Mavs: A Review of the Southwest Division Teams’ Free Agency Moves

Here is a look at the transaction record of the Dallas Mavericks and each team in the Southwest Division in the NBA since the start of free agency.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets have re-signed a few players and has remained fairly stagnant so far compared to other Southwest division teams.

Additions/Re-Signings:

• Chris Paul, PG

All-star point guard Chris Paul inked a four-year, $160 million dollar contract with the Rockets on July 8th.

Last season with Houston, Paul averaged 18.6 points, 7.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. He also shot a .460 field goal percentage and 38 percent from downtown. The North Carolina native played in 58 games during the 2017-18 season.

In the playoffs, he registered an average of 21.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. He played an average of 34.5 minutes per game in the postseason, 2.7 more than his regular season average of 31.8 mpg.

Paul did suffer a hamstring injury in game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors. Golden State, which lost game 5 (to make the series 3-2 in favor of Houston), ended up beating the Rockets (who didn’t have Paul) in games 6 and 7 to move on to the NBA Championships.

• Michael Carter-Williams, PG

Michael Carter-Williams signed a one-year deal with the Rockets on July 3rd.

As a reserve player with the Charlotte Hornets last season, Carter-Williams averaged 4.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.

Carter-Williams, who went to Syracuse University, has played with the 76ers, Bucks, Bulls, and Hornets over his 5 years in the NBA.

His stats have declined rapidly over his career. His rookie season, he tallies 16.7 points, 6.3 assists, and 6.2 rebounds per game, and was named rookie of the year.

Compared to his numbers last season, his value has diminished severely.

• Gerald Green, SF/SG

Green, who is most known for his dunking ability, re-signed with Houston on a one-year, $2.4 million dollar deal.

Last season with the Rockets, he recorded an average of 12.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

Green has been in the NBA since 2005 and was drafted 18th overall by the Boston Celtics. Since then, he has played for the Timberwolves, Mavericks, Nets, Pacers, Suns, and Heat. Green also played in Eurasia from 2009 to 2011 with Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia), Krasnye Krylia (Russia), and the Foshan Dralions (China) before returning to the United States. After playing overseas, he came played in the 2011-12 season with the Los Angeles D-Fenders (G League, formerly the D League).

• James Ennis, SF

James Ennis signed a two-year deal worth approximately $3.5 million dollars.

While playing in 27 games last season with the Detroit Pistons, Ennis the Menace averaged 7.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 1.0 APG.

Ennis also played in 45 games with the Memphis Grizzlies but was traded to Detroit for PF Brice Johnson and a second-round draft pick.

The small forward has played for the Heat, Grizzlies, Pelicans, and Pistons throughout his career.

• Isaiah Hartenstein, PF/C

Isaiah Hartenstein, who was in the NBA G League last season, signed a three-year deal with Houston. The Rockets drafted him 43rd overall in the 2017 NBA draft.

While playing in 38 games with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the 2017-18 season, the G League affiliate of the Rockets, Hartenstein scored an average of 9.5 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 1.1 blocks per game.

Losses:

• SF Luc Mbah a Moute – Los Angeles Clippers – One-year, $4.3 million
• SG Trevor Ariza – Phoenix Suns – One-year, $15 million
• PG Aaron Jackson – Waived
• SG Joe Johnson – Free agent
• PF Tarik Black – Free agent