Kenny Wooten has been claimed off waivers by the Rockets, two days after being let go by the Knicks, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The 22-year-old forward had a two-way contract in New York running through the 2020-21 season that Houston will inherit, although the Rockets can change it to a standard NBA deal or negotiate a longer agreement. Houston filled one of its two-way slots earlier this week by signing Mason Jones.
Wooten signed with the Knicks last fall after going undrafted out of Oregon, but didn’t get into any NBA games. A shot-blocking specialist, he averaged 3.6 rejections per game, along with 7.7 points and 6.1 rebounds, for the Westchester Knicks in the G League.
Wooten could be a cheap source of talent for the Rockets, who are hard-capped after a sign-and-trade deal for Christian Wood and will rely mostly on minimum-salaried players to fill out their roster.
Why did NY get rid of him? If he develops he can be a solid athletic backup.
I agree very frustrating to be a Knicks fan
I know it may be a stretch but he could become the next Christian wood, if he develops more intriguing guy to watch for this season.
How? Wood is 7ft with a jumper and lil bit of handle. Wooten is 6’7 freak of nature at this moment.
Wooten is listed 6’9” 220 LBs he’s 22. He was a rebounder and D guy in NBDL. That how he got to Knicks. He’s got a future as an athletic 4. It’s a good pickup for Rockets. If I’m rebuilding Im collecting all the young talent I can get and picks. Eventually Rockets are going full rebuild. My opinion anyway.
As long as we keep Brazdeikis (and play him).
Houston will probably change his deal and move him to their 15-man roster. That gives them another two-way slot available to sign their 2nd round pick Kenyon Martin Jr. to a two-way deal. Wooten will be a good backup PF no matter what type of deal he’s on.