Southwest Notes: Lively, Flagg, Giannis, Wembanyama, Sengun, Durant, Smith Jr.
Mavericks center Dereck Lively II has only two years of NBA experience but he’s playing a mentorship role to top pick Cooper Flagg, according to Jake Rogers of Dallas Hoops Journal. Naturally, they have a college connection, as both were one-and-dones at Duke.
“I’ve probably known him for a couple of years now, at least two or three,” Lively said. “He’s always been the same smiling, joking kid. I’m glad he’s been able to stay grounded, not letting the spotlight overwhelm him. Whether he’s in the gym or hanging out at the house, he’s always just being Coop.”
Lively has stayed in frequent contact with Flagg since the draft.
“I’m making sure he feels as comfortable as possible, giving him any little detail or advice. I remember how frightened I was at 19. He’s only 18,” Lively said.
Here’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has carved out a Hall of Fame worthy career but he’s also into collecting memorabilia of other NBA superstars. His current target is Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama, he told Brooks Peck of The Athletic during an appearance at the National Sports Collector Convention. “I want Wemby’s first rookie card ever,” Antetokounmpo said. “I think he’s gonna be one of the best players in the league in the next couple of years. I think he will have a very great career moving forward, so — maybe like a jersey, his first jersey or his first basketball shoe when he played his first NBA game, or the first ball that he played with and scored his very first point. You gotta go with Wemby, Steph (Curry), LeBron (James), MJ (Michael Jordan). Those are great investments.”
- Rockets center Alperen Sengun believes the offense will thrive with the addition of Kevin Durant. Sengun, who will play for Turkey in EuroBasket, made his comments to Anadolu, Turkey’s state-run news agency (hat tip to RocketsWire). “I’m excited to play with Durant. Everyone is excited to play with him. It doesn’t matter his age — ultimately, he’s Kevin Durant. I have no doubt he will bring a lot to the team,” Sengun said. “He’s very experienced, and we have some very young players. I think he’ll open up the game for us. He’s incredibly effective both offensively and defensively.”
- Along the same lines, Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. said he believes playing with Durant will be a learning experience, RocketsWire relays via an interview with Space City Home Network’s Vanessa Richardson. “Kevin Durant is one of the greatest players to ever touch a basketball,” Smith said. “It’s going to be great for me to learn from him, and see what he does, day-to-day… and just soak up as much game as I can. It’s going to be fun playing alongside him and going to battle with him.”
Rockets Notes: Sheppard, Smith, Green, Brooks
Finishing with the second-best record in the West, the Rockets weren’t able to give Reed Sheppard the playing time that a No. 3 overall draft pick normally receives. So they’ve decided to make his development the focus of their Summer League team, writes Kelly Iko of The Athletic. That process extends beyond his on-court contributions, as Sheppard has also become a leader and teacher for his teammates as they work to earn NBA roster spots.
“He’s been more vocal with this group,” Summer League head coach Garrett Jackson said. “I’m constantly encouraging him to do that. But just being more assertive, getting us set up in our sets as the point guard of this team.”
Sheppard showed his full array of skills in Friday’s loss to the Clippers, finishing with a game-high 28 points, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals and three blocks in 33 minutes. He’s been given full control of the offense in Las Vegas, with the instructions to play fast and freelance while adhering to principles set by head coach Ime Udoka.
“He’s getting better and better every day,” teammate Nate Williams said. “He puts in the work and I see him putting in the work behind the scenes. I love having him as a teammate. He’s not the most vocal guy — he leads with his actions — but he does what he’s supposed to do. Makes the right plays and does the right things off the court. He’s a good kid and he’s growing every day.”
There’s more on the Rockets:
- Jabari Smith Jr. is hoping for a long-term future in Houston after agreeing to a five-year, $122MM rookie scale extension last month, per Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle. Instead of pushing for a higher salary or testing the market next summer as a restricted free agent, Smith opted to become the first member of the 2022 draft class to reach an extension. “It feels great to just know that you’re committed to the city where you want to be. I want to be here for the rest of my career,” Smith said. “So I’m glad that this is a good start to it, and I’m ready to build something.”
