After the Rockets' away win over the Hawks, the team finally stopped the losing streak. It is worth noting that the Rockets' 25-year-old white shooter Garrison Matthews still started in this game in place of Jaylen Green, although his performance in this game was not as good as the previous games, but in the previous game, Matthews became the most important outside shooter in the Rockets' starting lineup, and in the last 10 games, Matthews averaged about 15 points per game, and the three-point shooting rate also fluctuated around 40%.
Against the Hawks, Matthews started 27 minutes, he had 5 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal on 6-of-1 shooting, and the offensive end was slightly dumb, but Matthews' contribution on the defensive end was still top-notch. The problem is that Matthews is still playing for the Rockets on a two-way contract, and he signed a two-way contract with the Rockets earlier this season, which expires according to the regulations. At that time, Matthews will not be corrected by the Rockets, this does not need to think too much, the Rockets will not let go of this easy to use and inexpensive marksman.
But the Rockets now have no player space, 15 official contract players + 2 two-way contract players, a total of 17 players to the Rockets general manager Raphael Stone is a headache, in the end to clean up which player to make a formal contract place for Matthews? Stone should now consider this. After the victory over the Hawks, NBA reporter Jack Fitcher reported that the Rockets currently want to free up a player position for Matthews because the Rockets want to turn Matthews' contract into a formal guarantee contract.
And there's further news that the Rockets' four players are considered "tradable candidates." The four players include three outside and one inside, the Rockets' main guard Gordon, the backup point guard DJ Augustine, the substitute small forward House and the backup center Daniel Theis! The four players were the Rockets' first choice for a trade. However, the reporter also said that the Rockets are also willing to listen to the offer about Wood, but to get Wood, the chip the Rockets ask for is the first round pick or "more assets".
That is to say, the Rockets have put 4 players on the shelf waiting for a deal, and for the Wood Rockets is still more cherished, unless there is a hard-core chip such as the first round of signing, the Rockets will not give up Wood for the time being. After all, Wood has done well in the Rockets' recent winning streak, his average double-double stats this season are also very beautiful, and he is also one of the Rockets' most available trading chips, asking for a first-round pick should not be too much, after all, Wood is capable and only 26 years old, still at the peak of a player, and will remain for a long time to come.
In addition, Matthews has become one of the key players of the Rockets, and even the Rockets are entirely likely to regard the 25-year-old shooter as the cornerstone of the future, and with Porter Jr., Jaylen Green and ShinKin, if such a quality shooter is arranged, the Rockets' rebuilding plan may be more perfect.