Houston Rockets Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Southwest Notes: Green, Tate, Grizzlies

August 27th, 2024 at 10:16pm CST by Tristan Tucker

Jalen Green was having a solid season until March, averaging 17.9 points per game while shooting 40.4% from the field. He had made some strides on the defensive end but still hadn’t exploded onto the scene as a former No. 2 overall pick, Joe Wolfond of TheScore.com writes.

That was until March, when Green then averaged 24.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per night while shooting 46.1% from the field and 37.0% from beyond the arc in his final 23 games of the season. As Wolfond notes, it wasn’t empty production during the late part of the season, as the Rockets went 13-2 in March.

Green hasn’t yet been extended, however, and reports of Houston’s interest in Kevin Durant or other potential superstars down the line make it seem like the team is open to shaking up the core. As Wolfond writes, this season will be instrumental in determining whether the Rockets will or should commit long-term to the duo of Alperen Sengun and Green, as well as what sort of role Green will carry into the future.

We have more from the Southwest Division:

It might be hard for Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate to find minutes in 2024, with Tari Eason returning from injury and serving as the primary forward defender off the bench, Rahat Huq of Forbes writes. Tate might crack the rotation if he’s able to become a more reliable shooter in his age-29 season. However, the Rockets brought him back along with the likes of Jock Landale and Jeff Green and could combine salaries of some of their lower-minutes players (around $28MM) to match contracts in trades.
By waiving Mamadi Diakite, the Grizzlies are preserving their 15th roster spot for future flexibility, Damichael Cole of Memphis Commercial Appeal writes. The club could use that spot for a depth piece in the event of injuries or could leave it open until later in the season to ensure team salary doesn’t surpass the luxury tax line.
In case you missed it, Matt Ryan is re-joining the Pelicans on a restructured deal for training camp but it does not contain Exhibit 10 language. The contract is a non-guaranteed, minimum-salary Exhibit 9 deal. That means his deal can’t be converted to a two-way contract. The Pelicans’ standard roster stands at 15 players.

Jokic Tops Poll For Best Player; Gilgeous-Alexander Gets Nod For 2024/25 MVP

August 26th, 2024 at 10:14pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is the best NBA player right now but he’s not going to win another Most Valuable Player award next season.

That’s the majority opinion of the 18 NBA coaches, scouts and executives that ESPN’s Tim Bontemps polled. All but three of them believe Jokic is the league’s top player.

However, when the subject of next season’s MVP came up, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received seven votes. A handful chose Mavericks guard Luka Doncic with Jokic only receiving two votes.

The Thunder and Celtics are the solid favorites to emerge from their respective conferences and square off in the Finals. Boston received 13 votes to win the East, while Oklahoma City picked up 14 votes to emerge from the West. The Celtics received eight votes to repeat as champions, while the Thunder were chosen by seven members of the group.

There was no love for the top pick in the draft, Zaccharie Risacher.The Hawks big man didn’t receive a single vote for Rookie of the Year. The same goes for the topic of best player from the 2024/25 rookie class in five years. Grizzlies center Zach Edey garnered a panel-best eight votes for ROY, while Rockets guard Reed Sheppard was chosen by eight of them to be the best of the bunch in five years.

Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama got two-thirds of the vote for top overall player in five years.

Rockets Hire Joseph Blair As G League Head Coach

August 26th, 2024 at 1:27pm CST by Rory Maher

The Rockets have hired Joseph Blair as head coach of their NBA G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the team announced (Twitter link). Michael Scotto of HoopsHype was first to report the news (via Twitter).

Blair, 50, played four years of college basketball at Arizona prior to being selected No. 35 overall back in 1996. While he never played an NBA regular season game, the 6’10” big man had a long and productive international career, including winning EuroLeague regular season MVP in 2002/03.

This is Blair’s second stint with the Vipers. He previously served as an assistant for three years (from 2015-18) prior to being promoted to head coach and won a title while leading RGV during the 2018/19 campaign.

Over the past five years, Blair has been an assistant coach with Philadelphia, Minnesota and Washington. He spent the past three seasons with the Wizards before he was let go in April. Blair also interviewed for Milwaukee’s head coaching job in 2023.

Kevin Burleson, who was the Vipers’ head coach the past two seasons, is being hired by the Pistons as an assistant coach under J.B. Bickerstaff.

Boban Marjanovic Looking To Play For New NBA Team

August 25th, 2024 at 3:19pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Free agent center Boban Marjanovic is still hoping to land with an NBA squad this summer, he relayed to Milun Nesovic of Meridian Sport (hat tip to Eurohoops for the translation).

