Houston Rockets waive center Rafael Castro

The Houston Rockets have waived 23-year-old center Rafael Castro. Castro, a former George Washington University player who averaged 15.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, was signed to a two-way contract in August after going undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka attributed the decision to the team’s current roster depth at the center position. Udoka noted, “Our abundance of bigs in camp, having three and then Oscar [Tshiebwe] is here, playing really well.”

The franchise is reportedly evaluating four to five candidates to fill the resulting open two-way roster spot. The move comes as the Rockets manage a frontcourt that includes Alperen Sengun, Steven Adams, and Oscar Tshiebwe.