Rockets sign Rafael Castro to two-way contract

Signed to a two-year, two-way contract in late August, Castro is coming off a final season of college basketball in which he averaged 15.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game at George Washington. With Thursday’s reported transaction, the Rockets have freed up a two-way contract slot. Guards Quadir Copeland and Sean Pedulla occupy the other two slots.

Having appeared in nine total NBA games in his first two professional seasons, Newton is looking to use summer league as a springboard into a greater opportunity in 2025-26. The former UConn standout put up 20 points on good shooting numbers on Thursday, and the victory may be enough to push Houston into Saturday’s semifinals. Newton is unlikely to be in a position where he can offer reliable fantasy value once the season begins. Still, a good finish to the summer could ensure him a longer look from Rockets decision-makers.

A second-round pick in the 2024 draft, Newton has appeared in nine NBA games during his first two seasons, spending most of his time in the G League. The Rockets’ guard is coming off an excellent season with the franchise’s G League affiliate, and the hope is that Newton plays well enough in Las Vegas to earn a longer look in 2026-27. Newton didn’t have the best game against the Raptors, struggling from the field and not recording an assist. However, his production improved over his output in Friday’s win over the Nuggets, and the ball was in rookie Bruce Thornton’s hands quite often. Given Houston’s depth at point guard, Newton faces long odds of being fantasy-relevant next season.

Milwaukee added Castro on a two-way contract after he went undrafted last month. The big man out of George Washington didn’t do much scoring, but he was able to make an impact on the defensive end. It will be difficult for him to carve out a role in Milwaukee this season, but if he does, he’s more than capable of providing value in multiple numbers, which should play well in fantasy basketball.

A seldom-called-upon role player in his two seasons at Providence, Castro flourished after transferring to George Washington ahead of the 2024-25 season. As a senior, the 6-foot-9 pivot averaged 15.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.7 blocks in 27.3 minutes, shooting 62.7 percent from the field and 66.1 percent from the foul line. While undersized for a potential NBA center, Castro’s athleticism and motor can help him compensate for that.

Newton spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career at East Carolina before transferring to UConn for the last two. Newton led the Huskies to back-to-back national championships as the team’s starting point guard, improving his production from 2022-23 to 2023-24. In his final season with UConn, Newton averaged 15.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.3 blocks and 1.8 triples. He led his team in scoring, assists, and made free throws (4.2 / 5.2) and finished behind only Donovan Clingan for the team lead in rebounds. Newton was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2023-24 NCAA Tournament and earned the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s best PG. His 41.5 / 32.1 / 80.8 shooting splits will likely move him down draft boards, but he brings championship experience and a winning attitude to the NBA. At first glance, Indiana isn’t the best landing spot for Newton due to the team’s loaded backcourt. However, holding onto Andrew Nembhard could get expensive if he decided to test free agency in the summer of 2025.