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New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
Cap implications of Fred VanVleet's new contract
The Wolves are re-signing one of their own. And there's new basketball leadership in Toronto. Follow for the latest. Imagn Images Alex Slitz / Getty Images Fred VanVleet's new deal likely keeps Houston out of the luxury tax this year. Waiving Jock Landale would put the Rockets $11 million below the tax line with three roster spots open, and allow the Rockets to chase a chunk of their nontaxpayer midlevel exception (or the whole thing if they don't mind paying a little tax and just staying below the first apron, where they are hard-capped). VanVleet, meanwhile, will have a de facto no-trade veto unless he signed a clause that removes it, allowing him to play out the year in Houston and hit free agency next summer when there is no cash on the market. He had zero leverage in this cap-space-free market, which is one reason he likely took the deal he did. Between the hard cap and a de facto no-trade on VanVleet, the Rockets would have a near-impossible time putting together any kind of second blockbuster deal (like for Giannis Antetokounmp, for instance) until Steven Adams' trade restriction goes away in mid-December. After next season, Fred VanVleet will be up to around $190.7 million in career earnings through his first 10 seasons. I'm going to go ahead and assume that is a record for undrafted players. Days after the conclusion of the NBA Finals and hours ahead of the NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets and veteran guard Fred VanVleet have reached an agreement on a two-year, $50 million contract that also includes a player option for the 2026-27 season, a team source confirmed to The Athletic . VanVleet's $44.9 team option for the upcoming season will be declined as a result of the new deal. ESPN was first to report the news. GO FURTHER Rockets, Fred VanVleet agree to 2-year, $50 million contract extension: Source Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Boston might not be the final landing spot for Georges Niang, who came to Atlanta in the midseason De'Andre Hunter trade. While the Boston native is likely stoked about a homecoming, the Celtics are still cutting salary and could eventually drop off his $8.2 million expiring deal somewhere else, especially since it fits into a nontaxpayer or room exception. Boston momentarily got below the second apron with this trade, but is still $15 million above the projected tax line and will likely lose ground there when it re-signs one or both of Al Horford or Luke Kornet. Facing a punitive repeater tax and a frozen draft pick in a 'gap year' while Jayson Tatum recovers from a torn Achilles, more salary dumps seem likely. Jason Miller / Getty Images The Celtics needed to shed more salary to get under the aforementioned second apron, and this trade should do it and then some. The question now is whether they feel they need to save even more money. That probably doesn't mean sending out recently acquired players like Georges Niang or Anfernee Simons (from the Jrue Holiday trade), but would they feel the need to part with Sam Hauser via salary dump if it means they can easily keep Al Horford and/or Luke Kornet? The latter players become even more imperative now that Porziņģis is officially off the books. Niang is a nice addition because his 3-point shooting fits perfectly in the Celtics' offense. He can really let it fly and flirts with being a 40 percent 3-point shooter for his career. Finding him in the corner or on the wings will have high upside for a good result. The key for Niang, who enters a contract year during an era where elite shooting is quite invaluable, will be fitting into the team defense. Boston's next step is making sure its frontcourt has enough size to remain relatively competitive. Dale Zanine / Imagn The Kristaps Porziņģis trade is a very interesting and opportunistic move by a new Atlanta Hawks front office. Porziņģis is on a $30 million expiring deal next season, meaning this could potentially be a rental for the Hawks. It's a great risk for a team that has been stuck in the mud of the East standings since their 2021 Eastern Conference finals appearance. The Hawks have been extremely disappointing for various reasons, as they've swapped out coaches and players around Trae Young since that postseason run. If Porziņģis is able to be relatively healthy for the Hawks next season, he provides a great running mate for Young. As good as some of the players alongside Young have been, Porziņģis would probably be the best he's had. He can stretch the floor as a career 36.6 percent 3-point shooter, and that number rose to 39.2 percent in his two seasons with the Celtics. He's a pretty special shooter at his size, and he's capable of being a great option going to the basket with pick-and-roll