- Jalen Green knew he was on the trade market for some time before the Rockets sent him to the Suns as part of Kevin Durant deal, Lerner states in a separate story. He arrived in Phoenix last week to begin preparations with his new franchise and said he plans to reconnect with his former teammates this week in Las Vegas. “They’ve been trying to trade me since last year,” Green said. “I’m not tripping. It’s for the better of the team. I know it’s a business at the end of the day. I really can’t handle how I feel. Whatever happens, happens. At the end of the day, I still got the opportunity to play basketball.”
- Dillon Brooks, who was sent to Phoenix along with Green, told Lerner in another piece that he’ll miss the connections he had with his Rockets teammates. He exchanged greetings with several of them during Friday’s Summer League game. “I thought about it and the only reason why I was upset about it was because I loved playing with Fred VanVleet), playing with Ime,” Brooks said. “We grew something there and Ime and the coaching staff was family oriented and it was like a brotherhood. That was the only reason why I thought it was a little bit sad.”
Contract Details: KPJ, J. Smith, Wiseman, Schröder, Stevens
Despite the fact that the Bucks used their room exception to complete the signing, guard Kevin Porter Jr. received the exact value of the bi-annual exception on his new two-year deal, Hoops Rumors has confirmed. The first year is worth $5,134,000, with a second-year player option worth $5,390,700. The move leaves roughly $3.65MM on Milwaukee’s room exception.
A player who re-signs with his previous team on either a one-year contract or a two-year deal with a second-year option is typically awarded the right to veto a trade for the rest of that season. However, Porter is one of a few players, along with Lakers big man Jaxson Hayes, who have waived that right as part of their new deals.
Sixers guard Eric Gordon and Raptors wing Garrett Temple have also given up that right to veto a trade, Hoops Rumors has confirmed.
We have more details on some of the recently signed contracts from around the league:
- Jabari Smith Jr.‘s five-year, $122MM rookie scale extension with the Rockets declines in the second season before increasing in each of the final three years, notes Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. That dip in 2027/28 comes during the season in which an extension for Amen Thompson figures to be hitting Houston’s books — it could also be the final year of Kevin Durant‘s contract, if he signs a two-year extension with the team at some point.
- James Wiseman‘s new two-year, minimum-salary contract with the Pacers, which features a second-year team option, is partially guaranteed for $1MM in 2025/26, Hoops Rumors has learned. If Wiseman’s option for ’26/27 is exercised, that year’s salary would be partially guaranteed for roughly $1.13MM.
- Dennis Schröder‘s three-year deal with the Kings, which is worth exactly the three-year value of the mid-level exception ($44,427,600), is partially guaranteed for $4.35MM in the third year, tweets Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Although the contract fits into the MLE, Sacramento is believed to have used an existing trade exception to accommodate the acquisition of Schröder.
- Isaiah Stevens‘ two-way contract agreement with the Kings will cover two years, according to Scotto (Twitter link).
Rockets Sign Jabari Smith Jr. To Five-Year Extension
July 6: Smith’s deal is now official, according to the transaction log at NBA.com.
June 29: The Rockets intend to sign Jabari Smith Jr. to a five-year rookie scale extension worth $122MM, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (via Twitter).
Smith was in and out of the Rockets’ starting lineup this season, but is presumed to be in line to take the starting power forward role following the Rockets’ trade for Kevin Durant.
The No. 3 pick in the 2022 draft, Smith posted a career-low in points per game as his role fluctuated and he dealt with injuries, but the appeal of his skill set in the modern game is clear. Smith has averaged 13.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks while shooting 35.9% on 4.9 three-point attempts per game over the previous two seasons.
A tough-minded defender with a capable jump shot and some untapped potential as a shot creator, Smith will slot into a primarily off-ball role offensively next to Fred VanVleet, Alperen Sengun, and Durant, while helping create a defensive infrastructure as a skilled weak-side rim protector next to Sengun and Amen Thompson.
This contract will lock up the talented young power forward through the 2030/31 season. The Athletic’s Kelly Iko confirms (via Twitter) that the deal is fully guaranteed and contains no team or player options.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks expressed some surprise at how early the deal got done, as typically the first week of free agency remains the providence of players receiving max contracts, which Smith did not.
