Austin Rivers has a new home with an old teammate.
According to multiple reports, Rivers will sign with the Houston Rockets on a deal that is guaranteed for the rest of the season. Houston needs a guard to help replace Chris Paul, who is struggling with a hamstring injury that will keep him out for at least the next two weeks.
Via Twitter:
Austin Rivers will take over some minutes in the absence of his ex-Clippers teammate Chris Paul. https://t.co/hQZtKq2fLJ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 23, 2018
Clearly there’s some unpleasant Clippers history between Paul and Rivers but sources say there were no objections to signing Rivers with the Rockets needing backcourt depth. Paul’s projected to have a 2-3 week absence with a strained hamstring. https://t.co/Rzh1YUakii
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 23, 2018
Of course the most interesting thing about this signing is that Rivers and Paul have had apparent beef in seasons past when the two were on the Los Angeles Clippers. How that will play out now that Rivers is on the Rockets is anyone’s guess, but according to Adrian Wojnarowski it won’t be an issue.
Still, Rivers is a useful guard and can play off the ball or as a second-stringer when Paul returns from his hamstring issue. The Rockets need all the help they can get. Houston has been much better since mid-December, but they have struggled all season long with staying in the playoff race in the standings.
The Rivers saga has been sort of odd, but the Rockets actually make sense as a landing spot for him.
