The Rockets have claimed center Deyonta Davis off waivers, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter). Davis was released by the Hawks on Monday and would have been an unrestricted free agent if he went unclaimed today.
The 31st overall pick in the 2016 draft, Davis spent his first two NBA seasons with the Grizzlies, appearing in 98 games for the team. After being traded and waived during the 2018 offseason, the 22-year-old caught on with the Warriors’ G League team for most of last season. A solid NBAGL showing earned him a late-season call-up from the Hawks.
Davis averaged 4.0 PPG and 4.0 RPG in nine games (13.1 MPG) with Atlanta down the stretch, signing a contract with the club that included a non-guaranteed minimum salary for 2019/20. That $1,645,357 salary will become partially guaranteed for $250K if he remains under contract through July 31, according to Basketball Insiders.
It’s not clear what the Rockets have in mind for Davis. We’ve seen GM Daryl Morey accumulate minimum-salary players for trade purposes in past seasons, but under the NBA’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement, Davis won’t count for salary-matching purposes as long as his deal remains non-guaranteed. Players claimed off waivers also don’t become trade-eligible for 30 days.
The Rockets don’t need to make a corresponding roster move to take on Davis, since teams are permitted to carry up to 20 players in the offseason.
They can’t trade him for 30 days either now. Useful flotsam in case a deal materializes, otherwise waive him.
Upon further review of the CBA FAQ, he actually doesn’t appear to be trade-eligible until 30 days into next season, so a trade definitely doesn’t seem like an option.
Albert Nahmad clarifies this on Twitter that the offseason doesn’t begin until the playoffs concluded. This happened prior to Gm 6.
After the past year, maybe they claimed him on reflex, after hearing that the contract was for minimum and non-guaranteed.
Bye, Capela?
What I’m thinking. Obviously not remotely the same quality player, but if they’re moving CC, good to have some cheap C depth.
knowing houston GM he might have done it because he thought the warriors were going to claim him. They guy lives in Meyers shadow.
He has Game. Capela has been in rumors all over the place. Houston should be busy.
Poor man’s Capela. Lives around the rim but can knock down the occasional mid-range shot.
If the center is not a force (Deyonta), then PJ Tucker becomes truly undersized.