After the February 2023 trade deadline, the Houston Rockets remain one of the NBA’s youngest teams. Yet, they have something of a veteran presence after adding Danny Green, Justin Holiday and Frank Kaminsky as part of their complicated web of transactions.
While none has a contract beyond the 2022-23 season, the Rockets will acquire Bird rights for each. Thus, general manager Rafael Stone will have options moving forward.
By and large, the rebuilding Rockets have prioritized youth and salary flexibility in building their current group.
That’s why it’s a combination of highly touted prospects Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. along with veterans Danny Green, Holiday and Kaminsky expiring salaries. Sengun and Smith are on their initial NBA contracts, which inherently makes them cheaper for the time being.
That formula is likely to change this offseason, when Stone and the Rockets have approximately $60 million in salary cap space to build a roster around those talented young prospects. They will need to explore contract extensions and raises for many of their young players in the coming years. For now, they’re making the best of another challenging season by staying flexible with the roster.
Here’s a look at where the Houston roster and basketball operations staff currently stands, along with jersey numbers and other relevant information for each player. All ages are as of Feb. 14, 2023.
Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Kentucky, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Rookie
Age: 21
Size: 6-foot-3, 193 pounds
Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Auburn, USA
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: Rookie
Age: 19
Size: 6-foot-11, 213 pounds
Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Prior to NBA/Home Country: USC, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Fourth season
Age: 22
Size: 6-foot-6, 201 pounds
Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA/Home Country: G League Ignite, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Second season
Age: 21
Size: 6-foot-6, 183 pounds
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
*Two-way contract
Prior to NBA/Home Country: LSU, USA
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: Rookie
Age: 23
Size: 6-foot-7, 240 pounds
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA/Home Country: IMG Academy, USA
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: Third season
Age: 22
Size: 6-foot-7, 216 pounds
Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Washington, USA
Position: Guard, forward
NBA Experience: 10th season
Age: 33
Size: 6-foot-6, 180 pounds
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Sydney Kings (Australia); Ohio State, USA
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: Third season
Age: 27
Size: 6-foot-5, 226 pounds
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Arizona State, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Second season
Age: 21
Size: 6-foot-5, 218 pounds
Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
*Two-way contract
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Northwest Missouri State, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Rookie
Age: 23
Size: 6-foot-0, 198 pounds
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA/Home Country: North Carolina, USA
Position: Guard, forward
NBA Experience: 14th season
Age: 35
Size: 6-foot-6, 220 pounds
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA/Home Country: G League Ignite, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Second season
Age: 21
Size: 6-foot-5, 239 pounds
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Real Madrid, Spain
Position: Forward, center
NBA Experience: Second season
Age: 20
Size: 6-foot-8, 253 pounds
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA/Home Country: LSU, USA
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: Rookie
Age: 21
Size: 6-foot-8, 217 pounds
Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Besiktas, Turkey
Position: Center
NBA Experience: Second season
Age: 20
Size: 6-foot-11, 255 pounds
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Wisconsin, USA
Position: Center
NBA Experience: Eighth season
Age: 29
Size: 7-foot-0, 242 pounds
Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Head Coach: Stephen Silas
Assistant Coaches: John Lucas, Lionel Hollins, Mike Batiste, Mahmoud Abdelfattah, Rick Higgins, Will Dunn
Director of Player Development/Coaching Assistant: Robbie Keck
Player Development: Orhun Güngören
Medical Director: Dr. David Crumbie
Head Athletic Trainer/Director of Athlete Care & Science: Jason Biles
Director of Athletic Performance: Willie Cruz
AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast
General Manager: Rafael Stone
Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and Assistant General Manager: Eli Witus
Basketball Operations Staff: Jason Biles, Jeremiah Bonsu, Matt Bullard, Willie Cruz, Jake Flancer, Antwan Floyd, Motoki Fujii, Orhun Güngören, Jeremy Hassler, Chuck Hayes, Ross Homan, Keith Jones, Robbie Keck, Ed Kupfer, Scott Kneller, Julia Long, Anthony Nila, Jim Paulis, Javier Pesquera, Ed Pinckney, Marko Radovanovic, Jason Roman, LJ Rose, Ben Rubin, Alex Santos, Travis Stockbridge, Chris Wallace, Zuri Williams, Cole Zwicker
