The Rockets on Saturday took the first steps toward reducing their regular-season roster to 14 players, waiving players signed to non-guaranteed contracts, and are expected to convert the contracts of impressive rookie Gary Clark and second-round pick Vincent Edwards to two-way deals, two individuals with knowledge of the moves said. The final steps, to put Edwards and Clark on two-way deals, has not been completed, but is expected in the coming days, one person with knowledge of the Rockets’ plans said.
Gary Clark Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: F
Born: 11/16/94
Height: 6-8 / 2.03
Weight:225 lbs. / 102.1 kg.
Salary: $838,464
Born: 11/16/94
Height: 6-8 / 2.03
Weight:225 lbs. / 102.1 kg.
Salary: $838,464
At the end of the day, what has dominated headlines and airwaves in Houston is whether or not this latest experiment will work. The Rockets gave the Warriors their best shot, and had certain things gone their way, they would have been in the Finals. But they didn’t. Frankly, Clark is tired of hearing that. The Chris Paul experiment has been a smashing success, and the Carmelo one should be no different. “They’re saying now that Melo isn’t gonna work. Why? We got guys that communicate,” he says. “You’re on this team ’cause you think basketball. You’re just not out there running around — maybe that’s why it don’t work for other teams, guys aren’t thinking basketball. They don’t understand the bigger plan. Here, everyone knows the game plan so it’s easy.”
He decided to hold off on surgery that summer and opted for rehab, but it didn’t get better. At that point, even if he wanted to have surgery it was far too late in the game — the season was right around the corner. His junior year was a mixed bag filled with personal accomplishments, such as Defensive Player of the Year, but also nagging and throbbing pain. Last April he finally had surgery on the ankle and was in a cast for six weeks. It should have been much longer, but those in his circle, along with the Cincinnati staff, were urging him to return to the court as quickly as possible.
“I didn’t have any time to rehab,” Gary says. “Senior year, I basically played hurt because it was so much pain within my ankle, but I wasn’t taught properly how to run again. All the accolades I got [Defensive Player of the Year & Player of the Year], everyone thinks I’m healthy, but really my teammates and those around me knew how much my ankle was hurting. And even during the draft process it rolled twice and it was just an ongoing injury that kept nagging.”
15 Aug
The Rockets also plan to sign forward Carmelo Anthony once he clears waivers. With Anthony and Capela, the Rockets will have 14 players under contract, not including rookie De’Anthony Melton or three players — R.J. Hunter, Vincent Edwards and Gary Clark — who would be among the two they could keep on two-way contracts with their G League affiliate.
24 Jun
