Green waived as roster is set
Gerald Green’s third stint with his hometown team ended Saturday.
The Rockets waived Green, among the steps made to reduce the roster in advance of Wednesday’s season opener.
With the Rockets hard- capped, removing most options, and the injury to second-year guard Chris Clemons guaranteeing his contract, the Rockets plan to carry 14 players plus two two-way players on their opening night roster.
Clemons will remain on the Rockets roster, though he is out for the season with a ruptured right Achilles, likely costing Green his roster spot because of NBA rules for teams with a hard salary cap. The Rockets became hard capped with the free agent deal to acquire center ChristianWood.
The Rockets went into training camp needing to waive or trade several players with non- guaranteed contracts because of the limitations as a hard- capped team. They were not going to waive DeMarcus Cousins and were unlikely to waive Bruno Caboclo given the need for an additional center in Cousins’ first year back from multiple injuries.
When Clemons was hurt, NBA rules required that his contract became guaranteed, keeping him on the cap and limiting the Rockets’ options to reduce the roster to waiving Green, barring a cap- clearing trade.
Green missed all of last season with a fractured foot suffered in a preseason game in Japan. The Rockets are open to bringing back Green during the season if other roster moves make it possible, an individual with knowledge of the team’s thinking said.
In addition to the move with Green, the Rockets converted rookie Brodric Thomas’ contract to a two-way contract and waived second-year center Trey Mourning and second-year forwardWilliam McDowell-White.
Silas praises Harden’s commitment to task
After the season’s first full practice with James Harden participating, Rockets coach Stephen Silas described Harden as committed and that there has been no concern about the possibility Harden would get his wish to be traded.
Harden reported for training camp Dec. 8, missing the first week of workouts. His two practices with the team last week were brief workouts in between game days.
“He has been committed since he’s been here,” Silas said. “He’s been great in practice, good to talk to, listening, trying, asking good questions, pulling me aside and telling me the things that he sees.”
Harden had said last week that Silas “has done an incredible job of just communicating with the guys. And putting the structure in and getting things going.”
“It means a lot,” Silas said of hearing that praise coming from Harden. “It means a lot when any players says they like what you do, especially as a new head coach. A lot of the things that I’m doing, things that I’ve believed in or seen. But to get feedback from him and the other guys has been gratifying.”
Silas said there is not any particular change he has made based on Harden’s input. But that he wants to hear from his players in general, and especially from Harden.
“His perspective is really good,” Silas said. “He’s just a smart guy. … If you’re not listening to them and learning from them, you’re not going to have very much success.”