opportunities. For a passer like Young, that provides a phenomenal target. It allows the Hawks to feel pretty easy about moving on from 31-year-old Clint Capela, and it moves Onyeka Okongwu back to his more natural position of playing the four. And, when adding a healthy Jalen Johnson into the mix, you have a great three-headed big-man rotation. The issue, though, is Porziņģis misses a lot of time. He hasn't played in 72 games since his rookie campaign. Over the last four seasons, he's missed 40, 25, 17 and 31 games, respectively. He's had injuries throughout his career, so the Hawks must be careful about how they utilize him and manage his physicality. The Hawks also have to make sure they can re-sign him. They aren't giving up too much for him, but you don't want this to be a rental. GO FURTHER NBA trade grades: How can Kristaps Porziņģis help Hawks' offense? Do Nets have new plan? Kyrie Irving's new deal will save Dallas a bit more than $7 million against the luxury tax and $8 million against the aprons, assuming it starts at $36.7 million and has standard 8 percent annual raises. Barring other deals, the Mavs are $9.5 million below the second apron, meaning they will have enough room below that threshold to use their taxpayer midlevel exception to fill their 14th roster spot. Anybody who didn't understand how punitive the NBA's salary cap and its second apron are should understand more clearly after the last 24 hours of Boston Celtics moves. Out: Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis In: Anfernee Simons, Georges Niang and three second-round picks Many people are wondering how the Celtics got so little for the pair. I wonder how they got so much, especially in Holiday's case. Every other team knew they were looking for savings to help them duck the apron and reorient themselves for when Jayson Tatum returns from his Achilles injury, likely in 2026-27. That meant sending out more money, in the short and long terms, than they took in. Boston's motive was clear, and there were only so many teams that could facilitate those trades. When your ambitions are naked and your pathways are limited, you lose leverage. I can't say the Celtics did a great job. But Boston moved Holiday, a good but expensive 35-year-old guard with three years still left on his deal, to Portland for the useful Simons and two second-rounders. I thought they might have to send out some picks to make a Holiday deal work. The three-team Porziņģis move is more of what I imagined, basically a straight salary dump of a good (if injury-prone) player for significant savings and not much else. This is what the Celtics were facing, though. They can perhaps look to move Sam Hauser, starting a four-year, $45 million deal next year, to save more, but they have achieved the main objective of getting below that second apron. That they took a significant talent hit was a guarantee. That they came out of it with at least one useful player in Simons and three second-rounders? That's fine. Dustin Satloff / Getty Images I love the opportunistic approach by the Brooklyn Nets to get Terance Mann and the No. 22 pick in this year's draft in the Kristaps Porziņģis trade. They didn't really give up anything of value in this deal, and they ended up with a solid rotation wing and a fifth first-round pick in this year's draft. Take that, Sam Presti! I can't imagine the Nets are going to use all five of those picks because that would just be ridiculous. Developing five such players at once is asking a lot. But the Nets are in a position to package those picks to either move up or add selections for teams that need cost-effective depth on rookie deals. Brooklyn is doing what proper rebuilding teams often do, which is stockpiling draft assets by using its cap space to acquire contracts. And then, we'll see what happens with those resources. Grade: A+ Click here to see my trade grades for the Celtics and Hawks. GO FURTHER NBA trade grades: How can Kristaps Porziņģis help Hawks' offense? Do Nets have new plan? By agreeing to sign for less than $43 million annually on his new contract, Kyrie Irving will give the Mavericks the opportunity to duck under the second apron, which allows them to use the $5.7 taxpayer midlevel exception in free agency. Last season, Irving averaged 24.7 points and 4.6 assists. He was voted an All-Star for the ninth time in his career. However, his season was cut short after he tore the ACL in his left knee in a March game against the Sacramento Kings. Irving isn't expected to be back on the court until 2026. The Mavericks, who on Monday agreed to terms with center Daniel Gafford on a three-year contract extension, still need to upgrade the guard position this summer, where they are thin. Lon Horwedel / Imagn Will the Detroit Pistons look to make a big acquisition to enhance their chances of contending in the East? Would it be best to prioritize internal growth? What about signing Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren to rookie-scale max extensions this summer? 