Latest news with #Rockets
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rockets Make Major Roster Decisions on 3 Crucial Players
Rockets Make Major Roster Decisions on 3 Crucial Players originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Houston Rockets have been very active this offseason. Free agency hasn't technically started just yet, but Houston has kept most of its current team around. Advertisement The Rockets also traded for star forward Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns, giving themselves even more firepower. But Houston understands that having a well-rounded team is how teams win in this current era. According to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN, the Rockets are planning to keep Aaron Holiday, Jeff Green, and Jae'Sean Tate around. This is a solid move for the Rockets and helps the team keep some continuity for next season. Houston was the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference this past season, and they will be looking to improve on that next year. By adding Durant to the mix, the Rockets now have a legitimate "go-to" type of player on the roster. Houston needed the scoring punch from a player like Durant in the postseason against the Golden State Warriors. Houston Rockets head coach Ime UdokaMandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images The Rockets also kept veteran center Steven Adams around, keeping him away from free agency. Houston has been building a nice culture in the building, and it seems that they want to keep it growing. Advertisement Many around the NBA see the Rockets as a sleeping giant due to the players on the roster and assets that the front office can use in potential deals down the line. The Rockets' front office has been very active in recent years, and they have completely turned this team around. Houston will be a force to deal with next season again, and they will have room to make more moves once free agency opens. Related: Bucks Predicted to Land All-Star to Help Giannis Antetokounmpo This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Houston Rockets shock fans by bringing back Jae'Sean Tate, Aaron Holiday and Jeff Green for 2025 NBA Season
Houston Rockets shock fans by bringing back Jae'Sean Tate, Aaron Holiday and Jeff Green for 2025 NBA Season (Image Source: Getty Images) The offseason is heating up, and while big trades are grabbing headlines, the Houston Rockets are keeping things close to home. Instead of chasing new stars, they're choosing to reunite with three players already familiar with the team. That's what has fans buzzing this week after a new update made the rounds online. Houston Rockets plan return for Jae'Sean Tate , Aaron Holiday and Jeff Green On June 27, NBA insider Shams Charania reported on X that the Houston Rockets are planning to bring back Jae'Sean Tate, Aaron Holiday, and Jeff Green for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season. The news was first picked up by ClutchPoints, and fans were quick to react. All three players suited up for the Houston Rockets last season. Jae'Sean Tate, aged 29, has been part of the team since 2020. He is known for his energy and defense, and often guarded several positions. 27 years old Aaron Holiday gave solid minutes as a backup guard. And Jeff Green, the 38-year-old veteran and former NBA champion, brought calm leadership to a young roaster. The move shows that Houston prioritizes chemistry and knowledge rather than flashy changes. While Rockets has not yet shared contract details, the re-signs will be expected when the free agency opens on July 1. Houston Rockets focus on experience and stability over big moves There's been no formal statement from general manager Rafael Stone or head coach Ime Udoka so far. But insiders suggest the front office sees value in keeping a core group that already knows the system. With young talent like Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. developing fast, bringing back veterans could help strike a healthy balance on the court. Jeff Green's voice in the locker room was reportedly one of the reasons the Rockets want him back. Aaron Holiday's Steady Guard Play was also valued in a backcourt full of youth. Although Jae'Sen Tate has fought injuries, he is still one of the team's most reliable and tough-minded defenders. Although the Houston Rockets may not steal headlines this week, their constant approach can pay off in the long term. In a league full of change, Rockets seems to say, "Stick to what works." Also Read: Masai Ujiri and Toronto Raptors part ways a day after 2025 NBA draft Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
New York Times
11 hours 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
15 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Mississippi State forward Cameron Matthews leads Houston's undrafted rookie signings
