The Houston Rockets are signing Justin Patton to a two-way contract, as first reported by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Now 23 years old, the 6-foot-11 center was the No. 16 pick in the 2017 NBA draft.
Patton is taking the place of Ray Spalding, who suffered an Achilles injury shortly after signing a two-way deal with the Rockets. Houston is searching for a backup big man to help fill the usual minutes of Christian Wood, who is out for the time being with a sprained right ankle.
In the NBA G League’s current “bubble” season in Florida, Patton has averaged 8.3 points (50.0% FG), 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 19.0 minutes per game with the Westchester Knicks.
At the highest level, Patton played three seasons with Minnesota (2017-18), Philadelphia (2018-19), and Oklahoma City (2019-20). He never received much playing time, averaging 1.8 points and 1.2 rebounds in 5.4 minutes. During those three injury plagued years, the athletic big man from the University of Nebraska only played in nine NBA games.
Patton has averaged 8.3 points and 5.3 rebounds on 50% shooting in 19 minutes per game with the G League Westchester Knicks. https://t.co/965ZyXbRvB
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) February 19, 2021
Given the deficiencies of Houston’s roster without Wood, Patton might be receiving the best opportunity of his young professional career. The Rockets (11-17) had won seven of eight games prior to Wood’s latest injury, but they’re 0-7 since his Feb. 4 departure from the team. Veteran DeMarcus Cousins is starting at center, but his minutes are somewhat limited due to his own injury history. Moreover, there’s no proven backup.
Two-way players such as Patton are allowed to shuttle back and forth between the G League and the NBA. Unlike most years, however, players on two-way deals can spend nearly the entire 2020-21 season in the NBA, owing to relaxed roster rules for the COVID-19 pandemic.
