The pair both shined at Summer League, with Machado and Motiejunas both parlaying big Vegas performances into contracts with the Rockets.
NEW YORK, Nov. 14, 2012 – The Houston Rockets today assigned rookies Scott Machado and Donatas Motiejunas to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets’ NBA Development League affiliate, it was announced today. The assignments are the first for both Machado and Motiejunas and the fourth and fifth overall of the 2012-13 NBA and NBA D-League seasons.
Undrafted out of Iona in 2012, Machado (6-1, 205, Iona) appeared in six preseason games with the Rockets, averaging 3.5 points, 5.3 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 13.5 minutes.
Motiejunas (7-0, 222, Kaunas, Lithuania), who was selected in the first round, 20th overall, by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2011 NBA Draft and later traded to Houston, has appeared in one game for the Rockets this season, scoring three points in five minutes.
Both players are expected to join the Vipers today and participate in the teams’ training camp. Rio Grande Valley’s 2012-13 season tips off on Friday, November 23 when the team hosts the Bakersfield Jam.
