Why Houston can’t sign Spencer Dinwiddie to replace Fred VanVleet

The Houston Rockets he won’t be able to prosecute the veteran guard Spencer Dinwiddie after being traded from the Charlotte Hornetsbecause of limited restrictions are initiated earlier this offseason.

Charlotte waived Dinwiddie, an 11-year NBA veteran, on Thursday just days before the start of the 2025-26 regular season. Despite losing starting point guard Fred VanVleet to a torn ACL suffered in the offseason, the Rockets are unable to sign Dinwiddie or any veteran to a minimum contract at this point.

According to ClutchPoints NBA Insider Brett Siegel, Houston is about $1.2 million under the first cap, which is set at $195,945,000. Signing Dinwiddie would push the team’s payroll over that mark, which is prohibited by the league’s collective bargaining agreement for cap-heavy teams.

Siegel wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Houston has to deal with VanVleet’s absence using internal depth and two-way contracts.

“The only way Houston can overcome the FVV injury, for now, is with players on their roster and two-way contracts,” he wrote. “JD Davison and Kevon Harris are both guards that will see some time at certain points this year. Ten-day contracts will come in, if needed.”

Rockets payroll limits pursuit of Spencer Dinwiddie after Hornets release

The Rockets currently have a total salary cap of $194,689,411, leaving no room for even a minimum veteran contract. The cap situation stems from Houston’s offseason acquisition Kevin Durant in sign-and-trade with Phoenix Sunswhich started the hard cap on the first apron.

Dinwiddie (32) averaged 11 points, 4.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 79 games last season with the Dallas Mavericks. He briefly joined the Hornets this summer and appeared in two preseason games before being waived.

The Rockets were also linked to former MVP Russell Westbrook, who went unsigned for much of the offseason earlier. reaching an agreement with the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. Westbrook, 36, averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals last season with the Denver Nuggets, while shooting 44.9% from the field and 32.3% from three in 75 games.

Houston has been rumored as a potential landing spot for Westbrook before VanVleet’s injury, but team restrictions made a reunion with Kevin Durant impossible. Durant joined the Rockets in July as part of a blockbuster seven-team deal with Phoenix.

With limited financial flexibility, Houston will rely on its internal options, including Aaron Holiday and Jaylen Green, to absorb the ball-handling responsibilities. Two-way running backs JD Davison and Kevon Harris could also see increased roles early in the season.

The Rockets will open their 2025/26 campaign next Tuesday on the road against the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM ET on NBC Peacock.