The Rockets still have Tari Eason‘s extension eligibility to consider, so whether the Smith deal impacts Eason’s candidacy remains to be seen. Yossi Gozlan of the Third Apron writes (via Twitter) that with the Smith extension, the Rockets are still $80MM below the 2026/27 luxury tax line, giving them room to extend both Durant and Eason.
There has been speculation that Houston might extend one Smith or Eason and wait until next year’s restricted free agency to decide on the other’s future, but outside of Durant, the Rockets have clearly prioritized continuity with the team that won 52 games last season, retaining VanVleet and Steven Adams while reportedly planning on bringing back Aaron Holiday, Jae’Sean Tate, and Jeff Green.
Lottery Pick Facilitated Durant Trade
The Rockets’ willingness to give up their lottery pick in this week’s draft played a significant role in the agreed-upon Kevin Durant blockbuster with the Suns, Kelly Iko and Sam Amick report.
The Rockets refused to give the Suns’ 2027 and 2029 first-round selections, which Houston controls via prior trades, back to Phoenix. Those picks were sent to Brooklyn in the February 2023 Durant deal and the Rockets acquired them in a June 2024 deal with the Nets.
However, the Rockets had found it difficult to bring in top prospects for workouts this spring due to the possibility of a Durant deal. The Suns believe they can draft a player at that spot who can be an immediate contributor.
The trade between the clubs was the culmination of weeks-long discussions, though the two sides hadn’t talked for a week before the conversations were reignited on Thursday. Rockets general manager Rafael Stone refused to part with most of his young players, including Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason. Efforts were made to add other trade partners to the mix but that didn’t gain any footing, so it became a straight two-team swap.
Jalen Green, who struggled in the postseason, became increasingly aware he could be part of a potential package, even though he preferred to stay put. He received word that he was being dealt approximately an hour before the deal was first reported.
According to Phoenix sports talk show host John Gambadoro, the Rockets were willing to give up Smith prior to the February trade deadline. They offered Smith and Green without any draft picks for Durant at that time (Twitter link).
While there were numerous reports in recent months that the Rockets were unwilling to break up their young core, they eventually warmed to the idea of making an all-in move. The prospect of adding a dynamic scorer and proven postseason performer like Durant was seen as their best win-now option, according to The Athletic duo. There’s a strong belief that the Durant-Rockets partnership will extend beyond next season, even if he doesn’t sign an extension right away next month.
Houston head coach Ime Udoka, who recently received an extension, was a strong behind-the-scenes advocate for adding Durant, Marc Stein reports in his latest Substack post. Udoka, who overlapped with Durant in Brooklyn, has a close friendship with the star forward.
With both Green and Dillon Brooks included in the trade, a starting spot should open up in Houston for Smith, who was moved to the second unit for a portion of the season. Amen Thompson, who replaced Smith in the lineup, will join Fred VanVleet in the backcourt. The Rockets hold a $44.9MM option on VanVleet’s contract, with a decision due in the next week.
Durant expressed excitement when asked by Kay Adams at Fanatics Fest in New York about the trade, ESPN’s Shams Charania relays.
“Being part of the Houston Rockets, I’m looking forward to it,” Durant said. “Crazy, crazy last couple weeks, but I’m glad it’s over with.”
Kevin Durant Trade Talks Between Suns, Rockets At Impasse
The Rockets are considered to be among the favorites to trade for Kevin Durant, and they’re one of three teams on Durant’s list of preferred destinations that was leaked to the media last weekend. However, during an appearance Friday on The Athletic NBA Daily podcast, reporter Sam Amick revealed that the Rockets and Suns haven’t discussed a Durant deal in several days (hat tip to Ben DuBose of Rockets Wire).
“I was told yesterday (Thursday) that Houston hadn’t talked to Phoenix since last week, and that call didn’t go particularly well,” Amick said. “That could have changed by now, again that’s as of yesterday. They would love to have KD, but it’s on their price.”
Phoenix appears to be at a standoff with several teams while working to close a Durant deal before the first night of the draft on Wednesday. The Suns have reportedly been underwhelmed by offers from the Rockets, Spurs, Heat, Timberwolves, Raptors and others, believing they’re not getting enough in return for a player of Durant’s value.
