Why Rockets Signed Jermaine Samuels to Two-Way Deal

Jermaine Samuels averaged 11.3 points, five rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Houston Rockets in Summer League.

Jeremy Brener | Aug 2, 2023

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Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets are adding to their roster, signing Summer League standout Jermaine Samuels Jr. to their final two-way contract slot.

Samuels joins Trevor Hudgins and Darius Days as the team's two-way players currently on the roster after a strong performance in last month's Summer League.

Samuels was a pleasant surprise and addition to the Rockets' Summer League team, averaging 11.3 points, five rebounds and 3.3 assists.

Giving away the last roster spot is tricky, so why did the Rockets offer it to Samuels? What kind of upside do they see in the former Villanova Wildcats forward?

Samuels, 24, spent five seasons at Villanova, starting majority of games in his last four years. Standing 6-7, Samuels has the ideal frame for a wing in the NBA, but the best part about his game is that he plays much bigger than his size. He has the physicality necessary to compete in the NBA, even if he is a bit undersized.

There are shades of Tari Eason to his game when it comes to his competitive edge and driving ability.

Samuels will never be a star for the Rockets, or probably any other team that gives him a shot. But with the final spot on the roster, you want to take a player that's going to give it his all without any reservations as to why he shouldn't be there. Samuels is that guy for the Rockets.

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Published Aug 2, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.