he was part of the Westbrook deal. Houston did lose three players off of their postseason roster. The Rockets re-signed Austin Rivers, Gerald Green, and Danuel House. As a result of failing to reach the NBA Finals, and for the Rockets to keep pace with the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, general manager Darryl Morey decided to trade for Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook.īesides the addition of Westbrook, Houston didn’t make any earth-shattering moves.
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