'We're not going to be super aggressive this summer, I don't think,' team president Trajan Langdon said Tuesday. 'I don't foresee any of that. It's just developing from within and hoping to keep a couple vet pieces that we had on the roster this past year. If we can add around the margins to get better, we will, but I don't think it's anything that's going to be super aggressive or crazy.' Considering how different the East could look next season, and no current clear-cut favorite to come out of the conference, Langdon was asked if his offseason plan was at all altered. Just in the 2025 postseason, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Damian Lillard and Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum all suffered ruptured Achilles. 'It's definitely provoked some thought internally, in terms of what we can do to get better,' Langdon said. 'It hasn't changed the roadmap for us. I don't think we want to think we're in a place to push all of our chips in and be locked in. … We still want to keep that optionality. Our guys have been in the gym working a lot, they want to get better. 'So I think we will see growth from our young players from this year to next year, and that's ultimately what's really important for us. Because if those guys get better, we'll ultimately get better. We're continuing to keep our ear to the ground and see if there's opportunities to get better without pushing all of our chips in, proverbially.' Read more about Langdon's pre-draft news conference here. GO FURTHER Pistons' Trajan Langdon touts internal growth, not being 'super aggressive this summer' Kyrie Irving plans to decline his $43 million player option for next season and sign a multi-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks that could keep him with the team through the 2027-28 season. Irving's new deal is worth $119 million over three years, his agent confirmed Tuesday. Irving holds a player option in the final year of the contract in 2027-28. When Irving officially agrees to the deal, he will be aligned contractually with Anthony Davis, who is under contract for the next two years in Dallas and holds a $62.8 million player option in 2027-28. ESPN was first to report the news. GO FURTHER Kyrie Irving to decline player option, sign 3-year, $119 million extension with Mavs: Source For the Hawks, the Kristaps Porziņģis trade is the first significant move under new GM Onsi Saleh, who said in his introductory press conference Monday that he has been given the green light to go into the luxury tax. They now sit about $28.9 million below the tax line with their $25.3 million and $14.1 million trade exceptions intact, plus the No. 13 pick in tomorrow's draft at their disposal. Atlanta still has the $14.1 million mid-level exception available to sign a shooter for the second unit, or can use their Bird Rights to re-sign Caris LeVert and Larry Nance Jr. Porziņģis' arrival may mean the end of Clint Capela's tenure in Atlanta as Capela enters free agency. The Hawks currently project to start Trae Young, Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher and Jalen Johnson, but it's unclear who will be the starting center. Twenty-four-year-old Onyeka Okongwu was promoted to the starting lineup in the second half of last season and averaged 15 points and 10.1 rebounds in 40 games as a starter. Okongwu's ascension came after Johnson went down for the season with a shoulder injury; the 23-year-old forward's defensive versatility will pair well with Okongwu's ability to guard up on screens. With all the promise Okongwu showed, will the Hawks move him back to the bench for Porziņģis? The new acquisition generally rests for back-to-backs and has dealt with injuries for years, so Okongwu would still start often no matter what Atlanta decides. But he showed his potential when he finally got the top spot, and the Hawks may not want to impede his progress now and risk alienating him. Meanwhile, Young is eligible for a 4-year max extension worth up to $228.6 million this offseason, and he has a player option for the 2026-27 season, so it's possible the Hawks must make a decision on keeping the All-Star point guard. "Trae, me and him spoke the other day, and he's just locked in for this season coming up,' Saleh told reporters Monday. 