Marjanovic was in Slovenia to partake in a star-studded tribute game to retiring former All-NBA point guard Goran Dragic. Hall of Famers Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Bosh and Steve Nash were all also in attendance, as was reigning league MVP Nikola Jokic.

“I’m waiting for the NBA, but if it doesn’t happen, there is a lot on paper going on,” Marjanovic said. “Every time you make plans, it doesn’t work out. Plans always change.”

Since entering the league with the Spurs, Marjanovic has bounced around the league as a reserve center. He’s played for the Pistons, Clippers, Sixers, and Mavericks. Marjanovic most recently suited up for the Rockets from 2022-24.

The full interview is an interesting one. Here are some other comments from Marjanovic:

The 36-year-old did not play for his native Serbia during this summer’s Olympics, but he was clearly invested while watching Jokic and co. almost upset Team USA during their semifinal matchup. “First of all, it’s an amazing experience to watch your friends fight,” Marjanovic said. “There is still regret for that lost match against America, since we all saw it as, ‘Well, we’re winning!’ That’s why it hurts a little. But bronze is bronze, a medal! An extraordinary success for us as a country, for them as individuals and, of course, for our basketball.”
In reflecting on Dragic’s retirement game, the 7’4″ big man remarked on the scope of the event, in terms of its attendees. “I saw people here that I haven’t seen in a long time,” Marjanovic said. “It’s fascinating how many people and faces there are in one place. It will be a nice event. Gogi is a fascinating guy, not to mention what kind of player he was, you all know that. He deserves this. The organization is really at the top level.”

The Rockets’ Path To Max-Salary Cap Room In 2025

August 23rd, 2024 at 10:44am CST by Luke Adams

It hasn't been all that common in recent years for would-be contenders to carry significant cap room into free agency, but the Sixers and - to a lesser extent - the Thunder showed this year that it can still pay off in a big way.

Philadelphia plotted for over a year to maximize its cap room for the 2024 offseason, putting off a contract extension for Tyrese Maxey in order to generate extra spending power by keeping his modest cap hold on the books and then going over the cap to re-sign him. That approach put the 76ers in position to sign Paul George, arguably the top unrestricted free agent on the market, to a four-year, maximum-salary contract and then to use their remaining cap room to sign complementary players like Caleb Martin and Andre Drummond.

Oklahoma City, meanwhile, didn't have maximum-salary room available and didn't go big-game hunting at the very top of this year's free agent class, but the Thunder used their space to give Isaiah Hartenstein a front-loaded contract starting at $30MM, outbidding the Knicks to land either the best or second-best center available (depending on how you feel about Nic Claxton).

At this point, there are hardly any teams that project to operate under the cap in 2025, and many of the clubs that could have cap room - such as the Nets and Wizards - are still very much in the retooling stage.

There's one potential exception though. The Rockets finished last season with a 41-41 record and appear poised to take another step forward this season as their young core (which now includes No. 3 overall pick Reed Sheppard) continues to grow. Houston also has the ability to create maximum-salary cap space next offseason.

However, the Rockets' path to maximum-salary room isn't quite as clean as the Sixers' was, and may require shedding one or two starter-caliber players. Let's take a closer look at the team's potential path to max space.

Houston currently has just two players with guaranteed salaries for the 2025/26 season, but that total could increase to seven once the team picks up several rookie scale options for '25/26 by the October 31 deadline. Here are the details:

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NBA 2024 Offseason Check-In: Houston Rockets

August 17th, 2024 at 2:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Hoops Rumors is checking in on the 2024 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, recapping the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll take a look at each team’s offseason moves and consider what might still be coming before the regular season begins. Today, we’re focusing on the Houston Rockets.

Free agent signings

Aaron Holiday: Two years, $9,569,400. Second-year team option. Re-signed using bi-annual exception. Waived right to veto trade.
Nate Hinton: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed (Exhibit 10). Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
Jermaine Samuels: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed (Exhibit 10). Re-signed using minimum salary exception.

Trades

Acquired the Suns’ 2027 first-round pick, either the Mavericks’ or the Suns’ 2029 first-round pick (whichever is more favorable), swap rights for the Suns’ 2025 first-round pick, and swap rights for either the Mavericks’ or Suns’ 2029 first-round pick (whichever is least favorable) from the Nets in exchange for the Nets’ own 2026 first-round pick and control of the Nets’ own 2025 first-round pick (negating the Rockets’ right to swap either their own 2025 first-rounder or the Thunder’s 2025 first-rounder for Brooklyn’s pick).
Acquired AJ Griffin from the Hawks in a three-team trade in exchange for the draft rights to Pelle Larsson (No. 44 pick; to Heat).

Draft picks

1-3: Reed Sheppard
- Signed to rookie scale contract (four years, $45,853,024).

