Rockets reportedly open roster spot by waiving Matthew Hurt

The Houston Rockets are opening up a roster spot by waiving rookie forward Matthew Hurt, as first reported by Alykhan Bijani of The Athletic. Hurt had been on a two-way contract with the team.

A 6-foot-9 forward, Hurt averaged 2.2 points (33.3% on 3-pointers) and 1.8 rebounds in limited playing time of 10.3 minutes per game during 2021 summer league play for the Rockets. With Friday’s move, Hurt will not report to Houston’s training camp when it opens next week.

The move opens up a roster spot for the Rockets, who had been at the NBA’s offseason limit of 20 players. However, it does not guarantee that the spot will be used on an outsider. By mid-October, general manager Rafael Stone must trim his roster to a maximum of 15 players under standard contracts and two on two-way deals for the regular season.

By freeing up a two-way spot, that could be the avenue to allow a player who is currently on an Exhibit 10 deal for camp — such as Armoni Brooks, who played major NBA minutes with the Rockets last season — to be converted to a two-way deal before the regular season. Houston’s other two-way contract currently belongs to Anthony Lamb.

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