A report earlier this week from Amick and Jon Krawczynski stated that Houston has made a “firm offer” for Durant. Although the details of that offer haven’t been revealed, it may be as high as general manager Rafael Stone is willing to go under the circumstances.
Even though Durant is still producing at an All-Star level, his age and contract situation are limiting what rival teams are willing to give up. He’ll turn 37 in September and is entering the final year of his current deal at $54.7MM. He’ll be eligible for a two-year extension with his new team, but has communicated that he’ll only consider signing long-term with Houston, San Antonio or Miami.
DuBose states that Stone would love to trade for Durant, but only if the deal serves the team’s short-term and long-term interests. He won’t mortgage the future for a player nearing the end of his career, so he’s hoping the Suns’ asking price will eventually go down.
On the Burns and Gambo Show (audio link), Suns insider John Gambadoro reported that Phoenix is unlikely to agree to a Durant deal with Houston unless Jabari Smith Jr. is included (hat tip to Evan Sidery of Forbes). Gambadoro also indicated that the Suns are willing to extend trade talks beyond the draft if they don’t get an offer they like.
Rockets Notes: Smith, Adams, VanVleet, Sheppard
Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. is focused on improving his ball-handling skills in preparation for his fourth NBA season, he tells Ari Alexander of KPRC in Houston (Twitter video link, hat tip to Ben DuBose of Rockets Wire). Smith felt it was important to get back to work quickly after the Rockets were knocked out of the playoffs by Golden State in the first round.
“Just the mindset, I was very hungry,” he said. “We didn’t finish the season how we wanted to, so I was ready to get back in the gym and work on what I need to work on. I want to have a big summer and come back next year looking like a whole different player.”
This is a significant offseason for Smith, the No. 3 pick in 2022, who will be eligible for a rookie scale extension. He missed close to two months after fracturing a bone in his hand, then was removed from the starting lineup in late February. He averaged a career-low 12.2 PPG in 57 games, but he just turned 22 last month and offers a high-level combination of defense, rebounding and outside shooting. He’s reportedly among the Rockets players Phoenix is targeting in a potential Kevin Durant trade.
Smith’s summer program includes working with skills trainer Aaron Miller, who has an extensive history with NBA players.
“It’s real technical, with a lot of attention to detail,” Smith said. “I just like how detailed it is, and how down to the science it is.”
There’s more from Houston:
- Steven Adams‘ salary will decline each season under his new three-year extension, per Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link). The contract is front-loaded at $14,130,434 for the upcoming season, followed by $13MM in 2026/27 and $11,869,566 in 2027/28. As we relayed yesterday, the deal is fully guaranteed and contains no team or player option.
- Fred VanVleet and the Rockets have “mutual interest” in staying together, Shams Charania of ESPN confirms. Houston faces a June 29 deadline to exercise a $44.9MM option on the 31-year-old guard, but it’s possible that the option may be declined and replaced with a longer contract. Cap expert Yossi Gozlan suggests (via Twitter) that Adams’ early extension agreement could be a sign that there’s confidence about a restructured deal with VanVleet. He also states that Houston could get below the aprons and dodge the luxury tax by waiving all its non-guaranteed contracts, trading the 10th pick in the draft and cutting VanVleet’s current salary by about 25%.
- Reed Sheppard will participate in this year’s Summer League in preparation for a larger role next season, Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle states in a mailbag column.
Spurs, Rockets, Heat On Kevin Durant’s Wish List
The Spurs and Rockets are Kevin Durant‘s preferred trade destinations, league sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic, who provides an overview of the status of trade talks along with Athletic writers Kelly Iko and Jon Krawczynski. Amick cautions that Durant’s desire to play in San Antonio or Houston doesn’t mean he’ll wind up in one of those cities, as there are “complicating factors” with both teams that make deals difficult.
Shams Charania of ESPN shares a similar report, but says Durant is interested in joining the Heat as well as the two Texas teams. He states that “people across the NBA” have been told that those are the three teams Durant would consider signing an extension with. He has one year left on his contract at $54.7MM.
Charania notes that once the trade is complete, Durant will become eligible on July 6 for a two-year contract extension worth up to $122MM. If he waits until six months after the trade becomes official, the extension rises to a potential $124MM over two years.