Two-way signings

Departed/unsigned free agents

Reggie Bullock (unsigned)
Boban Marjanovic (unsigned)

Other moves

Exercised Jeff Green‘s 2024/25 team option ($8,000,000).
Exercised Jae’Sean Tate‘s 2024/25 team option ($7,565,217).

Salary cap situation

Operating over the cap ($140.6MM) and below the luxury tax line ($170.8MM).
Carrying approximately $163.9MM in salary.
Hard-capped at $178,132,000.
Full mid-level exception ($12.8MM) available.
One traded player exception available (worth $797,080).

The offseason so far

After making a major splash on the free agent market a year ago by signing several Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and a handful of other veterans, the Rockets had a much quieter summer in 2024.

Houston’s only real move of note in free agency was to bring back reserve point guard Aaron Holiday on a two-year contract that isn’t guaranteed beyond 2024/25. Holiday was solid in a rotation role last season, but he’s unlikely to play more than 15-18 minutes per game.

The team also made a minor move on the trade market by acquiring AJ Griffin from Atlanta in exchange for the No. 44 overall pick in this year’s draft. A 2022 first-round pick, Griffin had a promising rookie season, with 8.9 PPG and a .390 3PT%, then missed significant time in 2023/24 due to leg and ankle injuries, as well as personal issues. He wasn’t effective even when he did play, but Houston is betting on a bounce-back season for a player who will remain on his affordable rookie scale contract for two more seasons.

While the Rockets didn’t control their own first-round pick in 2024, one of the first-rounders they acquired from Brooklyn in the James Harden blockbuster paid off in a major way, moving up to No. 3 on lottery night. Houston used that selection to draft Reed Sheppard, who posted a .521 3PT% in his lone college season at Kentucky. Having added Griffin and Sheppard, it’s clear the Rockets made it an offseason priority to improve a three-point percentage (35.2%) that ranked 23rd in the NBA last season.

The rest of the Rockets’ moves are arguably more noteworthy for what they mean going forward than the impact they’ll have in the short term.

Houston picked up its team options on Jeff Green ($8MM) and Jae’Sean Tate ($7.6MM) while guaranteeing Jock Landale‘s $8MM salary for 2024/25, giving the team nearly $24MM in expendable expiring contracts that could come in handy at this season’s trade deadline. Green, Tate, and Landale figure to see some action during the regular season, but none are locks to spend all year in the rotation, especially if the club’s young players continue to improve — they may be more valuable as trade chips.

The Rockets also gave up control of the Nets’ first-round picks in 2025 (they had swap rights) and 2026 (they would’ve acquired Brooklyn’s pick outright) in exchange for two future first-rounders and two future swaps. Three of those four are Suns picks. It’s an interesting play for Houston, which is pushing its trade assets further into the future and betting against Phoenix’s longevity as a contending team, as most of those picks and swaps are for either 2027 or 2029.

Up next

With plenty of expiring money on their books, a surplus of future draft assets, and a handful of talented young players on their roster, the Rockets are well positioned to make a bid for a star if one becomes available on the trade market.

Between now and the start of the regular season, however, the more pressing issue is whether to extend Alperen Sengun and/or Jalen Green. Both players are eligible for rookie scale extensions until October 21.

Sengun enjoyed a breakout year in 2023/24, finishing third in Most Improved Player voting after averaging 21.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 5.0 APG. Green’s scoring average declined, but he continued to show flashes of stardom, including one 20-game stretch from February to April in which he put up 26.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 4.3 APG on .465/.381/.822 shooting.

Still, Green remains an inconsistent overall shooter and defender; Sengun, who was injured to finish the season, isn’t really a rim protector in the middle; and the Rockets had a higher net rating when each player was off the court than when he was on it. That’s not to say that Sengun and Green don’t deserve extensions, but neither case is a no-brainer for Houston, especially if those 2021 first-rounders are seeking maximum salaries or something close to it.

It’s also unclear whether the Rockets want to maintain the flexibility to potentially clear maximum-salary cap room in 2025. If so, it would certainly make sense to hold off on an extension for Sengun, at least. His cap hold as a restricted free agent would be just $16.3MM, far below his projected first-year salary on a new deal. Green’s cap hold would come in just above $31MM, so postponing an extension for him would only create additional cap flexibility if Houston expects to pay him more than that in 2025/26.

Green To Host Players-Only Camp

August 12th, 2024 at 9:30pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Rockets are doing some early bonding, according to Kelly Iko of The Athletic (Twitter link). Jalen Green is hosting a players-only minicamp in Los Angeles this week with Alperen Sengun, Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson among the teammates expected to show up.

