The Rockets waived Jackie Butler, John Lucas III and Justin Reed today, trimming their roster down to 15 players before tomorrow night's season opener in Los Angeles.
The Rockets also finally let go of Bobby Sura. Forward Mike Harris, who had impressed in training camp, was let go last week.
After a handful of thrilling offseason moves, it was a disappointing finish as the Rockets could not pull off a trade and had to eat guaranteed dollars in the case of every player but Harris.
Butler, who was the side dish on the Vassilis Spanoulis-for-Luis Scola trade plate, was entering his second season of a 3-year, $7 million contract. Reed was in his second season of a 3-year, $4.5 million contract, with the third season being a player option (which he no doubt exercised). Lucas was due to make just under $800,000 this season, with the Rockets holding an option for 2008-09.
Sura was a big part of the Rockets 51-win season in 2004-05, but injuries have kept him out of action since. He was considered a trade asset this offseason since he could bring back roughly $4 million in salary, but could be bought out for just $1 million by any team that took him on. Instead, the Rockets bought out the deal themselves.
So for now, Steve Novak and Kirk Snyder are safe. The Rockets were rumored to be shopping both players before today's roster deadline. There has also been talk that rookies Carl Landry and/or Aaron Brooks could start out in the NBDL to keep playing, but there has been no word on that as of yet.
