Rockets waive Khyri Thomas to finalize trade for Brooklyn draft pick
The Houston Rockets have finalized their reported trade agreement with Brooklyn, which nets them a 2024 second-round draft pick in exchange for paying the 2021-22 salary ($3.6 million) of Sekou Doumbouya. The third-year forward is being accepted via a trade exception.
Doumbouya is not sticking around with the Rockets, who reportedly plan to waive him. But since Houston currently has a full roster, they had to open up a roster spot to formally execute the trade — and they did so by waiving guard Khyri Thomas, who is on a non-guaranteed contract.
Since Doumbouya will be waived shortly, the Rockets could potentially re-sign Thomas to the vacated roster spot at that time. However, other NBA teams will have a chance to claim Thomas off waivers in the interim (though many would have to open up a roster spot to do so).
A 6-foot-3 guard, Thomas averaged 16.4 points and 5.0 assists in five games with Houston late last season. Though he played most of the year in the G League “bubble,” the 25-year-old was suddenly forced into big minutes for the Rockets due to a historic wave of injuries. But in 2021-22, Houston’s backcourt depth appears to be much more substantial, and Thomas did not appear to have a clear path to minutes.
Related
Nets trade Sekou Doumbouya, 2024 second-round draft pick to Rockets
Rockets to sign young guard Khyri Thomas to multi-year contract
The Rockets announced that they have acquired a 2024 second round pick from Brooklyn along with forward Sekou Doumbouya in exchange for cash considerations.
The team has also waived guard Khyri Thomas who appeared in five of the final six games for Houston last season.
— Cayleigh Griffin (@cayleighgriffin) October 6, 2021
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2020-21 Rockets roster review, offseason outlook: Khyri Thomas
