The 5th player from the Rockets left the team is released? The 26-year-old defender may be cut! He only played 20 games, and the contract is unsecured

On July 5, the Rockets had a large number of forward players, and since the inside introduced Capela, there were three centers available, not to mention the center Enfalidante who might stay in the team to accept that two-way contract. Therefore, the Rockets' forward and inside line do not need to introduce new players, but their back line still lacks the number and depth. The only three players who are worthy of reusing this position next season are Van Vritte, Shepard and Aaron Holiday.

Rockets substitute shooting guard Nate Williams, 26, doesn't seem to play much role in the team. Although the team would send Williams to the court from time to time in the first two seasons, most of the time, when the winner was decided, Nate Williams actually has average personal abilities. Although he is tall, he has no effect on both offense and defense. In 82 regular season games last season, Williams only played 20 games, averaging 7.2 minutes per game, only contributing 3.2 points, 0.7 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.2 blocks, with a three-point shooting percentage of only 23.1%.

Although the Rockets turned his two-way contract into a standard NBA contract last season, Williams' annual salary of 2.3 million next season is not guaranteed, which means that if the Rockets want to free up salary space, they can directly sack Williams without any losses, just like the Rockets cut Langdale, because Langdale's 8 million contract next season is also not guaranteed. Nate Williams is very likely to become the fifth player to leave the Rockets this summer.

Dillon Brooks and Jaylen Green have been sent to the Suns, and the Rockets have also cut off Australian forward McVay. With the Rockets' upcoming center Jock Langdale and Williams who may be cut, it is very likely that Nate Williams will be the fifth man the Rockets will be the fifth man the Rockets will leave this summer. According to reports, the Rockets will almost certainly lay off Nate Williams because the Rockets intend to keep their salary space below the first tyrant line, which is below $195.9 million, otherwise the Rockets will have to pay more luxury taxes. This is the case with the Rockets now, and Nate Williams' contract is obviously the object that the Rockets can give up. After all, the Rockets introduced the maximum-paid superstar Durant this summer, signed Finney Smith with a full middle class contract and signed Capela with a three-year, middle class contract of 21.5 million. Don't forget that the Rockets also left three veterans Holiday, Tate and Jeff Green with three basic salary.

Therefore, the Rockets' salary space is no longer enough. The Rockets will avoid paying luxury taxes next season, but how to avoid paying more luxury taxes is what general manager Raphael Stone needs to consider. And laying off Nate Williams can more or less save the Rockets more luxury taxes.

Although the cut of Williams has reduced the depth of the Rockets' No. 2 position again, the Rockets' Whitmore and Tate can both play in the No. 2 position. Amen Thompson is expected to be the starter at the No. 2 position next season, so the Rockets have so many players in the backcourt, and there should be no problems with the Rockets. They can also make some signings or transactions to introduce defenders, which is also a way to strengthen the outside.