'We're both locked in and we have a lot of optionality this summer.' If Young stays, as Saleh implied, Porziņģis will pair well with him. The Hawks may want to evaluate how playing next to Porziņģis augments Young's strengths as a pick-and-roll playmaker and covers for his defensive vulnerabilities. Young and the Hawks have until the end of next season to agree on an extension. Steven Ryan / Getty Images Combining the savings from the Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday trades, the Boston Celtics currently sit about $4.5 million under the second apron. They could still aim to escape the luxury tax entirely later in the offseason, but have put themselves in a good spot financially entering the first round of the draft. Though the Celtics needed to trade two starters to alleviate their salary-cap dilemma, team president Brad Stevens was able to address the problem without trading Jaylen Brown or Derrick White. Boston also managed to cut all of that salary without sending any outgoing draft picks in the trades. In another win, Stevens brought back nothing but expiring contracts in Georges Niang (from Atlanta) and Anfernee Simons (from Portland) while removing the three years and $104.4 million left on Holiday's contract from the Celtics' books. Boston will save more than $200 million in luxury tax payments between the two moves. Stevens isn't necessarily done tweaking his roster. Though the Celtics just agreed to acquire Simons, they could shop him to see if they can wiggle out of more salary in the process. They would reset the repeater tax by getting under the luxury tax threshold for the 2025-26 season and staying there for the following season. With Jayson Tatum rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon, they could take the opportunity to take another step back salary-wise to position themselves with more future flexibility. In the meantime, Stevens has already changed his team's financial situation drastically this week. It cost him Holiday and Porziņģis, but should pay dividends down the road. GO FURTHER Celtics, Hawks, Nets finalizing 3-team trade involving Kristaps Porziņģis: Source The Nets now have five first-round picks after acquiring the No. 22 selection in the three-team Kristaps Porziņģis trade. The Nets, Spurs, Thunder, Wizards, Pelicans, Jazz and Suns own multiple first round picks. Only one of the final 18 first round picks still belongs to its original owner: No. 28 to Boston. The Raptors have entertained discussions in a wide variety of directions, league sources indicate. They were in the mix for Kevin Durant before he was traded to the Rockets on Sunday. They could look to move down if the player they want isn't available at No. 9. It's worth noting as well that Duke center Khaman Maluach is a player that has become the subject of trade speculation league-wide, with several late lottery teams interested in sliding up the board to acquire him. With Jakob Poeltl potentially hitting free agency next year, the Raptors could use a long-term answer at center. Many people around the league have connected Maluach to Toronto because of his time at the NBA Academy in Africa and Masai Ujiri's efforts to promote basketball within the region. Read the rest of my latest mock draft here. GO FURTHER NBA mock draft 2025: Why Ace Bailey is the mystery man of draft week Stephen Lew / Imagn There appear to be two ways to break down this trade for the Wizards. First, there's a ton of cap flexibility in the immediate future. By moving Jordan Poole for C.J. McCollum, the Wizards just shaved a year off committed salary from their books. Poole has two years left on his deal, and McCollum will enter the 2025-26 season on an expiring deal. As of right now, the biggest long-term commitment the Wizards have on their books past this coming season is the $13.9 million owed to Corey Kispert in 2026-27 and the $13 million he's due in 2027-28. Almost everybody else on the current roster has either an expiring contract for the summer of 2026 or is under a rookie contract. Thanks to this deal, the Wizards have gone from having one of the worst contract situations in the league, hindered by Bradley Beal's no-trade clause, to clearing roughly $100 million in cap space for the summer of 2026. Second, there's a potential mentorship aspect. McCollum has been viewed as one of the better veteran voices in the league for quite some time. Even when he first entered the NBA, he was considered a mature player. He's in a leadership position with the National Basketball Players Association, and adding him should help provide even more leadership as Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart help show a young core the ropes. The Wizards know they're going to be a bad on-court product with a low ceiling for wins. But their youth can make them fun, and they are finally in a position to rebuild with flexibility the way good organizations typically do. Read more on why I gave the Wizards an A- for this trade. GO FURTHER NBA trade grades: Do the Pelicans need Jordan Poole? How can CJ McCollum help the Wizards? The Atlanta Hawks are acquiring Kristaps Porziņģis from the Boston Celtics in a three-team team trade that will send Georges Niang and a second-round pick to the Celtics, team sources confirm to The Athletic . Terance Mann and the Hawks' No. 22 pick will go to the Brooklyn Nets. Combining the savings from this trade and yesterday's move of Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers, the Celtics currently sit about $4.5 million under the projected second apron. ESPN was first to report the trade. GO FURTHER Celtics, Hawks, Nets finalizing 3-team trade involving Kristaps Porziņģis: Source
