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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rockets vs. Timberwolves, July 19: NBA summer league lineups, rosters, broadcast info
Still in search of their first win, the Houston Rockets will wrap up a five-game schedule at the NBA's 2025 summer league when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday afternoon. Both teams will be playing their final summer-league game in the league's ongoing showcase at the Thomas & Mack Center and Pavilion. With a win-now roster centered around star players such as Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, and Alperen Sengun, the Rockets were always light on proven NBA talent for their summer-league roster — and that became even more pronounced when second-year guard Reed Sheppard was shut down after two games with a minor calf injury. Meanwhile, Minnesota's roster features more quality players with NBA pedigree such as Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr., Leonard Miller, Jaylen Clark, and Tristen Newton. With those types of prospects in featured roles, the Timberwolves are a perfect 4-0 in Las Vegas. For Saturday, here's our look at broadcast details and potential lineups. The Rockets did not have a first-round selection in the recent 2025 NBA draft, whereas Minnesota's squad also features Joan Beringer, the No. 17 overall selection. When and How to Watch Date: Saturday, July 19 Time: 4:30 p.m. CDT TV Channel: NBA TV, Space City Home Network Live Stream: fuboTV (free trial) or via NBA League Pass Potential Starting Lineups Houston Rockets (0-4) Guard: Kennedy Chandler Guard: Adonis Arms Forward: Kevon Harris Forward: Cameron Matthews Center: Great Osobor Minnesota Timberwolves (4-0) Guard: Rob Dillingham Guard: Amari Bailey Forward: Jaylen Clark Forward: Leonard Miller Center: Joan Beringer Injury/Status Reports The NBA does not require official injury reports to be issued before summer league games, but Sheppard and two-way center N'Faly Dante (ankle sprain) are both expected to be out for the Rockets. For Minnesota, Shannon didn't play in the fourth game. Rockets, Timberwolves Complete Rosters 2025 NBA summer league rosters and statistics for all teams Summer League Coaches Rockets: Garrett Jackson (normally an assistant to Ime Udoka) Timberwolves: Kevin Hanson (normally an assistant to Chris Finch) Rockets' 2025 Summer League Schedule, Results Friday, July 11: Clippers 95, Rockets 92 Sunday, July 13: Pistons 98, Rockets 83 Monday, July 14: Hawks 111, Rockets 108 (overtime) Thursday, July 17: Trail Blazers 102, Rockets 83 Saturday, July 19: Timberwolves vs. Rockets, 4:30 p.m. Central tipoff, NBA TV More: After two games, Rockets shutting down Reed Sheppard at 2025 NBA summer league This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets vs. Wolves, July 19: Summer-league lineups, broadcast details
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The next trade Rockets must make after acquiring Kevin Durant from Suns
The post The next trade Rockets must make after acquiring Kevin Durant from Suns appeared first on ClutchPoints. The 2024-25 season for the Houston Rockets cannot be considered as anything other than a success, even if they did fall short in the playoffs yet again to their archrival Golden State Warriors. They finally saw their rebuild begin to bear fruit in the form of a 52-win season, and these Rockets aren't going anywhere, what with their young core of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr., just to name a few, still in their early 20s. Advertisement Thus, the Rockets, looking to capitalize on their title-contending window that was pried wide-open this past season, decided to trade away Jalen Green, the former second overall pick, as the centerpiece of the trade that brought Kevin Durant to Clutch City. And it's not like the Rockets had to give up their best assets, as they needed to just add Dillon Brooks, the 10th overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft (Khaman Maluach), and five second-round picks to get the deal done. And following the Rockets' slew of moves in free agency (signing Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela for more depth) as well as their decision to commit to Smith for the long-term (he signed a five-year, $125 million rookie extension), it looks like they're done filling the roster. They have depth across multiple positions anyway. But should the Rockets decide that another trade is in the cards for them, they definitely have the assets to pull off a blockbuster for the next available superstar in the trade market. However, Houston should be very selective, as they should only break up their core for the superstar that will unquestionably make them a championship contender. Rockets' next blockbuster trade should be for Giannis Antetokounmpo Troy Taormina-Imagn Images This is not to say that the Rockets have to make a move now. In fact, their roster for the 2025-26 campaign appears to be set already even though it's this early in the free agency period. They should be entering next season with a ton of confidence in their squad, as adding Durant should already solve a lot of the halfcourt scoring problems that they had last season. Advertisement But if the Rockets end up falling short yet again, it might be time to revisit the idea of going all-in and trading whatever is necessary to bring Giannis Antetokounmpo to Houston. The Milwaukee Bucks front office deserves some credit for trying to remain