HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Three weeks after his arrest for allegedly assaulting and strangling his girlfriend in a New York hotel, Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr was absent from media day and will remain away from the team for the time being.
"The allegations against him are deeply troubling," Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said in a statement. "Going back a few weeks, as soon as I heard the allegations, I informed his representatives that he could not be part of the Houston Rockets. He has not been with the team or around the team since that time."
Stone said the Rockets will stay in compliance of the NBA's domestic violence policy, which is why he declined to say if Porter would ever be welcomed back to the organization.
"I can't answer that and stay in compliance with the policy," he said. "So, I think that's again, this is now a legal matter and that's where it's happening."
Under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, the Rockets aren't allowed to discipline Porter, but they can waive him, which would cost the team $16.8 million, his entire 2023-24 salary, plus the $1 million currently owed to him for next season.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver called the allegations against Porter "horrific" and the expectation is that he'll place the Rockets guard on administrative leave while the league conducts its investigation.
The Rockets have reportedly looked to trade Porter since he was arrested.
