The Rockets continue to work to leave their roster for the start of the 2022-23 season with 15 guaranteed contracts. The latest decision to comply with such a rule was to cut forward Maurice Harkless and young point guard Theo Maledon, who will become free agents if no one claims their contracts.
Both players came to the Texas organization in the transfer closed at the end of September between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston, which meant that up to eight players switched teams.
Apparently, both Harkless and Maledon had fully guaranteed contracts, the former worth $ 4.5 million and the latter $ 1.9 million. So the Rockets are taking on such an expense to make room on their roster, which still has 16 guaranteed deals, plus Willie Cauley-Stein on an unsecured deal.
As for the future of both players, Harkless is now free to be a 10-season veteran in the NBA who has played for Magic, Trail Blazers, Clippers, Knicks, Heat, and Kings. His future could become a cornerstone of the wardrobe of a team with playoff aspirations.
As for Maledon, at 21 he could still find a team that bets on him for the future. For now, he has two seasons in the Thunder ranks to play a total of 116 games and averages 8.8 points, 2.9 assists and 2.9 rebounds. Having only been in the NBA for two seasons, he is still eligible to occupy at two-way contract in any franchise.
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