Tristen

Newton

Not selected in June’s draft after two quality seasons at George Washington, Castro was initially reported to have signed with the Bucks on a two-way deal. However, the deal was never finalized, opening the door for Castro to sign with the Rockets. To make room for Castro, the Rockets have waived two-way guard Tristen Newton.

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.

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.