As few as 8 might suit up against Spurs
The Rockets, continuing to lose players to injuries and the COVID-19 protocols, could be down to the NBA’s eight-player minimum to play a game while waiting to complete their trade for Victor Oladipo.
The trade of James Harden to acquire Caris LeVert, Rodions Kurucs and Dante Exum was official shortly before midnight Wednesday. That allowed players 48 hours to report and complete physicals, but those physicals were not all done in time for Harden to practice with the Nets on Friday.
The Rockets were left waiting for those steps to be complete so they can execute the subsequent trade of LeVert to the Pacers for Oladipo.
The trade is considered likely to be completed Saturday, a person with knowledge of the process said, but there have been no hold-ups that threaten getting it done. Less clear was whether it would be official in time for LeVert and Oladipo to complete physicals in time for Oladipo to play in a game that starts at 4 p.m. Even then, he would have to play with no practice time or even a shootaround.
Kurucs’ status was also uncertain, but he is more likely to be available. Exum is out with a calf injury.
The Rockets will be extremely shorthanded with John Wall (sore knee) and Danuel House Jr. (selfisolating) out, DeMarcus Cousins (sore ankle) doubtful and Eric Gordon (lower leg tightness) questionable. Guards Chris Clemons (ruptured Achilles) and Brodrick Thomas (sprained ankle) are out.
If Gordon and Cousins cannot play and Oladipo and Kurucs are unavailable, the Rockets would have just eight players. With Wall and Gordon out of Thursday’s win in San Antonio, the Rockets played with nine players, including three rookies, their third game this season with just nine players in uniform.