Rockets claim former Knicks big Kenny Wooten off waivers

After scouring the free agent market Friday evening, the Rockets made added to their roster via the waiver wire Saturday, acquiring Kenny Wooten from the Knicks.

Wooten went undrafted in 2019, but signed with the Knicks for Summer League. He was one of the final roster cuts before the beginning of the season, but signed a two-way contract with the team in January.

In 27 games with the team’s G-League affiliate Westchester Knicks, Wooten averaged 7.7 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game. However, the biggest eye-opener on his statline comes in the blocking department, where he averaged 3.6 blocks per game. Oh, by the way, he’s only 6’8”.

Wooten has yet to make his NBA debut and will likely begin the season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, but there’s a chance that he could become a two-way player for the Rockets and his shot-blocking skills could become an asset for the Rockets. His primary position is likely the four, but his rim-protecting abilities could have him factor in as a five in small-ball lineups. This appears to be another flier on an intriguing prospect, one that can benefit the Rockets with little to no risk.