And-Ones: Risacher, Sarr, Sheppard, LeBron, TV Package, Beverley

July 27th, 2024 at 11:58am CST by Dana Gauruder

The top two picks in the draft — Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr — were also two of the biggest disappointments during Summer League action, John Hollinger of The Athletic notes.

The Hawks‘ Risacher shot 11-of-28 from the floor in 59 minutes before being sidelined by a quad contusion. The Wizards‘ Sarr shot 0-of-15 from the field in his third game and only scored two points in his fourth outing. The Pacers‘ Jarace Walker and Timberwolves‘ Rob Dillingham were among the other notable players who struggled in Vegas.

On the flip side, third overall pick Reed Sheppard of the Rockets showcased his all-around skills, Hollinger writes. Another standout was Scotty Pippen Jr., who made a strong case to be the Grizzlies‘ backup point guard.

The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann and ESPN’s experts also shared their thoughts on the biggest takeaways from Summer League action.

We have more from around the basketball world:

LeBron James ranks No. 1 among the top 25 players in this century, according to a poll of ESPN experts. Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal round out the top five.
The new broadcasting deals signed by the league with Disney, NBC and Amazon include national broadcasts on every day of the week during the regular season. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps provides more details on the rights packages.
Patrick Beverley will not face criminal charges for throwing a basketball at a Pacers fan during the playoffs, The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov tweets. A Marion County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman said the county won’t bring charges after it reviewed the Indianapolis police department investigation. Beverley is expected to play with an Israeli team next season.

Rockets Sign Jack McVeigh To Two-Way Contract

July 25th, 2024 at 6:10pm CST by Dana Gauruder

JULY 25: McVeigh’s two-way contract with the Rockets is now official, per Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).

JULY 15: Australian forward Jack McVeigh has agreed to a two-way deal with the Rockets, ESPN’s Olgun Uluc reports.

The 6’8” McVeigh, 28, is coming off the best season of his professional career with the Tasmania JackJumpers. He led them to the 2024 NBL Championship and earned Championship Series MVP honors. Over the 2023/24 NBL season, McVeigh averaged 16.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the JackJumpers, shooting 52.5% from the field and 36.4% from beyond the arc.

McVeigh is a member of the 12-man Australian Boomers team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. He had nine points in Australia’s exhibition loss to Team USA on Monday.

McVeigh spent four seasons at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln before beginning his professional career in the NBL.

Rockets big man Jock Landale is also on the Australian national team.

The Rockets had one opening for another two-way player. Jeenathan Williams and N’Faly Dante hold the other two-way deals.

Rockets’ Tari Eason Discusses Leg Injury, Rehab

July 23rd, 2024 at 10:50pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Following a solid rookie season, Tari Eason fell victim to the injury bug last season. Eason appeared in just 22 games, none after January 1st.

The Rockets forward underwent surgery to treat a benign growth on his lower leg, with the procedure involving “excising and bone grafting the lesion along with inserting an intramedullary rod in his tibia to help accelerate healing.”

Eason told The Athletic’s Kelly Iko it was all a new experience for him.

“It was a trying time,” Eason said. “I’ve never really dealt with a major injury or anything that has kept me out of basketball for a long period of time. It was tough on me mentally, but I had the right people in my corner, giving me good, positive energy and praying. That helped me stay grounded through the process.”

Indeed, Eason appeared in all 82 games in his rookie campaign, averaging 9.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.2 steals in 21.5 minutes per night. The rehab process has been arduous but he’s confident he’ll be ready to reestablish himself in training camp.

“I feel good. I feel like I’m close to 100 percent. You’ve seen me jumping, running, dunking,” he said. “I feel pretty normal, to be honest. It’s really about getting all the movements back to where they were.”

Eason was the 17th pick of the 2022 draft and projects as a key reserve on the much-improved Rockets. He’ll be eligible for a rookie scale extension next offseason.

Here’s more from his interview with Iko:

Eason said he felt soreness in his shin before the season began: “I’d say right before training camp in the Bahamas during the team trip. Working out, I would notice that my shin would be really, really sore. I thought that was maybe through lack of treatment or stretching, things like that. I put more time in the training room and just ignored it. But definitely around training camp, because every time I jumped, I was in pain.”
The injury took a mental toll on him: “It was weird going to games and not suiting up, wearing regular clothes. It was sad. There was a point where I really was sad, a low point. I didn’t know what was going to happen, I didn’t know what the solution was. That thought of not knowing is uncomfortable.”
On how he views next season: “I don’t have too many words on that. I’m going to let my game do the talking. A lot of stuff has been said, a lot of ways people view me, I hear it all. But I’m not here to prove anything.”