Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets reportedly signed guard Jalen Green to a three-year, $106 million rookie extension, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

Jalen Green is the first NBA player to successfully negotiate a 2-plus-1 rookie extension on a nine figure deal. Green became a pioneer as the first NBA G League Ignite signing in 2020. Now lands the most unique rookie extension ever. https://t.co/xw2SlsGbez

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 21, 2024

Green, 22, averaged 19.6 points on 42.3 percent shooting (33.2 percent from three), 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in his third NBA campaign last season.

The former No. 2 overall draft pick is a walking bucket at his best, notably dropping 42 points against the Washington Wizards on March 19 last season and adding 41 more versus the Utah Jazz four days later. Those two games were part of an eight-contest tear where he averaged 33.8 PPG.

Green had also been getting some love for his defensive improvement, including notes via Kelly Iko of The Athletic and Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle.

Despite his scoring abilities, age and potential, there were trade murmurs surrounding him last year.

Zach Lowe, then of ESPN, reported in January that Green was an "under-the-radar" name that NBA executives pointed out as potentially being made available. To be clear, Lowe didn't say that Houston was shopping Green, but rather that he could potentially be heading elsewhere should the right deal emerge.

Matt Moore of Action Network additionally reported in January that there was "no indication they'll look to make a major move with the starters despite a lot of awkward sideways glances in the direction of former 2nd overall pick Jalen Green. The team remains committed to helping Green find his role on a better team."

Green remained a Rocket post-trade deadline. But Houston notably added Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard with the No. 3 overall draft pick, naturally adding more questions about Green's future in town.

Parallel to all this has been Green's contract. The former G League Ignite star entered the 2024 offseason with one year left on his deal for $12.4 million before he could enter restricted free agency. He entered the 2024 offseason eligible for a max five-year, $225 million rookie scale contract extension, although the Rockets and Green could also come to terms on a lesser agreement.

Ultimately, the Rockets were able to agree with Green on an extension, keeping him in town as Houston attempts to continue its ascent up the Western Conference standings.

The Houston Rockets are not currently considering offering max extensions to guard Jalen Green or center Alperen Şengün, Shams Charania said Friday on ESPN's NBA Today.

"There's not a max contract on the table right now." 👀 @ShamsCharania on the Rockets' contract negotiations with Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun ✍️ pic.twitter.com/gJlxO1NpqP

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 18, 2024

Both Green and Şengün are currently slated to become restricted free agents after the 2024-25 season.

Charania said that Green and Şengün have both received offers from the Rockets, but that the Houston stars may need to test free agency in order to try for a max deal.

The deadline to decide on an extension is Monday. The Rockets kick off the regular season two days later against the visiting Charlotte Hornets.

Green is currently set to play the 2024-25 season on a $12.5 million club option, while Şengün is on a $5.4 million club option for the campaign.

Both are eligible for a five-year rookie extensions worth a maximum of around $225 million. Should either of them sign for that amount, they would be the first player to ink a rookie max extension since the Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo in 2020, per ESPN's Bobby Marks.

Şengün, who averaged a career-high 21.2 points and 9.3 assists last season on his way to a third-place finish in Most Improved Player voting, has told reporters multiple times this offseason that he is interested in signing an extension with the team.

"We've been talking. I want to get the contract, and they're trying to negotiate with us, we're trying to negotiate with them," Şengün told reporters in late September. "It's been good. We're going to make it work. We still have time, and hopefully we make it work."

Meanwhile Green, who recorded a career-high 5.2 rebounds per contest and saw a late-season offensive surge 2023-24, told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle that he "for sure" wanted an extension but was focused on the season ahead instead of his next deal.

"My main focus is the season ahead of me with the players that we have, go to the playoffs and go as far as we can," Green told Feigen. "We're building that team camaraderie, who we are. That's the main focus right now, and everything will work itself out."

Like the Philadelphia 76ers, who waited to extend Tyrese Maxey this offseason in part to take advantage of his free agent hold, the Rockets could enter 2025 free agency with more cap space should they hold off on the Green and Şengün deals until next summer, as noted by Marks.

Even if neither young star re-signs before Monday, the Rockets could still be planning to build their future team around Green and Şengün, although their next deals may have to wait until they hit restricted free agency next year.

Reed Sheppard debuted with the Houston Rockets on Monday night as they faced the Utah Jazz on the road, suffering a 113-122 loss.

QB Reed throws a touchdown DIME to Amen 🏈 pic.twitter.com/YUoSGhdtxz

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) October 8, 2024

After being drafted out of Kentucky as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, fans had high expectations for the 20-year-old. However, those expectations quickly diminished after he contributed four points, three rebounds, three assists, one steal and two blocks in his debut.