Sources tell Charania that Durant is being pursued by six to eight “seriously interested teams.” The Suns have informed those teams that they plan to make the best deal for themselves, even if Durant winds up somewhere he doesn’t want to go.
Within the Athletic’s report, Iko notes that the Spurs have a base of young talent, no current cap worries and a wealth of draft assets (13 first-round picks through 2032), putting them in position for a “timeline-altering move” to speed up the building process around Victor Wembanyama. League sources tell Iko that San Antonio remains unwilling to part with the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft, which is expected to bring Rutgers guard Dylan Harper, but the Spurs would make the 14th pick available.
Echoing a report earlier today by Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, Iko states that Phoenix has been underwhelmed by offers constructed around Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes. Durant’s desire to join the Spurs will factor into the equation, but Iko sounds skeptical that a deal will happen unless their offers improve.
The Rockets are in a similar situation, Iko adds, as a young team that has to decide how badly it wants to disrupt its current timeline to add an aging and expensive player, even one as productive as Durant. He notes that Houston and Phoenix have been engaged in talks regarding Durant for more than a year, but the Suns’ decision to restructure their front office, with Brian Gregory taking over as general manager, have affected those negotiations.
Sources tell Iko that originally Phoenix was determined to regain control of its first-round picks that Houston owns in 2025, 2027 and 2029, and later switched to asking for multiple young players such as Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green. Team and league sources tell Iko that Jabari Smith Jr. has recently become the focus of the Suns’ pursuit. Iko hears that Green wants to stay in Houston and atone for his poor playoff performance and that the Rockets’ front office hasn’t shown much interest in breaking up its young core in pursuit of Durant.
Krawczynski discusses the challenge of bringing Durant’s contract to Minnesota, which is currently above the second apron, just like Phoenix. Wolves sources tell him that the team won’t part with Jaden McDaniels in a Durant trade, which means Julius Randle or Rudy Gobert would have to be included to help match salaries if Minnesota can regain the ability to aggregate by dropping below the second apron. Randle has a $30.9MM player option for next season that he would have to agree to pick up before being included in a deal, while Gobert is under contract for $35MM. Krawczynski notes that either player would be a solid addition alongside Devin Booker and could help the Suns get back into the playoff race.
He adds that another salary, such as Donte DiVincenzo’s $12MM, would have to be included, and Phoenix would probably want one of Minnesota’s young players thrown in, such as Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon or Jaylen Clark.
Southwest Notes: Flagg, Rockets, Pelicans
Cooper Flagg, the presumed 2025 number one pick, is only visiting the Mavericks in the lead-up to the draft, Mark Medina of RG writes within an interview with Flagg’s trainer, Matt MacKenzie.
“He’ll be able to tour their facilities and learn about the organization as a whole,” MacKenzie said. “So it’s something he’s definitely looking forward to. It’s the only team he’s going to go visit. He’s very excited for it.”
MacKenzie confirms that Flagg’s workouts have included Kevin Durant and Chris Paul being in the same facility at times. Flagg got the chance to watch Durant work out, while Paul imparted advice primarily on how to adjust to the non-basketball side of the game.
“I think Chris Paul has been really helpful in sharing the different things that you need to be aware of when you’re coming into the league as a rookie in terms of how to manage your time off the court,” MacKenzie said. “During your downtime, you need to make sure you’re also treating your recovery with importance and understanding that 82 games is a long season… Being able to get that input has been incredibly valuable.”
Lauded for his versatile skill set, Flagg has taken part in workouts meant to prepare him for any and every role that his new team will ask him to play, according to MacKenzie.
We have more news from around the Southwest Division:
- Despite a roster crunch and uncertain roles moving forward, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle is skeptical that the Rockets will put one of Tari Eason or Jabari Smith Jr. on the trade block this summer. In her mailbag, Lerner writes that it’s more likely that they have to decide between extending one or both of them and then reevaluating next year. Lerner also doubts that the Rockets will make a move for the Nets’ Cameron Johnson, both for salary cap reasons and because she views the defensive drop-off from Dillon Brooks to Johnson as something Houston would be wary of.
