Rockets will control basketball ops for nearby D-League team

Rockets enter partnership with D-League’s Vipers

McALLEN, Texas — The Houston Rockets are taking over basketball operations of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in what it says is the first partnership of its kind with an NBA Developmental League team.

The move will give the Rockets control over the players assigned to the D-League team. The Rockets will also have the final say on staff hirings, coaching decisions and even the schemes used in games. The Vipers will still be locally owned by a group headed by Alonzo Cantu, and the group will continue to oversee business operations.

The Rockets will host an exhibition game against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 7 in Hidalgo, marking the first time an NBA D-League team has hosted a parent club for any part of training camp.