The Houston Rockets recently made a change to their roster, waiting veteran Danuel House. This was a move the team made in order to sign 25-year-old sharpshooter Garrison Mathews to a four-year contract, as first reported by ESPN.
House had struggled in Houston this season, averaging just 4.8 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 33.8% from the floor in 14.6 minutes per game. He was also in the final year of his current contract. As such, this allows him to go find a new team while the Rockets prioritize developing their young talent.
“I spoke to him yesterday, and he was appreciative of the opportunity,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “I told him that I appreciated him. He was one of the first guys I met when I first got here, and there are not many left. We built a relationship over 13 months. He was a pleasure to coach, and I look forward to seeing what’s next for him.”
Prior to being waived, House was the second-most-tenured player on the Rockets, behind only Eric Gordon.
Matthews will reportedly make $8 million over the duration of his new four-year deal. Houston is 7-4 with Mathews in starting lineup, as he’s averaged 14.5 points per contest during that stretch. After being claimed off waivers before the start of the season and being assigned to a two-way contract, Matthews has proven to be a valuable piece in Houston.
