(Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle)
Four days after signing him to a rest-of-season contract, the Houston Rockets have waived point guard Isaiah Canaan. Canaan appeared in just one game with the team, logging four minutes in total.
Houston signed Canaan, a five-year pro, after a sudden injury sidelined starting forward Trevor Ariza. But Ariza is making his return to the starting lineup quicker than anyone expected, which has lead the Rockets to waive Canaan now, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
Rockets let Isaiah Canaan go to keep roster spot open, but also in part because Ariza got back at least a week, maybe 2 ahead of schedule.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 28, 2017
Canaan’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, told Feigen the team wants to keep in close contact with Canaan for a potential future opportunity.
“We’re disappointed because I know Isaiah was really excited about getting back with the Rockets,” Bartelstein said. “When they got the perimeter play of Trevor back, Daryl (Morey) the Rockets general manager called and said ‘I don’t think there’s enough minutes for us to just justify using up our cap flexibility.’
“While we’re disappointed, as understand it. If there’s not an opportunity for Isaiah to play, they’re so tight up against it, put them in a tough situation. They want to stay in close contact where if something were to happen with the roster and they have a need, I know he’s the first guy they’ll look at.”
The original belief within the Rockets was that Trevor Ariza would miss at least two weeks, but instead, Ariza missed just four days.
Canaan, 26, has been with three NBA teams this calendar year: Chicago, Oklahoma City and Houston. He was waived with Rajon Rondo by the Bulls in June, then was waived after a brief training camp stint with the Thunder last month. Before these trips, he spent 47 games with the Rockets and 99 games with the 76ers.
Caanan has averaged 8.4 points, 1.6 assists and 20.2 minutes on 37 percent shooting for his career. He was drafted by the Rockets in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft.