Aside from delivering a stellar outlet pass that resulted in two points and hitting a smooth jumper from just inside the arc, Sheppard didn't quite show fans what they were expecting.

The 6-foot-2 shooting guard was drafted to support veterans Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet, with the hope of helping to turn around a Houston team that finished 41-41 last season.

During Sheppard's one-year tenure with the Kentucky Wildcats, he averaged 12.5 points per game with 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 52 percent from beyond the arc.

3rd overall pick Reed Sheppard pulls up for his first #NBAPreseason points!

HOU-UTA | Live on NBA League Pass
📲 https://t.co/x1lpkh7ZCA pic.twitter.com/mooKwVZet4

— NBA (@NBA) October 8, 2024

Despite his short stay at the collegiate level, Sheppard believes that he is plenty prepared for the big-league thanks to his time at Kentucky (1:50 mark).

"That's a good thing about going to Kentucky is you get to play against the best players in the world, you get to be coached by the best coach in the world in Coach Cal," Sheppard told reporters on draft night. "Being able to go against those guys at practice and get better and better, that does nothing but get you prepared for the NBA."

There are rumors Reed Sheppard can shoot - but with Summer League & 1 preseason game, still no evidence

— Robert Land | Houston Sports Talk Podcast Host (@HSTPodcast) October 8, 2024

Wake up reed sheppard

— HTOWN (@Jcity713) October 8, 2024

Reed Sheppard very obviously has The Juice but he's gonna get eviscerated defensively this year.

— Mark Russell Pereira (@Mark_R_Pereira) October 8, 2024

reed sheppard

— henry (@henrynbadraft) October 8, 2024

My takeaways from tonight’s game:

- Jalen Green is exactly what I expected.
- Amen Thompson is elite.
- Reed Sheppard summer league may have been a fluke.
- Cam Whitmore having Jalen as a vet may have saved his career.
- Jabari…
- FVV is still a terrorist.
- Sengun all star szn

— RE2 (@rocketsenjoyer2) October 8, 2024

Sheppard will continue his rookie preseason campaign on Wednesday, Oct. 9 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road.

Coming off a breakout season, Alperen Şengün is in talks with the Houston Rockets about a long-term contract extension.

Per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, there is a "legitimate chance" the Rockets get a deal done with their 22-year-old center before the Oct. 21 deadline.

Şengün drew interest from multiple teams around the league during the summer, but Rockets general manager Rafael Stone made it clear they had no interest in dealing him.

Speaking to reporters during Monday's media day, Şengün was asked about his contract talks with the club.

"We've been talking," he said. "I want to get the contract, and [the Rockets] are trying to negotiate with us and we're trying to negotiate with them. So, it's been good. We're going to make it work. We still have time, you know, and hopefully we can make it work."

Money could be a complicating factor in contract talks between Şengün and the Rockets. Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported in July that neither Şengün nor Jalen Green were likely to receive a max offer.

It can certainly be argued that Şengün has earned a max contract, especially compared to some of his fellow 2021 draftees who received that deal from their clubs.

Cade Cunningham (No. 1 pick), Evan Mobley (No. 3), Scottie Barnes (No. 4) and Franz Wagner (No. 5) all signed five-year, $224.2 million extensions this summer. Cunningham missed most of the 2022-23 season due to a shin injury. Wagner had his least-productive offensive season in 2023-24 with a 28.1 three-point percentage.

Teams are starting to be more mindful of how much money they are spending because of the new apron rules and the limitations imposed by going over the second apron.

The Rockets aren't necessarily in danger of hitting the second apron if Şengün gets a max deal. His salary in 2025-26 would be an estimated $38.7 million based on the contracts signed by other 2021 draftees, compared to $16.3 million if he played on the restricted free agent tender.

Houston is projected to be $82.2 million under the second apron in 2025-26 before factoring in a potential $38.7 million salary for Şengün.

Şengün finished third in Most Improved Player voting last season. He averaged 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in 61 starts.

The only other players who averaged at least 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists per game last season were Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić.

The Houston Rockets and forward AJ Griffin agreed to a buyout earlier in the NBA season. On Saturday, Griffin said in a YouTube video that he was indeed retiring from the game, announcing his intention to go into "full-time ministry."

"I gave up basketball to follow Jesus," he said in the video. "I know that in a lot of people's eyes, that seems like a loss. But I just wanted to let you guys know that I'm super excited because I truly get to serve God."

As for why he couldn't pursue basketball and ministry concurrently, Griffin said he felt he was being called to let go of basketball and enter a new season in his life.

