Markel Brown Signs with the Houston Rockets

UPDATE (9:50 a.m. on 1-17)

The Rockets have made it official.

#Rockets make it official: announce signing of Markel Brown to two-way contract and waive guard Briante' Weber. pic.twitter.com/21AytxdiPS

— Kris M Gardner (@TheHRReview) January 16, 2018

The Houston Rockets plan to sign the Oklahoma City Blue’s Markel Brown to a two-way contract after releasing Briante Weber, according to NBA Insider Shams Charania.

Brown, a former two-time all-Big 12 guard, played at Oklahoma State from 2010-2014. Brown averaged 17 points as a senior and was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves before being traded to Brooklyn.

Brown played for the Nets and averaged 5.3 points and 2.1 rebounds over a two-year career. After a brief stint with the Cavaliers and Russian basketball club Khimki, Brown signed a training camp contract with the Thunder in 2017 and eventually ended up with the Blue.

The two-way deal was introduced during the NBA’s latest collective bargaining agreement and allows a team to retain a player in its own system, with its own G League affiliate. Previously, any NBA team could sign a D League (as it was then known) player at any time. It also allows teams to have two flex spots in addition to their 15-man rosters.

A player on a two-deal can spend no more than 45 days on the NBA roster at the league minimum salary rate. The minimum for this year is $815,615 for the season. The player would spend the remainder of the season with the affiliate, which in this case would be the Rio Grande Valley Vipers at a G League rate.

Brown’s departure comes just days after fellow Blue teammate Myke Henry signed a two-way deal with Memphis, leaving the Oklahoma City without its two leading scorers. Brown has averaged 17 points and over 4 assists per game for the Blue this season.