Reserve guard Nate Williams had an encouraging preseason for the Houston Rockets, averaging 8.6 points (63.3% FG, 33.3% on 3-pointers) and 2.8 rebounds in just 10.2 minutes per game.
Thus, as the Rockets finalize their roster for the 2023-24 regular season, it should come as no surprise that Williams is part of it.
Williams and Nate Hinton, who played a key role on Houston’s successful 2023 summer-league team, are replacing Trevor Hudgins and Darius Days as Houston’s final two-way contract players.
Each NBA team can carry 15 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals, which allow the player to play in up to 50 of 82 regular-season games while going back and forth between the NBA and G League (Houston’s affiliate is the Rio Grande Valley Vipers).
Though Hudgins and Days are no longer in Houston’s immediate plans, they could become candidates for roles with the Vipers, assuming they are not claimed on waivers by another NBA team.
Figured this might be coming. Hudgins can be the team's fourth Affiliate Player for the @RGVVipers . Meanwhile, HOU can add someone else off the waiver wire or in free agency for that last two-way spot. https://t.co/pcdTWe7hWs
— David Weiner (@BimaThug) October 23, 2023
Jermaine Samuels Jr. — like Hinton, a young and versatile forward — continues to hold the third two-way spot with the Rockets.
Because the G League season has yet to begin, all three prospects are expected to be with Houston when its regular season opens on Wednesday, Oct. 25 in Orlando. Tipoff is at 6:00 p.m. Central.
The Houston Rockets today announced they have signed guard/forward Nate Hinton to a two-way contract.
In a related move, the Rockets waived guard Trevor Hudgins. pic.twitter.com/RqyZ5MX8NU
— RGV Vipers (@RGVVipers) October 23, 2023
OFFICIAL: The Rockets today announced they have converted guard/forward Nate Williams to a two-way contract.
The Rockets have waived forward Darius Days and forward/center Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. pic.twitter.com/Ge6KRnOvU3
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) October 23, 2023