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The Launch Pad · Morning

The Launch Pad: Camp Churn Clears the Way for Opening Night

Three late camp signees are gone as fast as they arrived, with the roster now set for the opener.

By the Rockets Nightly Desk · Sunday, October 18

Houston waived Cameron Matthews, Caleb McConnell and Bryce Harris on October 18, days after signing all three to camp contracts. The moves trim the roster ahead of the regular-season opener against Dallas, with nothing else changing on the health front.

Rockets Nightly artwork
Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Oct 15-16

Cameron Matthews signed a camp contract October 15; Caleb McConnell and Bryce Harris followed October 16. None of the three had an announced path onto the regular-season roster, and camp signings this late in October are typically fill-in bodies for practice, not rotation candidates.

Oct 17

A report said Houston had cut three camp invitees without naming them. Separately, Steven Adams came off the injury report entirely that day, upgraded to fully cleared ahead of the opener.

Oct 18

The three cuts had names: Matthews, McConnell and Harris, all waived the same week their camp stints began. Houston now has a finalized 15-man roster, and the quick turnaround signals the competition for the back of the bench was settled fast once the preseason wrapped.

This week

Payroll sits at $205.5 million across the remaining contracts, over the $200.4 million luxury tax line. Durant ($43.9M), Sengun ($35.6M), VanVleet's $25.0 million player option and Smith Jr. ($23.6M) carry the top four numbers on a books with no room to add from outside.

Next The regular season opens October 21 at home against the Mavericks, the same team Houston split two preseason meetings with.
Why did the Rockets cut three camp signees so quickly?

No reason was given; Matthews, McConnell and Harris were waived October 18, just days after signing camp contracts, as Houston set its 15-man roster.

When do the Rockets open the regular season?

Houston opens October 21 at home against the Dallas Mavericks.

By the Rockets Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

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