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Rockets Sign Former G League MVP to Address Glaring Weakness Ahead of Playoffs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zahid Rashid | Last updated Apr 7, 2026 3:30 PM ET

The Houston Rockets’ bet on acquiring Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade last offseason has paid off, as the team sits fifth in the Western Conference with four games remaining in the regular season. Houston has had one glaring weakness all season, and it appears they have finally addressed it ahead of the playoffs.

Point guard has been the Rockets’ primary concern despite years of heavy investment in the position. To be fair, they entered the season in a strong spot with Fred VanVleet, who has masked many of Houston’s issues over the past few years.

However, VanVleet went down with an ACL injury, leaving a major gap. Since then, the Rockets have experimented with Amen Thompson as the on-ball guard and have often relied on Reed Sheppard as the team’s offensive initiator. But they are now adding reinforcements heading into the postseason.

JD Davison dribbles the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Toyota Center. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Rockets are signing former G League MVP JD Davison to a two-year deal ahead of the playoffs.

"The Houston Rockets are signing two-way guard JD Davison on a new two-year deal, filling their open roster spot heading into the playoffs, agent Corey Marcum of EZ Sports Group tells ESPN," Charania wrote.

The Houston Rockets are signing two-way guard JD Davison on a new two-year deal, filling their open roster spot heading into the playoffs, agent Corey Marcum of EZ Sports Group tells ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 7, 2026

The Rockets initially signed Davison, a second-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, to a two-way deal last summer. He has appeared in 27 games this season, averaging 2.2 points and 1.0 assists in 7.1 minutes per game.

However, it is in the G League where he has truly showcased his potential last season en route to becoming the MVP. He averaged 25.1 points, 7.6 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and a 60.1 true shooting percentage during the 2024–25 G League season for Maine Celtics. This past season, he appeared in just 5 games and averaged 25.2 points per game for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka has used Davison in closing lineups at times this season, though that role diminished recently due to two-way eligibility rules, which limited him to 50 NBA games. He reached that limit on Monday against the Golden State Warriors. With Houston also managing its allocation of games for two-way players, the team ultimately converted Davison to a standard contract, filling its 15th roster spot and freeing up additional flexibility.

While Thompson and Sheppard have helped offset VanVleet’s absence without significantly hurting the team, having an additional natural ball handler could prove valuable in the playoffs. Adding a former G League MVP only strengthens that outlook.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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