Forgotten Rockets guard is lighting up the G-League on his new team

The Houston Rockets have seen a lot of talented players come and go in recent years. One of them, Nate Williams, is having a fantastic season - in the G-League.

It's a product of roster churn. No NBA team can keep every decent player they land. Fans will get attached, but sometimes, the team has to move on.

That was the case with Williams. He endeared himself to Rockets fans at times. Williams is solid, but his solidness wasn't enough to warrant hanging onto him.

Still, his G-League performance this year may give at least some Rockets fans pause for thought.

Former Rockets guard looks great in the G-League

Williams is averaging 17.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game with the Long Island Nets.

This has always been an NBA-calibre player. Williams is a 6'5" guard who can play the 3. He's a solid defender and a smart, low usage player.

Who knows? He may find an opportunity with the (other) Nets. At 26, Williams has time to carve out a productive NBA career.

Should the Rockets regret that it's unlikely to happen in Space City?

Rockets are doing fine without Williams

No.

Let's be completely realistic. Williams is 26, and he's in the G-League. This isn't someone that Rockets fans should be pining for.

That's not to contradict everything I've already written. Williams is genuinely solid. He's got NBA size. There's a world where he's a decent player, but it's highly unlikely that he'd crack a contending Rockets team's rotation in 2025.

Above all else, Williams' 32.5% three-point shooting during last year's G-League stint has tanked his chances with the Rockets. His NBA three-point shooting has been generally inconsistent. Ultimately, he shot 23.1% from deep for the Rockets last season, and that was the only year when he attempted more than 6 threes (26).

It's not that Williams' shooting alone is the problem. The issue is that he doesn't have enough else in his game to compensate for mediocre shooting. With limited on-ball juice, Williams is largely a 3-and-D wing who's inconsistent from three-point range.

Simply put, it's not going to happen for him in Houston.

Rockets fans should watch Williams from a distance. They ought to root for his success. He still has a chance to make an NBA career for himself, but it's not going to happen in Houston.

They've seen better players come and go.