The 21-year-old and former Duke Blue Devil was the No. 16 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft for the Atlanta Hawks. He spent two seasons in Atlanta, averaging 7.5 points and 1.9 rebounds across 92 contests (12 starts).

He largely fell out of the rotation last season, however, and spent time away from the team in December for personal reasons.

This offseason, he was traded to the Rockets in a three-team deal with Atlanta and the Miami Heat that sent the No. 43 overall pick in this year's draft, Nikola Djurisic, to the Hawks and cash considerations and Pelle Larsson (the No. 44 overall pick in this year's draft) to Miami.

Griffin likely wouldn't have seen a ton of playing time in Houston, with players like Jabari Smith Jr., Dillon Brooks, Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason and Jae'Sean Tate available at forward. The Rockets are deep, and Griffin would have potentially struggled to find minutes.

His buyout opened up another roster spot for the Rockets, though given the team's impressive depth already, it's possible they could leave it open for flexibility in the trade market later in the season.

The Houston Rockets had a relatively quiet offseason, though landing the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA draft lottery allowed them to select Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard. Aaron Holiday was the biggest addition in free agency.

Nonetheless, team governor Tilman Fertitta is loving his team's depth heading into the 2024-25 campaign.

"There's no deeper team in the NBA than us," he told reporters Tuesday. "We're expecting a great year."

The Rockets definitely run deep.

A starting five of Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün is solid, while a second unit of Amen Thompson, Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason and Steven Adams has a ton of upside. Add in veterans like Jeff Green, Holiday and Jock Landale, and the Rockets have options up and down the roster.

I don't think this is correct. But the fun part: It's not a crazy thought either. The Rockets have a lot of guys who can play. https://t.co/YGKuebesZ4

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) September 24, 2024

The key to going from the team's 41-41 record last year—which wasn't enough to reach the Play-In Tournament—to a postseason berth this season will be the development of the young players.

Green and Şengün have already shown their bonafides, but a jump from either player—or both—would be huge for Houston. Even bigger would be players like Smith, Thompson or Whitmore taking another step in their development. And obviously, while Sheppard will only be a rookie, he burst onto the scene at Kentucky last season and could provide a nice spark off the bench.

"We're still very young," Fertitta acknowledged on Tuesday. "And as we watch all the greats who ever played the game, you're not great until your third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh year. I don't think Michael Jordan won his first championship until his seventh year."

Tillman Fertitta on the season ahead pic.twitter.com/S4TzQN7iIH

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) September 24, 2024

"Hakeem [Olajuwon], when did you win your first championship, your ninth year?" Fertitta then asked Rockets legend and Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon, who answered it was actually his 10th.

"We don't want to wait that long," Fertitta responded, which earned a laugh from the crowd "The point is, we're very young, there's high expectations, but to be great, we have to get a little older."

So hopes are high in Houston, which boasts a deep roster full of young players who have enticing upside. But setting realistic expectations for a developing young group is also clearly a priority.

The Houston Rockets and forward A.J. Griffin have agreed to a buyout, per the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen.

Griffin, the 16th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, was set to enter the third year of his four-year, $17.1 million contract. The buyout is worth $250,000, according to Feigen.

The Rockets waiving Griffin comes as the young player questioned his future in the NBA. The Athletic's Kelly Iko and Shams Charania reported that Griffin is stepping away from basketball and in doing so is "giving up a significant portion of the $3.9 million he was owed for the upcoming 2024-25 season, per a team source."

Charania reported earlier this month that Griffin was "seriously considering" stepping away from basketball and that he and the Rockets were "preparing for his departure from the game."

Griffin appeared in five games for the Rockets during Summer League this year and also took part in voluntary workouts, but Iko and Charania report that "as training camp edged closer, Griffin's appearances — and communication with the organization — diminished."

Iko and Charania added that the the Rockets "understand that his personal life takes priority and have offered their support."

Houston "has no immediate plans to fill the roster spot" and "will remain flexible and patient on the market," per Iko and Charania.

There were plenty of expectations for Griffin coming into the NBA after the Atlanta Hawks used a first-round pick on him.

A 5-star prospect coming out of high school, according to 247Sports, Griffin put up 10.4 points and 3.9 boards on a talented Duke team in his sole season with the Blue Devils, earning an ACC All-Freshman bid and showing flashes of NBA talent.

Griffin had a promising rookie year, averaging 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and an assist per game while playing 19.5 minutes per contest for the Hawks. He shot 46.5 percent from the field and 39 percent from deep during his rookie season.