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Why trading for Durant was a slam dunk for Rockets
There will be new basketball leadership in Toronto. What else will the offseason bring? Follow along for the latest. Getty Images Kenneth Richmond / Getty Images We've been curious how patient the Rockets would be with their current situation because they don't need to rush anything. After a massive leap from 41 wins and missing the Play-In Tournament in 2023-24 to the No. 2 seed and a first-round exit with a young squad this past season, the Rockets had options heading into the offseason. Many wondered at last year's trade deadline if they'd make a big splash to cash in on for a deep playoff run through the West. Instead, they opted to see what they had in their current core. And what they had was a talented, young, defensive-minded team in need of some offensive punch. As this week begins, Durant, a potential target for them at the past deadline, is now a Rocket. Yes, the two-time NBA Finals MVP will turn 37 before next season and has missed a lot of time since his Achilles' tendon injury in 2019. Regardless, he's still one of the most unguardable players in the NBA and a pretty complete player at his age. Adding Durant to a core with Alperen Şengün, Jabari Smith Jr, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason and Fred VanVleet (assuming they figure out a new contract with him and his team-option situation) is a great jumping-off point for building on last season. As for what they gave up, to not even surrender players such as Cam Whitmore or Eason, along with any of Phoenix's picks the Rockets own past this year? Mastery. Read more on why I give the Rockets an A+ for this trade. GO FURTHER Kevin Durant trade grades: Did Suns get enough in return from Rockets? David Berding / Getty Images Plain and simple: The new, inexperienced Suns front office, with Brian Gregory as the new general manager, got worked in this deal. These should have been the Suns' goals in a Kevin Durant trade with the Rockets: Get (some of) your picks back (this year's, 2027, 2029) Acquire Tari Eason Gain some cap relief Bring in veterans that will help keep you competitive Make sure you have a starting big man Even with the 10th pick, originally their own, coming to them, they barely got any of this, and I'm not sure how much Dillon Brooks or Jalen Green even help with the makeup of this team. Another thing worth remembering? The Suns can't tank because Houston still has many of their picks! So I gave them a D in my trade grades column. GO FURTHER Kevin Durant trade grades: Did Suns get enough in return from Rockets? This Kevin Durant trade to the Rockets feels like a rushed deal by an inexperienced front office executive, dealing with a very savvy front office that had plenty of leverage. But maybe once we break down this trade and apply some grades, we'll find out this is not so bad for both sides (plot twist: we won't). Let's bust out the red pen and slap some trade grades down on this deal. Read more here. GO FURTHER Kevin Durant trade grades: Did Suns get enough in return from Rockets? Since the season ended, Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia has promised an organizational makeover, one built around toughness and grit. This is the start. At the 2023 trade deadline, Phoenix had acquired Kevin Durant for a package that included Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and four unprotected future first-round picks. While the Suns didn't come close to matching what they gave up to acquire Durant, this might have been the best they could do under the circumstances. Jalen Green is a high-scoring guard who has improved over his four NBA years. He's explosive, athletic and dependable. He's played all 82 games the past two seasons, and this season averaged a team-best 21 points while shooting a career-best 35.4 percent on 8.1 attempts per game. Last October, Green signed a three-year rookie extension worth $106 million. The obvious issue: The trade gives Phoenix an overflow of guards. Green joins a group that includes Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen. Booker and Green could give Phoenix a dynamic backcourt if the chemistry is right, something Phoenix battled with Durant. Dillon Brooks is among the league's biggest irritants, a small forward who loves to get inside the heads of opponents. He has the toughness Phoenix seeks, but he often goes too far. His 19 technical fouls this season trailed only the Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards. Brooks has two