The Rockets have cut wing Bryce Harris, forward Cameron Matthews and guard Caleb McConnell, per NBA.com’s official transaction log.
All were on Exhibit 10 deals and will likely join the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Houston’s G League team, where they can earn up to $91 K in bonuses after 60 days.
After today’s moves, Houston carries 18 contracts, but only two are two‑way deals, meaning another transaction is required before Monday’s roster deadline. The club has 12 fully guaranteed deals, with Jae’Sean Tate on a partially guaranteed pact, Isaiah Crawford on a non‑guaranteed one, and Oscar Tshiebwe and Julian Phillips still on Exhibit 10.
It looks probable that either Tshiebwe or Phillips will be upgraded to a two‑way contract by Monday. Should Houston choose that path, it could be the sole move, as the other Exhibit 10 player might simply shift to a standard non‑guaranteed deal, completing a 15‑man roster.
Yet the Rockets sit just $14 K under the luxury‑tax threshold, and adding a 15th man would tip them into tax territory, so they’re expected to leave that spot vacant at season start. In my view, keeping the roster lean protects their financial flexibility.
If Houston waives a non‑guaranteed player on Sunday or Monday, a modest cap hit follows. To dodge that, they could convert one of Tshiebwe or Phillips to a two‑way deal, release him, then turn the other into a two‑way slot. Monday will reveal their plan. Will Houston’s maneuver keep them under the tax line?