He played a much smaller role for the Hawks in Year 2, appearing in just 20 games and averaging 2.4 points and 0.9 rebounds in his limited action. He also spent a brief period in the G League with the College Park Skyhawks, putting up 14.2 points and 4.3 boards in six games.

The Hawks traded Griffin to Houston in a three-team trade also involving the Miami Heat after selecting Zaccharie Risacher with the first pick in the 2024 NBA draft. While the Rockets hoped to add the 21-year-old to a young core on the brink of being a playoff team, they won't get the chance to do so as it seems he's leaning towards stepping away from basketball, either temporarily or permanently.

The 2024-25 season was going to be AJ Griffin's third in the NBA, but he reportedly may be done with his career.

Shams Charania and Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported Thursday the Houston Rockets forward is "seriously considering stepping away from basketball."

Houston acquired him via trade from the Atlanta Hawks this offseason, but Charania noted "sides are preparing for his departure from the game."

Expectations were high for Griffin when the Hawks selected him with the No. 16 overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft. After all, he was an ACC All-Freshman selection during his one season at Duke as someone who could stretch the floor or attack off the bounce as a matchup problem for opposing defenses.

He was a solid contributor in his rookie season, averaging 8.9 points and 2.1 rebounds while shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 39.0 percent from deep across 72 games and 12 starts.

However, Griffin's role was drastically reduced in his second season as he averaged 2.4 points and 0.9 rebounds across just 20 appearances.

Atlanta traded him to Houston as part of a three-team deal with the Miami Heat, and there was surely some hope he could rediscover his form and develop into a contributor for the Rockets. He is still just 21 years old and was joining a young core of players including Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green, Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr., among others.

Griffin's outside shooting could have played well in Houston when defenders collapsed on Şengün, Smith and Green, which would have created additional space.

Alas, the Rockets will not get the opportunity to see that play out if he ends up walking away from the game.

Former Houston Rockets general manager and assistant coach Carroll Dawson died Monday, the team announced. He was 86.

The team released the following statement:

"The Rockets family mourns the loss of beloved former coach and general manager, Carroll Dawson, affectionately known as 'CD.'

"For nearly three decades, CD was a cornerstone of our organization, instrumental in shaping the careers of stars like Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. A proud Texas native, CD served as the only coach to be present for all four of Houston's NBA Finals appearances, including the back-to-back championship teams. As general manager, he brought iconic talents to Houston including Charles Barkley, Steve Francis, Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, while also assembling the four-time WNBA champion Houston Comets.

"While CD's contributions to basketball were remarkable, it was his character that truly stood out. We will deeply miss his uplifting spirit, infectious humor, and kind-hearted nature. We are proud that CD's legacy will forever be honored with his banner hanging from the rafters of Toyota Center, alongside our other Rockets legends."

A cause of death was not released publicly.

A number of tributes followed news of Carroll's death:

So sad to hear Carroll Dawson, CD as he was known, has died. One of Baylor’s most famous basketball players and coaches before joining Rockets as an assistant coach and GM. Also Comets’ GM when they won 4 WNBA titles. R.I.P. CD!

— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) September 9, 2024

I met Carroll Dawson when he was an assistant coach at Baylor and I was in junior school. He was one of the greatest story tellers ever. Such a great sense of humor. He had friends across the basketball world and will be missed by so many.

— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) September 9, 2024

Carroll Dawson was a delightful human being and terrific basketball guy. Rudy T's right-hand man and then some in the Rockets' glory years.
Rest in peace "C.D."

— Charlie Pallilo (@Pallilo) September 9, 2024

"It wouldn't have happened without him," former Rockets head coach Rudy Tomjanovich told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. "The success wouldn't have happened without him. People don't understand how important he was to all of us."

"He was an amazing man," he added. "Life is interesting. You run into people. Sometimes there is chemistry that clicks. I was a city guy from up north. He was a guy from the country. He blessed my life so greatly. Yesterday, when I heard things were getting close, so many memories went through my head. I was thinking how fortunate I was to have him in my life."

Carroll played for Baylor during his college career and later served as the head coach there from 1973 to '77 seasons. He then served as the Rockets' assistant head coach from 1980 to '96 before moving to a position in the front office. He served as general manager until 2007, when he brought on Daryl Morey to serve as his successor.

Phase two of the Houston Rockets' rebuild paid off, though not quite to the extent they were hoping for.

After signing Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks in free agency last offseason, the Rockets improved their win total by 19 games from the 2022-23 season with a 41-41 record. A five-game losing streak late in the season pushed the team out of the play-in picture.

Houston was often mentioned in trade rumors this summer, but ultimately had a quiet offseason. The team did add Reed Sheppard with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA draft with the hope he can boost their three-point shooting as a rookie.

