Aug. 19, 2026, 7:57 p.m. CT
The Houston Rockets reinforced their point guard position with Fred VanVleet, Bruce Thornton, and Marcus Smart.Veteran guard Aaron Holiday signed a deal with Italian basketball club Maxima Roma after three seasons in Houston.Holiday’s new contract includes an NBA return clause, allowing him to potentially join a team mid-season.
After struggling to find production from the point guard position last season, the Houston Rockets addressed the position in multiple ways, adding a few different reinforcements. For starters, former NBA champion Fred VanVleet is set to make a return from injury. Additionally, the Rockets added No. 31 overall pick Bruce Thornton and former Defensive Player of the Year Award winner Marcus Smart.
For these reasons, letting veteran guard Aaron Holiday walk in free agency after three seasons in Houston was a sensible decision. Wednesday, Holiday found a new team, signing a deal with Italian basketball club Maxima Roma. There he’ll join a former Los Angeles Lakers forward, Matt Ryan.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Holiday’s deal includes an NBA return clause, giving him a chance to return to the NBA if a team meets specific buyout conditions. This will make Holiday a prime target mid-season, especially for a team that sustains injuries at the point guard position.
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