The Rockets didn't have a pick in the 2025 NBA draft, but Mississippi State forward Cameron Matthews is among Houston's undrafted free agent signings. The Rockets didn't have a pick in the 2025 NBA draft after trading both their first- and second-round selections in the blockbuster trade bringing All-Star forward Kevin Durant to Houston. They will be, however, adding some undrafted free agents who will take part in the 2025 NBA Summer League this July. Some of these players could also be candidates for two-way or training-camp contracts in the weeks and months ahead. The first such deal was reached late Thursday with Cameron Matthews, a 6-foot-7 forward from Mississippi State who averaged 7.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game last season on 51.4% shooting. 'A two-time SEC All-Defensive Team selection, Matthews will join the Rockets and compete for a two-way spot in training camp,' HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported late Thursday. Matthews was rated No. 61 on a ranking of the top-75 draft prospects by The Athletic's John Hollinger. With 59 total selections across two rounds, that would seemingly indicate that Matthews was among the best of the undrafted pool. Regarding his playing style, Hollinger writes: Nobody is using a draft pick on a fifth-year senior forward who averaged 9.6 points and shot 24.0 percent on 3-pointers. But watch out for this guy stealing minutes while on a two-way because of his defense against apex wings. There are some Luguentz Dort parallels here: Matthews has brutish strength, lightning fast hands, and can move his feet on the perimeter. He also fouls a lot, but his rate of 7.6 'stocks' (steals and blocks) per 100 possessions is pretty phenomenal. Matthews also showed good feel as a distributor, averaging 7.1 dimes per 100 possessions despite being a very secondary offensive player. About that last part… Matthews shot 20.0% on 3-pointers and 55.4% from the line for his career. All at once now: Yikes. Teams will likely need to stash him in the dunker spot to give him an offensive role; he did shoot 60.0% on two-pointers as a collegian. If he develops his 3-point shot into a one-in-three proposition, he's an instant rotation player, but the odds don't favor it. Matthews was a five-year player at Mississippi State and is now 23 years old. Matthews will get his first chance to make an impression on Houston's coaching staff during a stretch of at least five games at the NBA's 2025 summer league, which will be held from July 10-20 in Las Vegas. Team schedules have yet to be released. Rosters have also yet to be released, with Houston's likely to come in the next few days. It's a safe bet that Matthews won't be the only undrafted rookie on it. More: Rockets guard Reed Sheppard gets debut Nike sneaker release
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Draymond Green sees Fred VanVleet, Kevin Durant as good cultural match in Houston
Draymond Green on the pairing of Kevin Durant and Fred VanVleet with the Rockets: 'Certain things that KD doesn't like to do, Fred will do that. In team sports, that's how it's supposed to work.' Warriors veteran Draymond Green has plenty of experience playing alongside Kevin Durant in Golden State, and he's also faced off against Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet in multiple high-leverage, competitive series in the NBA playoffs. With that knowledge, Green envisions the veteran pairing of Durant and VanVleet working well in Houston. From his latest podcast (The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis): Shoutout to Freddy V, he got a new two-year deal to stay with the Rockets. Well deserved, the way I saw him lead that team in the playoffs. They're going to need his leadership. I think with Fred's demeanor and how Fred goes about things, and with KD and how KD goes about things… I think it'll be a good match. Some of the stuff that (Kevin) doesn't want to do, people try to make it an indictment on his character. No. We're all human beings, and we all have strengths and we all have weaknesses. Certain things that KD doesn't like to do, Fred will do that. On a basketball team in team sports, that's how it's supposed to work. So, I think this puts them in a really good position. They're obviously going to be a team to be reckoned with. That team is in a really good position, and I definitely think it (the Durant trade) is an upgrade. Green and the Warriors got the best of the Rockets in the first round of the recently completed 2025 playoffs. But the series went a full seven games, even with (now departed) Jalen Green struggling, and VanVleet was likely Houston's best player. Now, with Durant playing alongside VanVleet in that top-scorer role, the Rockets would seem to be more formidable for any potential rematch. As for the leadership and cultural angles, Green's comments largely mesh with the sentiments of ESPN's Tim MacMahon. On Thursday's First Take, MacMahon said the Rockets simply need Durant to focus on what he does best. That's being an elite scorer and producing at an All-Star level, which he continued to do last season at 36 years old. 'This is not a team that has a leadership void,' MacMahon said in a discussion regarding whether Durant needs to be more of a vocal leader with the Rockets. 'This is a team that has a phenomenal culture. They're tough, they're nasty. They need freaking buckets, and Kevin Durant can supply those in bunches.' In short, the Rockets were 52-30 and No. 2 in the Western Conference in large part because of their leadership and culture. What they needed was simply more shot making to revive a halfcourt offense that largely struggled throughout the 2024-25 season. That's what VanVleet and head coach Ime Udoka want Durant's help with during the 2025-26 campaign, which begins in October. More: ESPN's Tim MacMahon: Buckets, not leadership, is what Houston needs most from Kevin Durant
