The Rockets filled out their roster Monday and bolstered their frontcourt depth by reaching agreements to sign a pair of 33-year-old NBA forwards, first DeMarre Carroll and later Jeff Green.
Both veterans will be signed to the team’s two open roster spots, created after GM Daryl Morey‘s trade deadline moves. News of Green’s deal with Houston leaked only minutes after the agreement with Carroll broke.
Each player seems to fit with Houston’s trend toward smaller lineups, designed to bolster floor spacing and open up driving lanes for backcourt stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook. The 6-foot-8 Green and 6-foot-6 Carroll could each be options on the front line behind rotation regulars P.J. Tucker, Danuel House Jr., and Robert Covington.
In effect, Morey and innovative head coach Mike D’Antoni are giving up the size and rim protection of a traditional center — such as Clint Capela — in exchange for more perimeter shooting and defensive versatility.
Green played 30 games with Utah earlier this season, scoring 7.8 points (32.7% on 3-pointers) and grabbing 2.7 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game. He was waived on Dec. 24 and has been without a team since.
Unlike Carroll, it appears that Green will initially sign a 10-day contract with the Rockets before committing to a deal for the rest of the season.
Over his 12-year NBA career, Green has averaged 13.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in 29.6 minutes per game.
Drafted No. 5 overall in the 2007 NBA Draft, Green already has experience playing alongside both Westbrook and Harden during his time in Oklahoma City from 2008 until early 2011.
Both Green and Carroll should be available to play when Houston (34-20) returns to action Thursday night at Golden State (12-43). The game will tip off at 9:30 p.m. Central and be televised nationally on TNT.
