The Houston Rockets have added Josh Okogie on a one-year, $3.1 million deal, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Tuesday.
This comes just days after the Charlotte Hornets cut Okogie loose to avoid paying him $7.7 million next season. They had to make the move before July 15, when his salary would have become guaranteed.
Okogie, who’s about to turn 27 in September, split last season between the Phoenix Suns and Hornets. He played in 40 games total, starting seven of them.
He averaged 7.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, while matching his career-high with 1.2 steals.
What’s impressive is that Okogie ranked fourth in steals per 36 minutes among players who appeared in at least 40 games last season, according to ESPN Stats and Information.
He also set personal bests in several efficiency metrics – a 16.3 player efficiency rating, 56.7% true shooting percentage, and 19.5% usage rate.
The Hornets picked him up from Phoenix in January, sending Nick Richards to the Suns and getting Okogie plus three second-round picks in return. During his brief 16-game stint with Charlotte, he averaged 8.9 points and 2.7 rebounds.
The 6-foot-4 wing was originally the
