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The Houston Rockets have waived rookie point guard and former 2011-12 NCAA assist leader Scott Machado whose salary would have become fully guaranteed today. In just four games with the Rio Grande Vipers, Scott Machado averaged 15 points per game (38.8% from the field) and 5.8 assists in 33 minutes. Machado had promise as an off the bench distributor, but ultimately Daryl Morey has decided to go in another direction with the last roster spot on the Rockets.
The purging of Machado was not entirely about dollars and cents as the move paves the way for Rockets newcomer Patrick Beverly (@patbev) who officially became a Rocket just a few hours ago. Patrick Beverly's three year contract with the Rockets is rumored to be guaranteed through 2013 with team options for 2013-14 and 2014-15. The 24 year old, 6'1 point guard was originally drafted in 2009 by the Lakers (42nd and then traded to the Heat). In 2010, Miami waived Beverly during training camp and in 2011 he was again rerouted from an NBA team in Chicago. After failing to stick in the association, Beverly tried his luck in the Euroleague where he was named the 2011-12 Eurocup MVP while playing for Spartak in St. Petersburg, Russia. Beverly is heralded as a tenacious perimeter defender and I expect he will spend the majority of his time this season on the Vipers barring injuries.
Dream Shakers: was this move an upgrade or a downgrade?