After the February 2023 trade deadline, the Houston Rockets remain one of the NBA’s youngest teams. Yet, they do have something of a veteran presence after adding Danny Green, Justin Holiday, and Frank Kaminsky as part of their complicated web of transactions.
While none has a contract beyond the 2022-23 season, the Rockets will acquire Bird rights for each of those players. Thus, general manager Rafael Stone will have ample options moving forward.
By and large, the rebuilding Rockets have prioritized youth and salary flexibility in building their current group.
That’s why it’s a combination of highly touted prospects like Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Jabari Smith Jr. along with expiring salaries for veterans like Danny Green, Holiday, and Kaminsky. Prospects like Sengun and Smith are on their initial NBA contracts, which inherently makes them cheaper for the time being.
That formula is likely to change this offseason, when Stone and the Rockets have approximately $60 million in salary cap space to build a roster around those talented young prospects. They will also need to explore contract extensions and raises for many of their young players in the coming years. But for now, they’re making the best of another challenging season by staying flexible with the roster.
Here’s a look at where the Houston roster and basketball operations staff currently stands, along with jersey numbers and other relevant information for each player. All ages are as of Feb. 14, 2023.
0 — TyTy Washington
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Kentucky, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Rookie
Age: 21
Size: 6-foot-3, 193 pounds
1 — Jabari Smith Jr.
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Auburn, USA
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: Rookie
Age: 19
Size: 6-foot-11, 213 pounds
3 — Kevin Porter Jr.
Prior to NBA/Home Country: USC, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Fourth season
Age: 22
Size: 6-foot-6, 201 pounds
4 — Jalen Green
Prior to NBA/Home Country: G League Ignite, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Second season
Age: 21
Size: 6-foot-6, 183 pounds
5 — Darius Days
*Two-way contract
Prior to NBA/Home Country: LSU, USA
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: Rookie
Age: 23
Size: 6-foot-7, 240 pounds
6 — KJ Martin
Prior to NBA/Home Country: IMG Academy, USA
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: Third season
Age: 22
Size: 6-foot-7, 216 pounds
7 — Justin Holiday
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Washington, USA
Position: Guard, forward
NBA Experience: 10th season
Age: 33
Size: 6-foot-6, 180 pounds
8 — Jae’Sean Tate
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Sydney Kings (Australia); Ohio State, USA
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: Third season
Age: 27
Size: 6-foot-5, 226 pounds
9 — Josh Christopher
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Arizona State, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Second season
Age: 21
Size: 6-foot-5, 218 pounds
12 — Trevor Hudgins
*Two-way contract
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Northwest Missouri State, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Rookie
Age: 23
Size: 6-foot-0, 198 pounds
14 — Danny Green
Prior to NBA/Home Country: North Carolina, USA
Position: Guard, forward
NBA Experience: 14th season
Age: 35
Size: 6-foot-6, 220 pounds
15 — Daishen Nix
Prior to NBA/Home Country: G League Ignite, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Second season
Age: 21
Size: 6-foot-5, 239 pounds
16 — Usman Garuba
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Real Madrid, Spain
Position: Forward, center
NBA Experience: Second season
Age: 20
Size: 6-foot-8, 253 pounds
17 — Tari Eason
Prior to NBA/Home Country: LSU, USA
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: Rookie
Age: 21
Size: 6-foot-8, 217 pounds
28 — Alperen Sengun
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Besiktas, Turkey
Position: Center
NBA Experience: Second season
Age: 20
Size: 6-foot-11, 255 pounds
33 — Frank Kaminsky
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Wisconsin, USA
Position: Center
NBA Experience: Eighth season
Age: 29
Size: 7-foot-0, 242 pounds
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Stephen Silas
Assistant Coaches: John Lucas, Lionel Hollins, Mike Batiste, Mahmoud Abdelfattah, Rick Higgins, Will Dunn
Director of Player Development/Coaching Assistant: Robbie Keck
Player Development: Orhun Güngören
Medical Director: Dr. David Crumbie
Head Athletic Trainer/Director of Athlete Care & Science: Jason Biles
Director of Athletic Performance: Willie Cruz
Basketball Operations Staff
General Manager: Rafael Stone
Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and Assistant General Manager: Eli Witus
Basketball Operations Staff: Jason Biles, Jeremiah Bonsu, Matt Bullard, Willie Cruz, Jake Flancer, Antwan Floyd, Motoki Fujii, Orhun Güngören, Jeremy Hassler, Chuck Hayes, Ross Homan, Keith Jones, Robbie Keck, Ed Kupfer, Scott Kneller, Julia Long, Anthony Nila, Jim Paulis, Javier Pesquera, Ed Pinckney, Marko Radovanovic, Jason Roman, LJ Rose, Ben Rubin, Alex Santos, Travis Stockbridge, Chris Wallace, Zuri Williams, Cole Zwicker
