Speaking to local reporters for the first time as a member of the Houston Rockets on Monday, point guard Austin Rivers admitted that he has always wanted to play for the Rockets and head coach Mike D'Antoni.
After getting traded by the Washington Wizards to the Phoenix Suns in the Trevor Ariza trade, Austin Rivers reached a buyout agreement with the Suns to allow him to pick his next team.
Rivers signed a one-year, $1.16 million deal with Houston, who were in need of guard help due to Chris Paul's hamstring injury.
“It's funny. This is a team I always admired and wanted to play for with (Mike) D'Antoni and the way they play, getting up and down,” Rivers said, via Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
“It's a very fitting place.”
In 29 games with the Wizards this year, Rivers averaged 7.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 39.2 percent from the field, 31.1 percent from beyond the arc and 54.3 percent from the free-throw line.
The Rockets get up and down the court in a hurry and shoot a lot of 3-pointers. That is right up Austin Rivers' alley. Rivers gives Houston another ball-handler and player who can create his own shot off the dribble.