Head coach Ime Udoka helped establish a strong defensive identity in his first season with the club. The Rockets ranked ninth in defensive rating, their first time in the top 10 since 2017-18.

While much of the focus going into last season was on VanVleet and Brooks, the most encouraging performances for the Rockets were from Alperen Şengün, Jabari Smith Jr. and Jalen Green. Şengün and Green were the top two scorers on the team, with Şengün and Smith finishing first and second in rebounds.

If Sheppard can step in and elevate the Rockets' three-point shooting after they tied for 23rd in success rate (35.2 percent), they have the makings of a playoff contender in a loaded Western Conference.

2024-25 Rockets Schedule Details

Season Opener: vs. Charlotte Hornets, Oct. 23, 8 p.m. ET

Championship Odds: +8000 (bet $100 to win $8,000), per FanDuel

Full Schedule: The full schedule is available on NBA.com.

Top Matchups

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Rockets are still in the process of building a team that can compete for a title, so what better way to evaluate how far along they are than by judging them against arguably the best team in the NBA?

If you're just looking at teams on paper, it's hard not to think the Oklahoma City Thunder are the top team in the Western Conference. They were the No. 1 seed in the playoffs last season and likely got better by signing Isaiah Hartenstein to play center and acquiring Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls to take Josh Giddey's spot.

Houston and Oklahoma City split four meetings last season, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn't play in the final game on March 27. The Rockets won that matchup 132-126 when they were in the midst of an 11-game winning streak.

Oklahoma City's 115.5 points per game was the fourth-best scoring average of any Western Conference team against the Rockets. The only teams ahead of the Thunder were the Dallas Mavericks (122.3), Golden State Warriors (120.0) and Utah Jazz (117.3).

Udoka will certainly use his experience from those games in an attempt to improve those numbers when the Rockets take on the Thunder.

It would be a huge surprise if the Rockets end up finishing ahead of Oklahoma City by the end of the season, but the head-to-head matchups will determine how far along in the process of becoming a playoff contender they really are.

Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles attempted to make a splash in free agency by going after Klay Thompson before he decided to join the Dallas Mavericks. Once that pursuit failed, the Lakers basically just ran things back with the group they had last season.

The biggest change made by the Lakers was the hiring of head coach JJ Redick. He has a huge task ahead of him navigating the spotlight of coaching the most noteworthy team in the league and biggest star in the sport.

Speaking of the biggest star in the sport, the primary reason to focus on a Rockets-Lakers game is because of what happens when Brooks shares the court with LeBron James. It's not only relegated to NBA games because Brooks tried getting in James' head during a Canada-Team USA game leading up to the Olympics.

LeBron James and Dillon Brooks already getting chippy 👀 pic.twitter.com/VpPNjVThSF

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 11, 2024

It's not hard to envision a scenario in which the Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers are competing against each other for seeding in the Western Conference.

The Rockets got within 2.5 games of the Lakers during their 11-game winning streak in March. Los Angeles closed the season by winning five of its final seven games to secure the No. 8 seed and a spot in the play-in tournament. Houston lost six of its final nine games.

These two teams weren't far apart in the final standings last season. There's nothing to indicate they won't be fighting for position in the Western Conference once again.

Season Forecast

It feels like the Rockets' season is going to be determined by how much progress Şengün makes on the defensive end of the court.

For all of his improvements as an offensive player last season, Şengün remains a liability on defense. He drew the ire of Udoka at times last season for his negative impact as a defender.

There are so many high-level defensive players in place for the Rockets, but Şengün is the last line to the basket. If he can get closer to being just average on that end of the floor, Houston could make a significant leap up the standings.

Sheppard's ability to make an impact as a rookie will also go a long way toward solving another big problem the team had last season. He certainly lived up to his reputation during the summer league season.

3rd overall pick Reed Sheppard through 3 #NBA2KSummerLeague games:

🔥 20.0 PPG
🔥 4.7 APG
🔥 4.7 RPG
🔥 3.0 SPG
🔥 49.0 FG%

Listen to the @HoustonRockets' rookie mic'd up vs. the Wizards! pic.twitter.com/HprIXFbqlH

— NBA (@NBA) July 16, 2024

The Rockets had a top-10 defense even with Şengün's issues, but they ranked in the bottom half of the league in points per game and offensive rating.

There's plenty of room for growth on offense thanks to the drafting of Sheppard, along with the continued development of Green and Smith.

The ceiling for Houston is very high if everything goes right for at least two of the three young players on the roster. The competition in the Western Conference is extremely intense, so the most likely outcome for the Rockets is slightly better than what they did last season.

Record Prediction: 43-39