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Will B.J. Young Join the Houston Rockets' Affiliated Rio Grande Valley Vipers?

Just days into training camp, the Rockets have released B.J. Young. Will the youngster end up playing for the NBADL-affiliated Rio Grande Valley Vipers this season?

By Keith Schlosser
Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports

Just days into NBA training camp, the Houston Rockets announced they have released Arkansas' guard B.J. Young.

The move isn't at all too surprising, though Young does intriguing potential. What is surprising, however, is the timing of such a release. Why so soon?

Still, it would make sense to see Young end up with the Rockets' D-League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, this coming fall. Prior to the guard going undrafted earlier this summer, we predicted a similar fate for the young gun:

Having a consistent shooting stroke is undoubtedly a plus, but even NBA teams often appear content to ride or die with similarly hot/cold players. Teams can live with one's cold streaks as long as when they are in fact able to turn up the heat, there's absolutely no stopping them.

Young has the potential to emerge as such a player, and thus, is garnering consideration as a late second-round draft selection. Still, his other skills are incredibly raw. Though he's able to score in bunches, Young doesn't appear to have another concrete skill or ability that is fully developed just yet.

With this all in mind, the 20 year old's most likely path to the NBA may ultimately be through the D-League.

Following the draft, we still recognized Young as one of the better unselected players. An undersized shooting guard, the young gun is fiery, quick, and can score in bunches. Having said that, he seems to lack a certain refinement that scorers often own to stay cool, calm, and collected throughout.

He's still young, so there's certainly still more time for him to gain that. It's specifically for that reason that Young could benefit from time in the NBA D-League. After averaging 11.8 points on 51% shooting from the field during NBA Summer League in Orlando this past July for the Rockets, it would make sense that he soon graces the minor league hardwood for RGV. Certainly not a bad place to be, the Vipers will enter the year as defending NBADL champs. The Rockers organization takes great pride in monitoring (as well as furthering) the progress and development of the young guns on their squad.