competitive by building around Antetokounmpo with what little resources they have. They even made the ballsy play of waiving Damian Lillard to make room for the signing of Myles Turner. But Turner is hardly a needle-mover, instead profiling as a high-level complementary piece to an already-stacked team. The Bucks, quite frankly, aren't stacked and aren't even close to having a championship-contending roster. This could perhaps lead to an eventual trade request from Antetokounmpo, who will be in the final year of his deal during the 2026-27 campaign. And by then, should the Rockets end up running into a buzzsaw in the playoffs yet again, maybe Antetokounmpo sees the nascent team as an appealing trade destination. The Durant trade did not strip the Rockets of their best trade assets, which will help them gear up for a potential push for Antetokounmpo should the Bucks' worst nightmare come true. Advertisement What should Houston offer? The Bucks, most likely, are going to ask for Thompson as the starting point in any potential Antetokounmpo trade with the Rockets. But by then, if Antetokounmpo requests a trade, Milwaukee won't have much leverage, especially when Giannis is in the final year of his deal and can simply walk for nothing in free agency in 2027. One popular suggestion from pundits is for the Rockets to utilize Alperen Sengun as the primary trade chip they can dangle in exchange for Antetokounmpo. Houston also has young pieces such as Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, and Tari Eason to dangle. Sengun is an iffy at best fit alongside Antetokounmpo anyway, and even at 32 years of age, Giannis should be a major upgrade on both ends of the floor over the Turkish big man. The Rockets should be confident to trade Sengun in an Antetokounmpo scenario, as they can elevate Smith into the starting lineup and have them be their starting center. Advertisement While he's not a bruising presence on the interior and is not the best on the glass, he has the floor-spacing and shot-blocking ability to thrive alongside Antetokounmpo. Houston should still have Steven Adams anyway to cover for whatever weaknesses they might have on the boards, while Thompson, who should be off-limits for the Bucks, is also a menace on the glass. The Rockets still have a 2027 first-round pick from the Suns, a 2027 first-round pick swap with the Brooklyn Nets, and they will receive two of the most favorable among the Suns', Dallas Mavericks, and their pick in 2029. In the end this should be the offer the Rockets put on the table for Antetokounmpo next offseason: Rockets trade: Alperen Sengun, Clint Capela, Cam Whitmore, Reed Sheppard, 2027 PHX first-round pick, 2028 HOU first-round pick, 2029 PHX first-round pick, 2030 HOU first-round pick, 2032 HOU first-round pick Related: The signing Houston Rockets should have made instead of Clint Capela Related: Rockets sign G League Next Up MVP to contract
Fox News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Kevin Durant's trade to Rockets becomes historic 7-team deal reshaping NBA landscape
Kevin Durant is heading to the Houston Rockets, but if you're wondering why it took so long, it's reportedly due to a historic, seven-team trade that shook up many rosters. It's not just the Phoenix Suns and Rockets involved in the deal. The Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves are all involved in what is the NBA's first-ever trade involving seven teams. Here is what each team is receiving in the deal, per ESPN: - Suns: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, Koby Brea, Daeqwon Plowden, second-round pick. - Rockets: Kevin Durant, Clint Capela - Nets: two second-round picks - Warriors: Alex Toohey, Jahmai Mashack - Hawks: second-round pick swap, David Roddy, cash considerations - Lakers: Adou Thiero - Timberwolves: Rocco Zikarsky, two second-round picks, cash considerations Durant, though, is the obvious crux of this deal, as the Rockets get the 15-time All-Star on their starting five alongside a good group of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Fred VanVleet. However, Green and Brooks, two key pieces of a resugent Rockets team last season (52-30 record in a tough Western Conference), are heading to Phoenix in return. But Houston is now expected to be a contender in the West due to Durant's arrival. The Rockets were a team searching for a true scorer, and the four-time scoring champion is someone who can provide that when healthy. Durant earned that 15th All-Star bid after averaging 26.6 points, six rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 52.7% from the field and 43.0% from beyond the three-point line over 62 regular-season games. Durant will be 37 years old when his 18th NBA season begins later this year, but he has consistently shown to be a monster on the offensive end, who doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon. The question is whether the Rockets can continue to compete with teams like the NBA Finals-winning Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers out in the West. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bill Simmons hints that Rockets are loading up for huge 3-for-1 trade
