Papanikolaou expected to sign with Rockets next week

Kostas Papanikolaou is expected to sign next week once his buyout makes its way through the FIBA approval process.

He is expected to compete for playing time off the bench, likely at small forward initially. But the Rockets cite his room to grow as much as how far he has already come.

Papanikolaou had an offer worth $4.8 million next season, the largest salary in the first year of a contract ever for a second-round pick and more than enough for him to afford his buyout from FC Barcelona Basquet.