The Houston Rockets plan to utilize the NBA Development League heavily this season for their two draft picks, Clint Capela and Nick Johnson.

“The Vipers have been great for us,” Kevin McHale said. “We sent guys down here. It helped them. D-Mo was down here. Terrence came down for a while. It really helps their game a lot. I like it. Like this year, will be a huge year for Clint Capela down here. That will be fantastic. Nick Johnson will be able to uses this to improve. It’s been fantastic for us."

Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas developed in the D-League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2012-13, while Isaiah Canaan and Troy Daniels played with the Vipers most of last season.