Houston Rockets Sign Former Sacramento Kings Player

The Sacramento Kings have withdrawn their qualifying offer for forward Isaiah Crawford, making him an unrestricted free agent. Crawford has subsequently signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets. This move ends his one-season tenure with the Kings, where he primarily played in the G-League.

During his G-League stint, Crawford averaged 13.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists with strong shooting efficiency (50.2% from the field, 44.7% from three-point range). Despite these impressive developmental league numbers, he saw minimal NBA action—just 46 total minutes across 15 games with Sacramento.

The Kings' decision follows their roster consolidation, having filled 15 standard NBA contracts after signing Doug McDermott and leaving only one two-way slot open. Crawford's departure is notable given Sacramento's need for wing players with his profile (6'6" frame, 7'1" wingspan, defensive skills), but the arrival of rookie Nique Clifford further limited his pathway. As a holdover from the previous front office regime, Crawford became expendable despite initial hopes he'd follow Keon Ellis' development trajectory.

Crawford's diminishing role became evident during Summer League, where he averaged only 3.2 points on 35% shooting. His minutes significantly decreased during the tournament's later stages, signaling Sacramento's intentions. Though facing stiff competition among Houston's young wings, Crawford remains motivated by former teammates Ellis and Isaac Jones who converted two-way deals to standard NBA contracts, stating he aims to prove he belongs at the highest level.