The 2026-2027 NBA season is just days from starting, meaning each time has to make their final roster cuts. The Houston Rockets did just that yesterday, waiving a few players at the very end of the rotation. 

To be honest, these guys weren’t even in the rotation at all, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. They weren’t going to make the final roster, regardless of what they did. 

McConnell is the oldest and most experienced of the group, already winning a G League Championship with the OKC Blue in 2024. He’s listed as a 6’7” shooting guard, weighing only 195 pounds. 

Last season he averaged 11.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists with the Rio Grande Vipers and is expected to play there again this year. 

Matthews played 14 games with Houston’s G League affiliate last season after going undrafted out of Mississippi State in 2025.

At 6’7” and 235 pounds, he could be a nice wing in the rotation on a two-way contract. Unfortunately for him, Quadir Copeland and Jae’Sean Tate might have that role filled. 

Harris put in five years of work at Howard University as a stocky 6’4” 220 pound wing. While we weren’t able to see what he could do with the Rockets, he did average 17.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game last year. 

His signing wasn’t meaningless, though. The Rockets will retain his G League rights after terminating the Exhibit 10 contract. If he manages to spend at least 60 days with the Rio Grande Vipers, he can be eligible for an Exhibit 10 bonus worth up to $91,000. 

With this news, I’d be surprised if any of these guys get a two-way slot on this team right away, but it’s possible. The Rockets have two players signed there already, meaning one spot is open for the taking. 

Quadir Copeland and Sean Pedulla 

Centers: Alperen Şengün, Steven Adams, Clint Capela 

Power Forward: Jabari Smith Jr, Tari Eason

Small Forward: Kevin Durant, Jae’Sean Tate, Isaiah Crawford

Shooting Guard: Amen Thompson, Marcus Smart, Bogdan Bogdanović 

Point Guard: Fred VanVleet, Reed Sheppard, Bruce Thornton 

This team is looking incredibly deep to start the season, with 11 players on the roster who can get consistent minutes. Based on what we saw in the preseason, only Jae’Sean Tate, Isaiah Crawford, and Bruce Thornton will be at the end of the bench.

That doesn’t mean Ime Udoka will play 11 guys every night, as Capela and Adams are sure to get sporadic DNP’s. It does mean that there’s plenty of depth, and no need to have three players in the top ten for minutes per game anymore. 

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