Justin Patton (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
It’s no secret that the Houston Rockets have been in dire need of a big man, as the Rockets entered the season with Christian Wood and DeMarcus Cousins as their only centers. Cousins has an extensive injury history so playing him more than 20 minutes wasn’t exactly optimal.
Wood’s injury made the need for an additional big man even more dire, as it left Cousins as the lone center on the roster. The Rockets tried to turn to a familiar face in Ray Spalding as a reserve big, but Spalding suffered an Achilles injury in just his second game with the team and was later released.