Tristen Newton to Houston Rockets? (Image via NBA) According to Michael Scotto of USA Today, Newton signed a two-way contract with the Rockets on Saturday. Before playing the previous season with the Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves, Newton, a 6-foot-5, 202-pound wing player, was selected by Indiana at No. 49 overall in the 2024 second round.For the Iowa Wolves of the G League, the 24-year-old was averaging 26.8 points and 7.7 assists. Newton will be able to participate as a two-way player in 29 games. Newton started the season with the NBA G League’s Iowa Wolves, where he led all players in scoring at the G League Tip-Off Tournament. At 8.0 assists per game, he was rated seventh.
Rockets reward Tristen Newton’s G League surge with two-way deal ahead of Mavericks clash
On Saturday night, the Houston Rockets made a roster change. The Rockets have added Tristen Newton as they get ready to play the Dallas Mavericks. The People’s Insider’s Jake Fischer broke the story. The Houston Rockets announced on Saturday that guard Tristen Newton, 24, had signed a two-way deal. After failing to make Minnesota’s roster at the end of training camp in mid-October, Newton began the regular season with the Iowa Wolves of the G League. He has performed well in the G League, averaging 26.7 points, 7.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 3.1 threes, and 1.9 steals over 36.1 minutes per game. He has scored at least 30 points in four of his previous seven games. The 2024 second-round pick will get another chance with Houston after playing in eight regular-season games during his rookie campaign.In 2018–19, Newtown was the top scorer in Texas as a senior at Burges High School in El Paso, averaging 37.2 points per game. After transferring to the University of Connecticut, where he assisted the Huskies in winning consecutive national titles, he started his college career at East Carolina. He received the 2024 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player award.
Tristen Newton gets fresh NBA opportunity as Rockets take long-term view on G League standout
Even though he probably won’t play much on a competitive Rockets team, Newton will undoubtedly benefit from having another NBA shot. Tyler Smith, a 2024 second-round pick, will be waived by the Rockets after Newton is signed. Overall, Newton has significantly improved from his debut campaign. With the Wolves’ G League team last season, the UConn product notably averaged 16.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists on 40.9/29.9/82.4 shooting splits. Newton most recently played for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was acquired by the Wolves a year ago and will be on a two-way contract for the balance of the 2024–2025 NBA season.Newton and the Wolves parted ways back in the autumn. Newton remained with the organization’s G League affiliate despite being waived after the preseason. Newton made an impression in the G League last season, averaging 16.6 points, 6.6 assists, and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 40 percent from the floor.Also read: Fred VanVleet suffers ruptured ACL, dealing a major blow to Houston Rockets’ 2025–26 championship hopes