Rockets waive Cody Zeller, sign Nate Williams to standard NBA contract

Posted by author March 3, 2025 NBA

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The Rockets are waiving veteran center Cody Zeller and using the open roster spot to sign Nate Williams to a standard NBA contract, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports. Williams had been on a two-way deal.

The Houston Rockets waived 11-year veteran center Cody Zeller on Sunday and signed young shooting guard Nate Williams to a four-year, $8.2-million standard contract, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported. Similar to other multi-year deals for current players such as Jock Landale, future seasons are non-guaranteed or a team option, team sources told Rockets Wire.

Last month, at the NBA’s in-season trade deadline for 2024-25, the Rockets were rewarded with future draft compensation (via Atlanta) in exchange for taking on the remainder Zeller’s contract. Zeller remained away from the team and did not play a single game for Houston.

Williams, meanwhile, had been on a two-way contract but has seemingly played well enough to have his deal upgraded. A 6-foot-5 shooting guard, the 26-year-old has averaged 18.8 points (52.9% FG, 42.1% on 3-pointers), 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals in 29.3 minutes per game this season with the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers, Houston’s NBA G League affiliate.

Williams has played only sparingly with the Rockets but found success in a Feb. 13 appearance versus Golden State, finishing with 11 points (55.6% FG, 33.3% on 3-pointers) and 3 assists in 18 minutes off the bench.

Now that Zeller is off the roster, the Rockets won’t be able to use his salary (under $4 million annually) in 2025 offseason trades. Williams will be trade eligible, though at a slightly smaller amount based on the lower financial terms.

By converting Williams, the Rockets now have a vacant two-way slot alongside N’Faly Dante and Jack McVeigh (each NBA team is allowed up to three). Time will tell as to when and who that two-way contract slot is next used for.