The Houston Rockets are looking to acquire a wing player after losing swingman Gerald Green to a potentially season-ending left foot injury, The Athletic‘s Shams Charania reported Friday.
Over the past two seasons, Green — a native Houstonian — has averaged 10.3 points (36.0% on three-pointers) in 21.1 minutes per game with the Rockets, mostly from a bench role.
In his “Inside Pass” column, Charania explains how Houston is currently working to replace Green’s production:
With Rockets guard Gerald Green likely out for the season because of surgery on his broken left foot, according to league sources, Houston has scoured the market for a wing player. The Rockets discussed different scenarios to acquire Andre Iguodala from the Memphis Grizzlies in July, but elected not to go $20 million-plus into the luxury tax by acquiring Iguodala via trade.
Charania did not identify any specific players as current targets on the market, and he also did not specify whether the team hopes to make an addition via free agent signing or by trade.
Later in the column, Charania confirms that free agent guard Iman Shumpert — who played with the Rockets last season — turned down a contract proposal from Houston before training camp. It is unclear whether those talks might can be revived, now that Green’s exit from the rotation may have opened up more available playing time.
Known best for his wing defense, Shumpert averaged 7.5 points (34.8% on three-pointers) in 23.9 minutes per game in 62 appearances with the Rockets and Sacramento Kings last season.
