MAY 14: Thomas’ contract is official, tweets Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle.
MAY 13: New Rockets shooting guard Khyri Thomas will ink a multiyear deal with Houston, per Kelly Iko and Alykhan Bijani of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Houston first added Thomas on a 10-day deal via hardship extension last week, and since that time he has proven to be a bright spot in what has been a tough season for the Rockets, forced to part with their signature star James Harden earlier this year. Houston possesses the worst record in the NBA, with a 16-54 mark thus far. In so doing, the team have given itself the best odds at nabbing the top pick in what is supposed to be a loaded 2021 draft.
The No. 38 pick in the 2018 NBA draft out of Creighton, Thomas spent his first two seasons as a reserve with the Pistons, averaging just 7.5 MPG and 7.6 in 2018/19 and 2019/20, respectively. In seven games (all starts) for the Austin Spurs during the 2020/21 NBAGL season, the 6’3″ guard averaged 13.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG and 1.0 SPG.
In four games (including one start) with the injury-depleted Rockets, Thomas has logged major minutes. He is averaging 16.3 PPG, 5.0 APG, 3.8 RPG, 2.3 SPG, and 0.8 BPG in 30.8 MPG. He boasts a shooting line of .436/.308/1.000.
Thomas’ 10-day contract is technically scheduled to run through the end of the season, so Houston will have to terminate it early in order to re-sign him to a new deal. A multiyear contract wouldn’t be possible if he was still occupying an extra roster spot using the hardship exception, but the team has waived DaQuan Jeffries in order to create room on the 15-man roster for Thomas.
Thomas is a big upgrade over DaQuan Jeffries (not saying much obviously), and he’ll probably make Avery Bradley expendable as well. But it will be very difficult for him to get regular minutes behind Wall, Porter, Gordon, and Augustin next season.
No one really cares, since the Rockets are trash, anyway.
Do not read then. Everyone would be happier if you leave your comments to yourself.
Still trash.
coupofthecentury Rockets made you butthurt or something bro lol
Buuurn
The best the Rockets can get? No amount of draft picks are gonna get them back. Need stars. They used to have stars. Now no one wants to play there. Lakers left them in ruins
He is young kid. Rockets need as much talent as possible. It is just one step in the rebuild. Do not worry Rockets will be back and hard.
Trying to think of players the Rockets actually developed in recent memory. Most of their quality players were signings or trades. All I got is Capela and Scola from like the last decade.
Doubtful
People said the same thing about the Knicks…3 months ago? Lol.
Teams are different. That one had proven players, just needed a coach.