Rockets Sign Julian Phillips

The 35th overall pick of the 2023 draft, Phillips averaged 4.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 79 games (14.2 minutes per contest) in 2024/25 following a modest role as a rookie. However, he didn’t play much in ’25/26, his third season, averaging 2.9 PPG and 1.0 RPG in 8.9 MPG across 48 appearances.

Phillips, who played one year of college basketball at Tennessee, spent his first two-and-a-half NBA seasons with the Bulls, who traded him to the Timberwolves ahead of the February deadline. Minnesota declined its $2.4MM team option on Phillips in June and also opted against tendering him a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Still just 22 years old, the 6’6″ small forward is known for his explosive athleticism but has yet to carve out a significant role in the league. He holds career averages of 3.6 PPG and 1.5 RPG on .435/.320/.771 shooting splits in 167 games, including seven starts (11.2 MPG).

It’s unclear whether Phillips will get the opportunity to earn a regular season roster spot with the Rockets, either on a standard or two-way deal — if he signed an Exhibit 10 contract, it could be converted into a two-way before opening night. Phillips remains eligible for a two-way deal since he only has three years of NBA experience.

After re-signing Isaiah Crawford and Jae’Sean Tate earlier this week, Houston was operating a little over the luxury tax line with 15 players on standard contracts coming into Friday. If Crawford and Tate make the regular season roster and the Rockets want to duck back out of the tax, JD Davison, Oscar Tshiebwe and Phillips would be the likely odd men out, but it’s possible the club will hold a competition for the 14th roster spot in training camp and the preseason.