Latest news with #ImeUdoka
New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Rockets re-sign Fred VanVleet to 2-year, $50 million contract: Source
Days after the conclusion of the 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 extension 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. Advertisement VanVleet's immediate future with the franchise was never in doubt, with the 31-year-old guard expressing his desire to stay in Houston publicly and privately. General manager Rafael Stone and head coach Ime Udoka had also voiced their support of retaining the NBA champion, who has brought a sense of calmness and control to a once chaotic Rockets team. This story will be updated…
New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Rockets, Fred VanVleet agree to 2-year, $50 million contract extension: Source
Days after the conclusion of the 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 extension 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. Advertisement VanVleet's immediate future with the franchise was never in doubt, with the 31-year-old guard expressing his desire to stay in Houston publicly and privately. General manager Rafael Stone and head coach Ime Udoka had also voiced their support of retaining the NBA champion, who has brought a sense of calmness and control to a once chaotic Rockets team. This story will be updated…
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ex-Celtics coach becomes one of highest-paid coaches in NBA (report)
While there were some rumors that the Knicks could be interested in trying to poach Ime Udoka from the Rockets, instead, he's going to stay in Houston long-term. Udoka and the Rockets agreed to a contract extension that makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in the league, per ESPN's Shams Charania. Udoka, 47, led the Rockets to a 52-30 record last season that resulted in the No. 2 seed in the West. While Houston fell in the first round of the playoffs to the Warriors, it was clear the Rockets took meaningful steps toward competitiveness. Considering the Rockets have a young core, it's no surprise to see Udoka signed for the future. Advertisement The Knicks were rumored to be interested in Udoka leading the way, but the Rockets' side quickly rebuffed that. Udoka has been with Houston for the past two years. While the Rockets were uncompetitive at the start of the decade, Udoka has upped their organization as a whole. He went 41-41 in his first season, and while he missed the playoffs, it was a significant improvement from the 22 wins from the year before. Udoka started his head-coaching career with the Celtics, guiding them to a 51-31 record in 2021-22 and the 2022 NBA Finals berth. But Udoka was wrapped up in a scandal shortly before the 2022-23 season, leading to his suspension-turned-dismissal. It's all worked out for the Celtics as they turned to current coach Joe Mazzulla, plus they won the 2024 NBA title. On the other side, Udoka continues his rise as one of the talented coaches in the league. More Celtics content Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
What Kevin Durant trade to Rockets means for Celtics offseason options
The Kevin Durant trade saga has come to a halt Sunday with yet another star staying put in the Western Conference. The Phoenix Suns are trading Durant to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and five second-round picks according to Shams Charania of The second round draft picks will include the No. 59 pick this year, two picks in 2026, a Celtics pick in 2030 and Houston's pick in 2032, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7. The trade will not become official until next season (July 6) due to a poison pill provision in Green's rookie extension. Green is signed for the next three years with his extension starting with a $33 million salary. Durant ($54.1 million) is entering the final year of his contract but is expected to sign a new deal with Houston once the deal becomes official, per ESPN. Advertisement With one of the biggest dominoes of the NBA offseason now on the move, what does the Durant trade mean for the Celtics as their offseason gets going. Let's take a look at the potential impact of the move from a short and long-term perspective. Durant stays out of East The other finalist in the Durant trade derby was reportedly the Miami Heat, but they were unwilling to match the Suns' asking price to land an aging star in Durant. Instead, the long-time All-Star heads to an emerging Rockets team to play under former Celtics coach Ime Udoka. This is probably close to a best-case scenario from a Celtics perspective, since the Rockets aren't a juggernaut even with Durant aboard and have a ton of tough competition throughout the Western Conference. When Jayson Tatum is back healthy in 2026-27 for the Celtics, there won't be another star waiting for him in the East in Durant to get through, which will help keep the conference wide open for the foreseeable future. A couple potential trade landing routes close Zach Lowe of The Ringer floated the possibility of Jrue Holiday getting involved in a three-team Durant trade last week (with Durant heading to a third team, not Boston). For now, this Durant swap is just including the Rockets and Suns, although the door is open for other teams to get involved hypothetically before it becomes official next month. For now, it does not look like the Rockets will be a suitor for Jrue Holiday (under the assumption Fred VanVleet is returning on a new deal). Meanwhile, Porzingis could be a player to watch potentially for Phoenix since they still need some help in the frontcourt after only landing Brooks and Green in this deal. They are still a second apron team currently however, so no deal is possible there with Boston until they dump some other salary and get under the second apron themselves. That could happen as soon as this week at the NBA Draft. Advertisement Business is about to pick up With no real buzz of late about Giannis Antetokounmpo being on the trade market, Durant is a big domino many teams were waiting to watch fall this offseason. With the 36-year-old now on the move, plenty of secondary business will now start taking place around the league leading into the draft, since potential Durant suitors no longer will be bidding on him. How much this helps the Celtics remains to be seen, but they should have a better sense of what suitors there are for select players (Porzingis, Holiday, Hauser) at certain price points with the Durant variable out of the mix. Ultimately, the Celtics will start to make some painful moves to trim salary from their roster this week, and the Durant trade should help to get things moving along. More Celtics content Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The $122 million contract extension Kevin Durant can sign with the Rockets after blockbuster deal
The post The $122 million contract extension Kevin Durant can sign with the Rockets after blockbuster deal appeared first on ClutchPoints. Kevin Durant will have a very interesting extension decision after his blockbuster move to the Houston Rockets. The former Phoenix Suns' superstar has found a new home on a team built to win now. Houston decided to open its championship window Sunday afternoon, dealing Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick, and five second-round picks for the all-time great. The Rockets are coming off a terrific second season under head coach Ime Udoka, finishing as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Advertisement Houston's season ended in a thrilling seven-game series against the Golden State Warriors. While there were some encouraging signs during this playoff run, the Rockets showed severe limitations on the offensive side of the floor. Green and Brooks were quality starters for the franchise, but trading two volume shooters for a generational offensive talent like Durant immediately elevates this team's ceiling. However, NBA salary cap analyst Yossi Gozlan detailed a major decision the now 36-year-old will have to make in the near future, since he is still in the last year of his current deal. The pressure is on the Rockets now to contend for a championship Rob Gray-Imagn Images This is what Houston's roster looks like now. A starting lineup of Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Kevin Durant, and Alperen Sengun, with a bench unit of Jabari Smith Jr., Steven Adams, Reed Sheppard, and Cam Whitmore. On paper, that looks like a championship-contending squad that maintains its defensive versatility while elevating its offensive upside. Of course, that possibility is predicated on Sengun and Thompson continuing to develop. Advertisement While the Rockets' center made his first All-Star team last season, he's improved gradually throughout his young career. On the other hand, Thompson took a significant leap in his second year and has best-player-on-a-championship-team potential. Amen will have to improve his efficiency as a jump shooter, but adding KD will immediately put less pressure on him in that skill set. Overall, there is, of course, a risk with this trade. Durant is relatively injury-prone and definitely in the twilight of his career. However, the fact that Houston did not have to gut its roster for a current top-20 player in the league has to be exciting for fans of the franchise. It's clear the Rockets believe in their core's ability to contend right now. They wouldn't have traded for KD if they didn't. Related: Kay Adams asks Kevin Durant about recruiting Russell Westbrook to Rockets Related: Kevin Durant tells Kay Adams 'why Houston' right after trade
