4:20pm: The Rockets have officially waived Clark, the team announced today in a press release.
3:21pm: The Rockets are releasing swingman Gary Clark in advance of today’s salary guarantee deadline, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
After emerging as a rotation player during his rookie year with the Rockets in 2018/19, Clark saw his minutes reduced down the stretch last season and hasn’t been a major part of Houston’s game plan in 2019/20. In total, he appeared in 69 games for the Rockets over two seasons, averaging 3.2 PPG and 2.3 RPG with a .348/.312/.929 shooting line in 12.4 minutes per contest.
Clark is one of three players on Houston’s roster without a fully guaranteed salary. The team also had to make decisions today on Ben McLemore and Isaiah Hartenstein — it looks for now as if both of those players will hang onto their roster spots.
According to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link), the Rockets wanted to open up a spot on their 15-man roster to maintain flexibility and consider a handful of options. Bringing back Clark would be one possibility.
As a result of Clark’s release, the Rockets will reduce his cap hit from $1,416,852 to $708,246, the amount of his partial guarantee. The club is right around the tax line and should have an opportunity to sneak below that threshold with a trade, notes Jeff Siegel of Early Bird Rights (via Twitter).
Good thing he has that musical career to fall back on.
You’re thinking of Gary Lee Weinrib.
Nah, he’s talking about Gary Clark jr. Kind of a running joke.
That’s the gift that keeps on giving, Clark
He still has his jelly of the month club while he’s out of work.
Mobile college centers should get a 3pt training while still teens. Still worth developing though– better shooting this year than last.
Lol: SI said his 6-10 wingspan was short for being 6-8. He was always only 6-6!
He really needs to work on his 3-point shot because he’s already a very good defender. Hopefully they will bring him back once they clear up some roster space used up by guys like Nene and Sefolosha.
Didnt they say they cut Melo for this guy?