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Rockets sign Rafael Castro to two-way contract, release Tristen Newton
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- Rockets sign Rafael Castro to two-way contract, release Tristen Newton
On Wednesday, the Houston Rockets announced that rookie center Rafael Castro signed a two-way contract. To make room for the roster spot, Tristen Newton was released.
As things stand, the recipients of Houston's three two-way slots are Castro, Sean Pedulla , and rookie guard/wing Quadir Copeland . Players on two-way contracts can shuttle back and forth between the parent NBA club and their G League developmental affliate — in the case of the Rockets, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers — and be active for up to 50 regular-season games at the NBA level.
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A 6-foot-10, 224-pound big man, Castro was eligible for the 2026 NBA draft following his redshirt senior season at George Washington . At the NBA's 2026 draft combine in May, he measured with a standing reach of 9 feet, 1.5 inches and a wingspan of 7 feet, 1.25 inches.
In July, Castro played for Milwaukee 's entries in the California Classic and the NBA's Las Vegas summer league.
After three seasons at Providence, including one as a redshirt freshman, Castro transferred to George Washington. While there, he started all 63 games he played as a junior and senior, averaging 14.6 points (64.4% FG), 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game.
Over that span, Castro joined Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg — drafted at No. 11 overall by Golden State — as the only Division I players to have averaged at least 14.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.4 steals.
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Castro was a two-time Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team selection and a finalist for the 2025-26 Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year Award.
More: Rockets sign Sean Pedulla, NBA G League Rookie of the Year, to two-way deal
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets sign Rafael Castro to two-way contract, release Tristen Newton
