Australian guard Dante Exum is close to signing a deal to return to the Houston Rockets, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania .

Free agent guard Dante Exum is nearing a deal to return to the Houston Rockets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Exum played in only 24 games last season, but has returned to full health and averaged 9 points and 2.8 assists in Australia’s Bronze medal run in Tokyo Olympics.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 15, 2021

Exum arrived in Houston as part of the James Harden trade but never suited up for the Rockets last season due to an ongoing calf injury. He returned to full health and played a big role in helping the Australian Boomers win a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, averaging 9.0 points and 2.8 assists.

The No. 5 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft has struggled with injuries throughout his career, appearing in just 41 games over the past two seasons. In 24 games with the Cavs in 2019-20, he averaged 5.6 points, 2.2 assists and 2.8 rebounds on 47.9 percent shooting from the field and 35.1 percent from three.

At 26 years old, he fits in well with the rebuilding Rockets' timeline alongside their young core of Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr. Jae'Sean Tate and Christian Wood and following Charania's earlier report that the Rockets have agreed to trade point guard John Wall , there's minutes available in the backcourt for Exum to claim.

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