Tristen Newton was on a two-way contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the second part of last season. He spent most of his time in the G League, though, playing just eight total minutes with Minnesota. After the Wolves signed Johnny Juzang to a two-way contract shortly before the start of the season, they moved Newton to the G League full-time.
However, it seemed like a matter of time before Newton got another two-way opportunity, and that's exactly what he got with the Houston Rockets on Saturday afternoon. This marks Newton's third NBA squad in just two seasons, as he was drafted and started last season with the Indiana Pacers.
The Rockets have signed Tristen Newton to a two-way deal, according to a league source. Houston will waive Tyler Smith.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) January 3, 2026
Newton has been tearing it up in the G League, averaging 26.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.7 steals this season. While he likely won't play much on a competitive Rockets squad, having another NBA opportunity is obviously a plus for Newton. After signing Newton, the Rockets will waive 2024 second-round pick Tyler Smith.
Tristen Newton's fit with the Rockets
Undoubtedly, Newton is an intriguing archetype. The 6-foot-5 combo guard has excellent positional size and impressive defensive chops. Furthermore, he is a steady playmaker who is capable of running an offense. The biggest question with Newton has always been his shooting. During his five-year college career, Newton shot just 32.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Nevertheless, his 37.6 percent 3-point shooting this season in the G League highlights improvement in this area.
Newton has displayed immense improvement overall from his rookie season. Notably, the UConn product averaged 16.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists on 40.9/29.9/82.4 shooting splits last season with the Wolves' G League squad. These improvements as a shooter and overall scorer certainly factored into him getting another NBA chance.
At 24, Newton is on the older side for a second-year player, but he still has the potential to carve out an NBA role at some point, and there's no denying his stellar G League play made him worthy of another two-way deal. Newton's size and perimeter defense make him a natural fit with a Rockets organization that greatly values this skill set.
Again, it will be tough for Newton to get many minutes with the Rockets. However, it's worth noting that they lack guard play, which could eventually give Newton a chance to earn real minutes. These days, you never know when you're going to find a diamond in the rough, and Newton could be exactly that for Houston.