The post Bill Simmons hints that Rockets are loading up for huge 3-for-1 trade appeared first on ClutchPoints. NBA analyst Bill Simmons believes the Houston Rockets are preparing for a significant consolidation trade, pointing to the team's depth and flexibility as signs of a potential 'three-for-one' move during the upcoming 2025–26 season. Advertisement On a recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons outlined Houston's current roster situation and suggested the franchise may be planning to convert its surplus of talent into a star acquisition midseason. 'So the Houston piece, that was the second thing I was looking at. Them overstocking their roster and all the flexibility they have,' Simmons said. 'They have [Alperen] Sengun, [Steven] Adams and [Clint] Capela and Jock Landale… [Kevin] Durant, Jabari Smith, and [Dorian] Finney-Smith… Amen Thompson, [Tari] Eason, [Cam] Whitmore, Fred VanVleet, and Reed Sheppard. And there's only 240 minutes in a basketball game. So my interpretation is they're stacking this for a three-for-one in the December, January, February range.' Simmons went on to add that if a major player becomes available, the Rockets have the depth and assets to make a compelling offer. Advertisement 'They're one of the five contenders in the NBA now… Sengun, Jabari Smith, and Eason plus some of your picks for this,' Simmons added. 'They're not positioned for that.' Houston's offseason has been one of the most aggressive in the league. The team finalized a blockbuster deal that sent Kevin Durant from Phoenix to the Rockets in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, used on Khaman Maluach. The trade marked a dramatic shift in direction for the franchise as it added the 36-year-old superstar to a roster already filled with developing talent and veteran contributors. Bill Simmons suggests Rockets' crowded roster signals possible big trade Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports In free agency, the Rockets further bolstered their rotation. Dorian Finney-Smith signed a four-year, $53 million contract, and Clint Capela agreed to a three-year, $21.5 million deal to return to the franchise. Capela last played for the Rockets in the 2019–20 season before stints with Atlanta. Advertisement Simmons' remarks followed reporting from The Athletic suggesting the Durant deal could evolve into one of the largest trades in league history. The two-team framework between the Suns and Rockets is reportedly being expanded to include seven franchises: the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Minnesota Timberwolves. 'The Hawks would be sending Clint Capela to the Rockets in what would become a sign-and-trade, league sources say,' The Athletic reported. 'Durant would go to Houston. The previously reported return for him, including Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, would go to Phoenix. 'Only five players who were in the NBA last season are being discussed in the current iteration of the trade… The rest of the players being discussed are all from already-agreed-upon draft-night trades that are yet to be finalized and can't be until July 6.' With Kevin Durant now in place and a crowded rotation at every position, Houston is viewed as a leading candidate to make another splash before the trade deadline. Related: Rockets waive 6-foot-11 forward Related: Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen feud recalled by former Rockets teammate
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Surprise! Veteran center Clint Capela returns to Houston on three-year deal
Veteran center Clint Capela is signing with the Houston Rockets on a three-year, $21.5-million contract, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Monday. External free agency negotiations opened up at 5:00 p.m. Central, and the Rockets and Capela reached an agreement within the first two hours. Advertisement Capela was drafted by the Rockets in the 2014 first round and played for Houston from 2014-15 until the 2020 trade deadline. Capela was then traded to Atlanta as part of a multi-team trade that brought Robert Covington to Houston, and the Swiss big man had played with the Hawks ever since. Over 11 NBA seasons, Capela has averaged 12.0 points (61.7% FG), 10.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 26.2 minutes per game. Now 31 years old, Capela played less in the 2024-25 season (8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds in 21.4 minutes) than he had in any of his previous eight seasons. So, now in his second decade in the league, he appears to be transitioning into more of a backup role — and that will certainly be the case in Houston, where Capela slides in behind All-Star center Alperen Sengun and veteran backup Steven Adams on the depth chart. That said, with Sengun and Adams playing together late last season in 'double big' lineups, it's possible that could open up some minutes for a third center. Additionally, with Adams also 31 years old, it's possible that he and Capela could be load managed during the 82-game regular season in something of a time-share arrangement. Capela is actually cheaper than last season's third-string center, Jock Landale, who was playing on a four-year, $32-million contract (with each season not guaranteed until the preceding summer). With Landale's guarantee date looming, the arrival of Capela would seem to signal that the Australian is on his way out. Advertisement Capela joins veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith, most recently of the Los Angeles Lakers, as Houston's initial roster additions from the opening hours of 2025 free agency. More: Rockets, Jock Landale to delay 2025-26 contract deadline until July 7 This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Veteran center Clint Capela returns to Houston on three-year deal
