Houston Rockets Release Former NBA 1st-Round Pick

The Houston Rockets waived Thon Maker.

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Thon Maker puts on a team cap after being selected as the number ten overall pick to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Houston Rockets have played two preseason games.

They most recently defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder by a score of 122-113 (in overtime) last week.

Before Tuesday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans, the team announced that they had waived two players.

Via Keith Smith of Spotrac: "The Houston Rockets announced they have waived Thon Maker and Markquis Nowell."

The Houston Rockets announced they have waived Thon Maker and Markquis Nowell.

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) October 14, 2024

Maker was the tenth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.

He has spent five seasons with the Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers (and Bucks).

His career averages are 4.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest while shooting 43.5% from the field and 32.7% from the three-point range in 263 regular season games.

The 27-year-old also appeared in 16 NBA playoff games with the Bucks and Pistons.

Feb 2, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Thon Maker (7) passes the ball as Denver Nuggets guard PJ Dozier (35) defends during the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-Imagn Images / Tim Fuller-Imagn Images

Meanwhile, Nowell appeared in one game with the Toronto Raptors last season.

The former Kansas State star averaged 15.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 10.1 assists and 2.0 steals per contest while shooting 41.7% from the field and 40.7% from the three-point range in nine G League Showcase Cup games.

Markquis Nowell = PLAYMAKER 🪙

The @raptors905 floor general averaged 8.7 APG as a rookie and dished out a career-high 14 AST three times! pic.twitter.com/9nckOdiUBr

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) May 20, 2024

The Rockets will play two more preseason games against the Pelicans and Spurs.

They will then open up the regular season on October 23 when they host LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets in Texas.

Rockets waived Thon Maker and Markquis Nowell, team announced. https://t.co/qvjc7l04tJ

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 14, 2024

The Rockets finished last season as the 11th seed in the Western Conference with a 41-41 record.

They missed the final play-in tournament spot by 5.0 games, so they failed to reach the NBA playoffs for the fourth straight year.