Rockets Sign Mississippi State Forward Cam Matthews to Exhibit 10 Deal
After trading away their draft picks, the Houston Rockets have made their first rookie addition through free agency, signing Mississippi State forward Cam Matthews to an Exhibit 10 contract for the 2025 offseason. Matthews was ranked No. 61 on John Hollinger’s draft board and No. 83 on Sam Vecenie’s.
This move comes after the Rockets traded away picks No. 10 and No. 59 in the 2025 NBA Draft, making Matthews the only rookie on the roster. Last offseason, the Rockets signed Oregon center N’Faly Dante to a two-way contract after the 2024 NBA Draft, with Dante appearing in four games during the 2024-2025 season.
Matthews spent all five years of his college career with the Mississippi State Bulldogs, playing in 167 games and starting 120 of them. In the 2024-2025 season, he averaged 7.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 3.1 stocks per game.
He was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team in each of his final two seasons and led the conference in steals per game during the 2024-2025 campaign. Matthews’ high energy and defensive tenacity made him a versatile defender, capable of matching up with both physical and speed-oriented opponents.
His athleticism aligns well with Houston’s young stars, such as Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore, who have demonstrated explosive skills rarely seen across the league.
However, Matthews’ offensive game needs improvement. He shot only 24% from beyond the arc, 55.6% from the free-throw line, and averaged 2.6 turnovers per game in 2024-2025.
Matthews will likely spend time between the Rockets’ main roster and their G League affiliate, with his role possibly resembling that of veteran forward Jae’Sean Tate. Tate has served as a point-forward, small-ball center, and energy wing for the Rockets over the years.
As the Rockets aim to contend in the near future, Matthews could be a glimpse of the type of players they want to surround their core of Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, and Alperen Sengun with—athletic, gritty defenders that fit the mold of head coach Ime Udoka’s system.
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