3:35pm: The Rockets have officially signed Patton to a two-way contract, the team announced in a press release.
7:15am: The Rockets will fill their open two-way contract slot by promoting a center from the G League, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, who hears from agent Brian Jungreis that Justin Patton has agreed to a two-way deal with Houston.
Patton, 23, was the 16th overall pick in the 2016 draft, but was limited to just nine NBA games across his first three seasons in the NBA with the Timberwolves, Sixers, and Thunder due in large part to injuries, including broken bones in both feet.
The big man has seen more action at the G League level, appearing in 83 total NBAGL games since 2017/18. He was selected in the first round of this year’s G League draft by the Westchester Knicks and has played in four games for the club, averaging 10.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 1.8 BPG in 21.5 minutes per contest.
The Rockets opened up one of their two-way spots earlier this week when they waived Ray Spalding, who suffered an Achilles injury in just his second game with the club. That was the latest blow to a Houston frontcourt that has had some bad injury luck lately — Christian Wood has been on the shelf with an ankle sprain for two weeks, while a quad issue has sidelined P.J. Tucker for the last two games.
[RELATED: 2020/21 NBA Two-Way Contract Tracker]
It’s possible Patton will see some action in the Rockets’ depleted frontcourt in the short term. Once he officially signs, we should get a better sense of whether Houston intends to keep him with the NBA squad for a little while or if he’ll report to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers before the G League season ends in March.
I forgot about Patton breaking those bones in his feet multiple times. Thats a huge issue with big fellas. Houston could use the help & if Patton is healthy & can stay that way, a great place for him to restart his NBA journey started 4 years ago.
Should have been Kenny Wooten but congrats Justin
They had Wooten on a 2-way deal before the season started then he replaced Spalding in the Vipers starting lineup last week. RGV doesn’t look like they will be making the playoffs so perhaps the Rockets think Patton is a better fit for their team than Wooten.
Wooten said he was wanted to play. Thet spot is a designated DNPCD. Most guys take the paycheck and the free team jersey and sweats. NBA requires them to feel the spots. Those guys don’t participate in practice. They shoot on a side basket..I worked for the MAGIC during the Chancy Billups Era. He was on the practice squad. Strange but true
Well at least this will give Patton a chance to avoid being the overall worst first round pick of the 2010’s decade. For Houston, this is kind of a lose-lose situation because if Patton isn’t the worst, that puts Rockets draftee Royce White back down there.
Xavier Henry 12th pick
Jan Vesley 6th pick
Anthony Bennett 1st pick
Dragan Bender 4th pick
Thon Maker 10th pick
I get your point about Patton, but he had injuries and shouldn’t be in that conversation (just like Exum and Zaire should’t be either). These guys are definitely in that convo about worst 2010’s pick.
Thomas Robinson 5th pick also
Oh yeah, there are others including the late Fab Melo of the Celtics as well.
Patton played 9 GAMES. Yes, I know it was likely injury related, but it is what it is. Even if those others didn’t live up to their lofty draft statuses, at least they stayed in the league for a while.
It should be taken into account that the expectations are always higher for lottery picks and Patton was only drafted at #16. The same spot Royce White was taken at 4 years earlier. And occasionally there are foreign players who are drafted late in the first round who never play a single game in the NBA.
It all depends on the definition of the concept. If I had stated worst lottery bust, then yeah it would factor in. But I said worst overall first round pick. True point about the foreigners, I think there were two I saw in the 2010s, although they can still be used as trade assets. So they do have some value, even if it is very little.
He should get a standard contract from them
He still could if he plays well over the next week or two, but they would have to either give a buy out to Exum or cut/trade Kurucs to free up a spot on their roster.
Warriors should have Signed him. Another missed opportunity. It hasn’t been fun watching 6-foot-5 trying to play Center or being out-rebounded by 15 every game.
This guy could very well top $7MM in career earnings after this two-way contract, and he’s currently appeared in less than ten games in his career. Quite the hustle!
Christian Wood + Justin Patton = Very could defense
Patton??? Meh!
It’s not like he will be playing a lot of minutes with Houston, unless he goes to the G-League where he would get a lot more with RGV in Orlando.
Patton is simply replacing the injured Ray Spalding, who had a much lower upside as a late 2nd round pick in 2018. Maybe he can contribute a little bit.
Patton was a top pick. Injuries sidelined him then bounced around. Only 23 with good size. Hasn’t really gotten a chance to play. With Wood out he might get his shot. He can even show for other teams too. It’s a good pickup.
Okay…
Patton will be lucky to last as long as Spalding.
Timberpuppies (as usual) got hosed on that pick.
Gotta wonder if Patton was already damaged goods when first drafted.
He had a broken foot back in 2017, then broke the other one a year later.
He has been working his way back into the NBA ever since then. So I don’t know why he will be lucky to last as long as Spalding. And once Wood is back (hopefully over the next week or two), Patton will be near the bottom of the depth chart and only be playing in garbage time.
If this opportunity doesn’t work out for Patton, he can always try acting. He already has the credentials to qualify for a role in: “The Wizard of OZ”
As the “TIN MAN”
Is there a deadline for signing 2-way players this season? In a normal season it’s Jan 15 but obviously that is different this time. Is there any deadline?
No deadline this season (except last day of regular season, which is the deadline for any signing).
Thanks, Luke.
Yes there is. You can sign two way deals until playoffs start.
Ay Luke Adams do you think he’ll get a standard contract
@lukeadams do you think Justin Patton will get a standard contract from the rockets come playoff time
Hard to say until we actually see him in action for the Rockets — I’d guess probably not, but he could force their hand if he plays well.