Each team in the NBA is allowed to have three players on 2-way contracts. The Houston Rockets just filled their third 2-way contract by signing Sean Pedulla. Pedulla will be joining Quadir Copeland and Tristen Newton.
All three players are young guards who carry potential to earn minutes in the NBA. Pedulla is the most likely to break into Houston’s player rotation, as he was awarded the NBA G League Rookie of the Year in the previous season. His impressive averages of 20.3 points and 5.5 assists per game in the 2025-2026 G League give him the edge over Copeland and Newton.
Pedulla is a six-foot-one guard who uses his intense hustle and scrappiness to compete with taller and bigger guards. His strongest trait is his shotmaking, which is evident through his impressive shooting numbers. In his only year in the G League, he shot 44.4% from the floor, 36.9% from three-point range, and 84.5% from the free-throw line.
Tristen Newton also earned himself a G League First Team selection. At 6”5, he offers a more physical frame than Pedulla. Newton uses his body well, whether it be to crash the glass, haul in rebounds, or shield off smaller guards.
However, his shooting, especially from the perimeter, has been inconsistent. Newton shot 41.2% from the floor, 33.5% from deep, and 82.1% from the free-throw line. Although Newton is stronger physically than Pedulla, Pedulla has the edge over Newton through his shooting and playmaking capabilities.
On the other hand, Quadir Copeland is even taller, as he stands at 6”6. Along with his long wingspan, Copeland has the physical frame that is most suited for the NBA. This size advantage allows him to have increased versatility, especially on the defensive end.
Copeland went undrafted, but signed with the Rockets soon after the draft. Although he has not played in the G League, he did play in the NBA Summer League. Copeland put up multiple impressive performances. He had impressive shooting, ball-handling, playmaking, and on-ball defense. Although it was only a small sample size, Copeland shot 56.4% from the field and 54.5% from deep. On the defensive end, he averaged 2.2 steals per game.
Although all three young guards have a lot of promise, Copeland seems to have the highest ceiling due to his overall versatility. Copeland’s lack of minutes in the G League, however, makes Pedulla and Newton closer to being ready for minutes in the NBA, as they have more experience.
Overall, all three of them carry potential, but the Rockets have newfound depth at the guard position. This makes their entry into the NBA more difficult. What will it take for them to earn a role in Ime Udoka’s player rotations?
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