- This is a big offseason for the Rockets, Keith Smith writes in his Spotrac offseason preview. While there has been talk about continuing to patiently build around the young core, there’s a sense that Houston’s success last season has led the team to consider fast-tracking the process. Deciding exactly how to handle the contract situation for Fred VanVleet, whose deal includes a team option, will be a crucial part of their summer, as will their ability to pull off a Kevin Durant trade. Smith writes that trying to retain Steven Adams should also be a high priority, as he was a pivotal part of their playoff run and proved to be a very effective backup.
- The Pelicans have struggled at times to find the right balance of players to put around Zion Williamson, writes William Guillory for The Athletic. That includes finding an answer at the center position, which is why Guillory considers whether it would make sense for New Orleans to target Khaman Maluach with the seventh pick in the 2025 draft. This offseason is the first with Joe Dumars as the top decision-maker and will tell the league much about how he plans to proceed with shaping the roster. Guillory notes that the team found success using double-big lineups featuring Kelly Olynyk and rookie big Yves Missi last season, but it’s unlikely that Missi and Maluach could play together unless the Duke center enters the league much more advanced as a shooter than expected.
Rockets Rumors: Adams, Lopez, VanVleet, Holiday, Durant, More
A handful of Rockets veterans, including Steven Adams, Jeff Green, and Jae’Sean Tate, are headed for unrestricted free agency this summer. Of those UFAs, Adams is viewed as the team’s “clear priority,” sources tell Kelly Iko of The Athletic.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that Green and/or Tate won’t be back, but they may be minimum-salary options for Houston, whereas it will almost certainly take more than that to re-sign Adams, who became an important part of the club’s rotation late in the season. The Rockets are operating under the assumption that the veteran center wants to return, Iko writes, and are expected to continue talking to him about a new contract.
Adams is extension-eligible now and could be signed to a new deal prior to free agency, but if the two sides can’t work something out, Houston may circle back to Brook Lopez, team sources tell Iko. Lopez was a top Rockets target during the 2023 free agent period and came close to making the move to Houston at that time before deciding to remain in Milwaukee.
The Rockets also hold team options for 2025/26 on a pair of guards: Fred VanVleet ($44.9MM) and Aaron Holiday ($4.9MM). The expectation is that VanVleet will return to Houston, either on his team option or on a new contract, Iko writes. The Rockets are also interested in retaining Holiday, but that doesn’t necessarily mean his option will be picked up — the club may wait to get a better sense of how its offseason and the league-wide market are playing out before making a decision on the reserve guard, Iko explains.
Here’s more from Iko on the Rockets:
- While Houston would like to keep its young core together, the team is willing to consider the possibility of a significant trade. Giannis Antetokounmpo is considered a top target, though it remains to be seen whether the Bucks will actually make him available, Iko writes. The Suns, conversely, have made multiple calls to the Rockets since the end of the season about the possibility of a deal that sends Kevin Durant to Houston and sends some of the Suns’ draft assets back to Phoenix, team sources tell The Athletic. The asking price for Durant has been “gradually lowered” over the course of those calls, according to Iko, who says the Rockets would be interested if the price is modest enough, despite their desire to keep their core intact.
- The Rockets also anticipate having trade conversations with the Celtics‘ front office this summer, given Boston’s reported desire to reduce its payroll, says Iko.
- The expectation is that Reed Sheppard will have a “vastly expanded role” in 2025/26 after playing sparingly as a rookie, Iko reports. The Rockets remain very high on last year’s No. 3 overall pick, viewing him as a player whose floor-spacing abilities can help in the short term and whose long-term ceiling is high.
- Houston has received inquiries from rivals about former first-rounder Cam Whitmore, as well as this year’s No. 10 overall pick, per Iko. The Rockets remain optimistic about Whitmore’s outlook and potential rotation role, and neither he nor his representatives have asked for a change of scenery, so nothing is imminent on that front, Iko reports. As for this year’s lottery pick, Houston is open to discussing a variety of scenarios, including trading down, trading out of the first round, or packaging that pick with a player to upgrade the roster.
- Although the Rockets’ front office is expected to engage in rookie scale extension negotiations with Jabari Smith and Tari Eason this offseason, team sources tell Iko that the club would be comfortable with the idea of matching an offer sheet for either player in 2026 if no agreements are reached this year.