years left on a contract worth $41.1 million. The No. 10 pick positions Phoenix to add a solid rotation player at a position of need, someone like Duke center Khaman Maluach. The Suns also have the 29th pick, so they have an opportunity to change the roster quickly. Joe Camporeale / Imagn At first glance, Kevin Durant looks like a hand-in-glove fit for a Houston Rockets team that struggled offensively at times last season, especially in the halfcourt — deficiencies that were exposed by a veteran Warriors team in the first round of the playoffs. For all the benefits that the rebuild has brought, their lack of a consistent go-to scorer is arguably the biggest thing holding the Rockets back from making a deep playoff run. Durant's three-level efficiency will instantly raise Houston's ceiling and gives head coach Ime Udoka optionality with in-game lineups. One criticism about the Rockets' coaching staff was the lack of creativity in some of its play calling. With Durant, an analytical darling, there should be more rhythm and flow in Houston's execution. Alperen Şengün and Fred VanVleet (and Amen Thompson to a lesser degree) have the ability to create plays for others, but Houston's lack of outside shooting has been a consistent issue over the years. Now, Udoka doesn't have to put multiple non-shooters on the floor at the same time for extended periods, with the luxury of slotting Durant into any five-man pairing. According to tracking, Durant averaged 5.7 catch-and-shoot attempts last season, which led the team. His effective field goal percentage (66.9) and three-point efficiency (45.6 percent) also led the team. Envision a VanVleet/Şengün pick-and-roll on the weak side with Durant waiting in the opposite slot. Questions about Durant's longevity will naturally arise given his age, injury history and the opening of a title window in Houston. But there's no question that the Rockets' elite defense and Durant's elite offensive arsenal are a match made in heaven, if not extremely close to that. Christian Petersen / Getty Images Kevin Durant's future in the desert became clear at this season's trade deadline. Fighting to reach .500, the underperforming Suns explored trading the superstar without informing him, something Durant did not appreciate. Over the season's final weeks, Durant seemed to accept his fate. With Phoenix lacking roster flexibility as a second-apron team, the Suns needed to reset. Trading him was their best option. This marks the first blockbuster trade for Phoenix general manager Brian Gregory, a former college basketball coach who was promoted to his new role as part of a front-office revamp in May. After the Suns missed the playoffs despite boasting the league's highest payroll, owner Mat Ishbia set out to establish an organizational identity focused on toughness. GO FURTHER Suns trade Kevin Durant to Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 1st-round pick: Sources What a way for Kevin Durant to find out the news he had been traded to the Houston Rockets. Christian Petersen / Getty Images Mark L.: Great trade for Houston. They overpaid Brooks and Green is a liability on defense. Only one 1st for Durant and they keep the best pieces of their core long term. They will be a threat to OKC next year if they stay healthy. Femi O.: If the Rockets believe that they are one player away from a title, it's hard to do better than this. It's reminiscent of the Raptors trading for Kawhi even though they didn't know if they would be able to keep him for more than one year. Larry P.: As a Rockets fan I have mixed feelings about this. Excited though to see how the season turns out. Robert G.: This doesn't seem like Houston gave up much for Durant. Drake T.: Strange to think this was the best offer PHX could get for KD. Thomas Shea / Imagn By Doug Haller, Sam Amick and Kelly Iko The Phoenix Suns are trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks, team sources told The Athletic. Durant will play for his fifth franchise, following stints with the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix. He has one year left on his current contract at $54.7 million, and is eligible this summer for a two-year extension worth up to $122 million. The 15-time All-Star turns 37 in September. ESPN first reported the trade. Green, 23, is a 6-foot-4 guard who has averaged 20.1 points per game across four seasons. He averaged 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season while shooting 42.3 percent. Brooks, 29, is an eight-year veteran who has averaged 14.2 points throughout his career. He shot a career-best 39.7 percent from 3-point range last season. He is also known as a physical defender and was second-team All-Defense in 2022-23. Read the rest of our story on the trade below. GO FURTHER Suns trade Kevin Durant to Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 1st-round pick: Sources The Phoenix Suns