Rockets Opt Not to Keep Willie Cauley-Stein

The Rockets have decided not to keep center Willie Cauley-Stein for a second 10-day contract, per the RealGM transactions log.

Stein was initially signed to a 10-day deal on Feb. 27, meaning Thursday was when the contract expired. Houston could’ve either signed him to a second 10-day or standard deal, but opted for neither.

The Rockets initially signed him to a one-year nonguaranteed deal in October, waiving him about a week later.

Cauley-Stein, 29, now re-enters the free agent market where he can be picked up by anyone. He did not garner any minutes with the Rockets. Nor has he appeared in an NBA game this season, after laying just 22 last year. He has instead been spending most of his time lately with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Houston’s G League affiliate.

If nothing else, the 10-day contract offered a bump in pay.

Cauley-Stein signed a multiyear contract with the Mavericks in December 2021, only to be waived a month later, appearing in a total of 20 games in 2021-22. He signed a 10-day contract with the 76ers in February … but was let go in March.

The No. 6 overall pick in 2015, he has also spent time with the Kings and Warriors, compiling career averages of 8.7 points and 5.9 rebounds. He has spent a total of nine seasons in the NBA with four teams, with the Rockets being the fifth.

For a complete list of available NBA free agents, visit our regularly updated page here.