The Houston Rockets have signed center Rafael Castro to a two-way contract. In a related move, the team waived guard Tristen Newton.

Castro was eligible for the 2026 NBA Draft following his redshirt senior season at George Washington. He measured a 9-foot-1.5-inch standing reach and a 7-foot-1.25-inch wingspan at the NBA Draft Combine, and he appeared for Milwaukee's entries in the California Classic and NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Castro spent three seasons at Providence, including one as a redshirt freshman, before transferring to George Washington. He started all 63 games he appeared in across his junior and senior seasons, averaging 14.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.52 blocks and 1.48 steals while shooting 64.4 percent from the field.

Castro earned two Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team selections and was a finalist for the 2025-26 Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year Award.