Rockets take steps to reduce regular-season roster

Veteran forward Carmelo Anthony, right, gives the Rockets another proven scorer to complement James Harden, center, in their quest for a championship. Veteran forward Carmelo Anthony, right, gives the Rockets another proven scorer to complement James Harden, center, in their quest for a championship. Photo: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Photo: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Rockets take steps to reduce regular-season roster 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The Rockets on Saturday took the first steps toward reducing their regular-season roster to 14 players, waiving players signed to non-guaranteed contracts, and are expected to convert the contracts of impressive rookie Gary Clark and second-round pick Vincent Edwards to two-way deals, two individuals with knowledge of the moves said.

The final steps, to put Edwards and Clark on two-way deals, has not been completed, but is expected in the coming days, one person with knowledge of the Rockets’ plans said.

Clark had made a case for the 15th roster spot, but the Rockets opted to keep flexibility with the roster, especially given the change in rules counting NBA service time for players on G League two-way contracts. The 45 days Clark and Edwards will be permitted to be on the Rockets roster will not include travel time as it did last season for players splitting time between the NBA and G League on two-way contracts.

Either can have their contract converted to an NBA deal to fill the 15th roster spot at any time, giving the Rockets little reason to reverse their plan to designate them as their two-way players.

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Gray, who was undrafted out of Cincinnati had impressed Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni for his solid play throughout the preseason while displaying more consistent shooting range than he was often asked to show throughout his four-year college career.

Clark, a 6-8 forward, made 10 of 18 3-pointers and 13 of 24 shots overall in the preseason.

“I think he’ll keep getting better, but he’s very solid,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said last week. “He plays like a four-year vet, which he is. He went through four years, so he’s ahead of most kids that come out of in college.

“Probably the thing that surprises me is that no one drafted him. That stuns me. There’s what, 60 players (in last season’s draft) better than him? I don’t think so.”

The Rockets waived center Bruno Caboclo, guards Angel Rodriguez and Brandon Sampson and forward Tim Bolt. They will have the right to include up to four of those players and guard Rob Gray, who was waived earlier in the week, on the Vipers’ roster.

Former Rockets second-round pick Alessandro Gentile on Friday signed the tender offer the Rockets were required to make to keep their rights to him, leading the team to immediately waive him. He is not in the team’s plans.