Shams: Rockets sign David Nwaba, waive Isaiah Hartenstein

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Rockets have signed wing David Nwaba to a two-year contract.

This is another example of the Rockets taking a situation and using it to benefit themselves even if it wasn’t necessarily meant to do so.

The transaction window is meant for teams like the Sacramento Kings to add a player like Corey Brewer for depth or for a team like the Portland Trail Blazers, who need a replacement for Trevor Ariza, who is opting out of the season’s resumption. Yet the Rockets are making this move to benefit their future.

Nwaba’s Achilles injury will keep him sidelined in Orlando, but this deal is friendly for both sides. Nwaba gets paid to continue rehabbing his Achilles and the Rockets have flexibility for next season and can choose to opt in or out of Nwaba’s 2020-21 option.

Nwaba has been a journeyman in the NBA since he entered the league four years ago, making stops with the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets.

The former Cal Poly standout last played in December with the Nets and was waived a few weeks later.

With the Rockets signing Nwaba, the team must waive a player or perhaps Nwaba is a replacement for a Rocket not making the trip to Orlando. The complementary move has yet to be announced and The Dream Shake will keep you updated as the story develops.

Update: 6/23, 8:20 PM CST — The Rockets have waived Isaiah Hartenstein, per The Athletic’s Kelly Iko.