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Duke Basketball: Austin Rivers signs with Houston Rockets

ByKevin Connelly|
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 01: Austin Rivers #1 of the Washington Wizards dribbles in front of Kevin Knox #20 of the New York Knicks during the first half of a preseason NBA game at Capital One Arena on October 01, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 01: Austin Rivers #1 of the Washington Wizards dribbles in front of Kevin Knox #20 of the New York Knicks during the first half of a preseason NBA game at Capital One Arena on October 01, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Former Duke Basketball freshman Austin Rivers has signed a contract with the Houston Rockets for the remainder of the season.

In the trade that never happened, then happened again, Austin Rivers got dealt from the Washington Wizards to the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns then bought out Rivers, making him an unrestricted free agent.

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After Rockets guard Chris Paul went down with a hamstring injury, the team reached out to Rivers and the two sides have agreed on a deal which will make Rivers a Rocket for the remainder of the season.

In 29 games with the Wizards this season, Rivers has averaged 7.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, shooting 39.2% from the field, 31.1% from 3-point range, and 54.3% from the free throw line.

Rivers has a rather ugly history with the Rockets and specifically guard Chris Paul.

Paul and Rivers were teammates with the Los Angles Clippers and it was reported that Paul did not like the relationship and chemistry between Austin Rivers and head coach Doc Rivers, Austin’s father.

Paul then moved on to the Houston Rockets and the infamous ‘secret hallway’ game between the two teams when the Rockets visited the Clippers last season.

In his media availability today at practice, Rivers addressed the situation by saying that if there was any issues between he and Paul, the two worked it out in the offseason, and Rivers would have not signed with the Rockets if there were any lingering issues.

The Houston Chronicle reported that Austin Rivers will play on Tuesday, Christmas Day, as the Rockets host the Oklahoma City Thunder at 3:00 pm ET on ABC.

Rivers matchup up once against the Thunder in his time in Washington and he did not score, missing his only three shot attempts, but did grab five rebounds and recored one block in the Wizards’s 134-111 defeat.

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