have sent Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets in a long-rumored trade agreed upon mere hours before Game 7 of the NBA Finals. In exchange, Phoenix will receive Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and five second-round picks. Durant, who will soon turn 37, has been on borrowed time in Phoenix since the February trade deadline, when Phoenix and Golden State considered a deal that would have reunited Durant with his former Warriors teammate Steph Curry. This is the second blockbuster trade to be completed this month. Last Sunday, the Orlando Magic acquired Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies for Cole Anthony, Kentavious-Caldwell Pope, four first-round picks and a pick swap. Check back here for all the latest reaction on the Durant deal and other moves throughout the NBA's offseason. GO FURTHER Suns trade Kevin Durant to Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 1st-round pick: Sources Kirby Lee / Imagn We want to hear from you! Have some opinions about the Kevin Durant trade saga? Send us your thoughts on the Durant trade, or anything else regarding the NBA offseason, via email at live@ We'll feature some of our favorite entries right here on the blog! Christian Petersen / Getty Images The NBA offseason waits for no one, not even the teams competing in the 2025 NBA Finals. We've already seen two big trades: Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets and Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic. Here are the other key dates you must know. Tomorrow : Each team may begin negotiating with upcoming free agents who finished the just-completed season on its roster. : Each team may begin negotiating with upcoming free agents who finished the just-completed season on its roster. Weds. and Thurs.: NBA Draft NBA Draft June 30: Each team may begin negotiating with all other upcoming free agents (beginning at 6 p.m. ET) Each team may begin negotiating with all other upcoming free agents (beginning at 6 p.m. ET) July 5-6, 8: California Classic Summer League (Warriors, Lakers, Heat, Spurs) California Classic Summer League (Warriors, Lakers, Heat, Spurs) July 5, 7-8: Salt Lake City Summer League (Jazz, Grizzlies, Thunder, 76ers) Salt Lake City Summer League (Jazz, Grizzlies, Thunder, 76ers) July 6: Each team may begin signing free agents to contracts (12:01 p.m. ET) Each team may begin signing free agents to contracts (12:01 p.m. ET) July 10-20: Las Vegas Summer League Kenneth Richmond / Getty Images Hello and welcome to The Athletic's ongoing coverage of the NBA offseason, which has begun before this current season officially ended. Hours before the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder prepare to do battle in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets completed a blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Durant to Houston for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and five second-round picks. If that move is any indication, this will be an active offseason. Stay tuned to this live blog for the latest.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
With Kevin Durant in fold, Rockets to use Fred VanVleet more as facilitator
The Athletic: 'Houston is anticipating a cleaner offense with the addition of Kevin Durant, which will lessen the scoring load on Fred VanVleet and allow him to thrive primarily as a facilitator.' With All-Star forward Kevin Durant joining the Houston Rockets, one potential benefit throughout the roster is a simplification of roles. That could include veteran guard Fred VanVleet, who recently agreed to a new contract with the Rockets for the 2025-26 season and perhaps beyond. 'Houston is anticipating a cleaner offense with the addition of Durant, which will lessen the scoring load on VanVleet and allow him to thrive primarily as a facilitator,' The Athletic's Kelly Iko writes. VanVleet's assists per game dipped from 8.1 in 2023-24, his first season with the Rockets, to 5.6 last season. His 3-point shooting slipped from 38.7% to 34.5%. A nagging ankle injury didn't help matters, but there were also times — especially in the playoffs — where VanVleet took on a higher scoring burden than the Rockets would have liked. An inefficient halfcourt offense was a recurring theme. Relative to 2023-24, a regression in finishing efficiency by All-Star center Alperen Sengun may have also contributed. But with Durant in the fold, it could simplify the roles for players such as VanVleet and Sengun, and the hope is for that to lead to cleaner and more efficient results across the board. More: Shams: Rockets, Fred VanVleet intend to stay together beyond new contract
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Raptors Champion Receives Major Update on NBA Future
