With a fully healthy roster for the first time all season, Houston is sending young prospects Usman Garuba, Daishen Nix, Trevelin Queen to its NBA G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers.
None of the three were likely to receive significant playing time in the games ahead, given the full roster surrounding them. Each player appears likely to join the Vipers in Southern California for this Saturday’s G League matchup versus the Agua Caliente Clippers, since it’s a short trip to Ontario from where the Rockets currently are in Sacramento.
Garuba, a 6-foot-8 forward, is the highest profile player among that trio, given his status as the No. 23 overall draft pick by Houston in the 2021 first round. The 19-year-old has averaged 1.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 7.0 minutes per game at the NBA level, largely in mop-up duty.
Nix averages 3.8 points (65.0% FG, 42.9% on 3-pointers) and 1.3 assists in 8.4 minutes, while Queen averages 4.6 points (44.8% FG, 36.4% on 3-pointers) and 1.8 rebounds in 8.6 minutes. Nix, a 6-foot-4 guard, and Queen, a 6-foot-6 wing, went undrafted in 2021 and 2020, respectively.
If the rebuilding Rockets sell off veterans at the upcoming Feb. 10 trade deadline, each of those three players could find more opportunities at the NBA level in the weeks ahead. For now, they will get extensive playing time in the G League and a chance to further hone their skills.
OFFICIAL: The #Rockets have assigned Usman Garuba, Daishen Nix, and Trevelin Queen to their NBA G League affiliate, @RGVVipers. pic.twitter.com/d6Rxqb46wf
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 14, 2022