Raptors Champion Receives Major Update on NBA Future originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The 2025 NBA Finals are set to begin on June 5, but there are plenty of teams around the league who are already shifting their focus to the offseason. This includes the Houston Rockets, who may have some major decisions to make this summer. Advertisement One player in Houston to keep an eye on is Fred VanVleet. The former Toronto Raptors champion has a $44.9 million team option that the Rockets must make a decision on this year. If they decline, he will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. While nothing is official, there was a recent update regarding VanVleet's contract status that will have a big impact on his NBA future. Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23), guard Kyle Lowry (7), forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and center Serge Ibaka (9)© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images VanVleet signed with the Rockets as a free agent in 2023 after seven years in Toronto. Despite coming off his worst statistical season in a few years, it seems that the Illinois native is going to stick around for another season. Advertisement According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic (subscription required), the Rockets will likely bring VanVleet back in the offseason. Iko suggests that they could do so by either picking up his team option or negotiating a new contract at a lower salary. "Houston is expected to bring guard Fred VanVleet back, according to both team and league sources, either by picking up his $44.9 million team option for the 2025-26 season or negotiating a new deal at a lower, team-friendly salary," Iko wrote."The likelihood VanVleet plays for a different team next season is slim, those sources said." VanVleet has started every game of his Rockets career so far and played a big role in their recent playoff appearance. However, most would know him best for his time with the Raptors, where he helped the team win their first-ever NBA Championship and was an All-Star. The 31-year-old provides a lot of value to Houston, and it could make sense for them to keep him around in the offseason. Regardless, this will be a situation worth monitoring until something becomes official. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Shams: Rockets, Fred VanVleet intend to stay together beyond new contract
ESPN's Shams Charania on Fred VanVleet and the Rockets: 'Both sides believe in a partnership for years to come beyond the two years, sources said.' The new contract agreement between the Houston Rockets and Fred VanVleet is only for two seasons in length, and the second year is a player option. By reducing the 2025-26 value from nearly $45 million (under the previous team option) to approximately $25 million, the Rockets will have significantly more spending power this offseason, which can be used to put together a better roster. But even though it's technically a two-year deal, and perhaps shorter than that depending on the option decision, the commitment between the Rockets and VanVleet is intended to be for a much longer period. ESPN's Shams Charania reports: VanVleet's new deal gives the Rockets flexibility over the next year and gives him the opportunity to enter the 2026 free agency market where there will be more salary cap space for teams. Both sides believe in a partnership for years to come beyond the two years, sources said. Since signing with the Rockets in 2023 free agency, VanVleet has repeatedly referred to his situation with Houston as a longer-term arrangement, and that seemingly remains his intention. As Charania indicated, it's possible that Houston might have to pay a higher price in a year, pending VanVleet's performance in the upcoming 2025-26 season and the market leverage that a good season might provide. But the Rockets are seemingly willing to take that risk in exchange for the upside of building a better roster this offseason (around newly acquired superstar Kevin Durant). Wednesday's podcast episode of The Lager Line (sponsored by Houston's Karbach Brewing) explores some of the financial possibilities that could result from VanVleet restructuring his contract. Now 31 years old, VanVleet has been a huge part of Houston's growth over the last two seasons. Since his arrival in July 2023, the Rockets have improved from 22-60 in the preceding season (and last place in the 15-team Western Conference) to 41-41 in 2023-24 and 52-30 in 2024-25, which culminated with a No. 2 finish in the West standings. During two seasons in Rockets, VanVleet has averaged 15.9 points (36.9% on 3-pointers), 6.9 assists, and only 1.6 turnovers in 36.1 minutes per game. Known for his leadership, the 2019 NBA champion elevated his play in the recently completed 2025 playoffs, averaging 18.7 points and 4.4 assists while connecting on 43.5% of his 3-point attempts. More: Rockets gain spending power by restructuring Fred VanVleet to two-year, $50-million deal
