Latest news with #RoyalIvey
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rockets rumors: Ime Udoka's role in Kevin Durant trade
The post Rockets rumors: Ime Udoka's role in Kevin Durant trade appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Houston Rockets made a big offseason move to acquire Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns. Head coach Ime Udoka may have played a key role in this trade taking place. Advertisement The Rockets landed Durant in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, and five second-round picks. They made the move to elevate themselves into title contention, something that aligns with Durant's goals as he approaches the remaining years of his career. NBA insider Marc Stein provided his thoughts on the Rockets making the deal for Durant. He pointed out Udoka's connection with Durant, emphasizing how connections made a huge difference compared to other squads. 'Udoka, who recently received a lucrative contract extension, was a strong behind-the-scenes advocate for adding Durant's bucket-getting to the Rockets' very youthful core despite Houston's well-chronicled timeline concerns given that the future Hall of Famer turns 37 in September,' Stein said. 'The Rockets, remember, have also managed to hold on to another of Durant's closest friends: Assistant coach Royal Ivey. As The Stein Line reported earlier this month, multiple teams — including San Antonio — have been trying to hire away Ivey, who committed to staying on Udoka's staff after he did not land the Suns' head coaching job. Ivey was among the candidates that the Suns interviewed for the post before hiring Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as Ishbia's fourth head coach in four seasons.' What's next for Kevin Durant, Rockets Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Kevin Durant exits a frustrating situation with the Suns, missing the playoffs amid injuries and inconsistencies from the squad. Advertisement Since leaving the Golden State Warriors in 2019, Durant only reached the second round twice in 2021 and 2023. The other years have been first-round exits or playoff absences, showing how the Brooklyn Nets and Suns failed to maximize his time with them. The Rockets will look to be a different story. They retain most of their depth as their defense will be effective under Ime Udoka's direction. As for the offense, Houston seems to have refined it by adding Durant to the equation. Their championship window looks solid going into next season. Related: Rockets' Kevin Durant seen celebrating Suns trade with Rich Kleiman at Fanatics Fest Related: NBA rumors: What Rockets 'never put in play' in Kevin Durant trade talks with Suns
New York Times
22-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why the Rockets changed course, fast-tracked their timeline to land Kevin Durant
For months on end, the message from the Houston Rockets was consistent: They had no plans to get into the Kevin Durant business. The 36-year-old was a legend, to be sure, but Rockets sources had insisted that the combination of his age and the Rockets' internal confidence in a much-younger core meant his next destination would almost certainly be elsewhere. Never mind that the two teams had discussed a deal at the February trade deadline, or that their coach, Ime Udoka, had grown close with Durant during their time together in Brooklyn and was known to be a major advocate for a possible Durant move. Advertisement The list of Durant clues was even longer from there. One of his assistant coaches, Royal Ivey, is a former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate of Durant's and has been one of his closest friends for decades. Just days before the deal went down, it was revealed that one of his University of Texas teammates, D.J. Augustin, would be added to the team's front office. Perhaps most of all, the Rockets' glaring weakness as a team — scoring — just so happened to be the very thing at which Durant had done better than nearly every other player in league history (he's eighth all-time). There were all these signs that Durant was destined to land in Houston – at least in terms of how they were viewed around the league – but the drumbeat of denials remained. Yet by the time the Durant dam finally broke on Sunday, with the Rockets landing Durant from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick and five second-round picks, it wasn't hard to understand why they'd changed course. In today's NBA, where parity reigns and second-apron realities of the luxury tax make it so hard to remain patient with a team's timeline, there is no time like the present. And after years of quietly scouring the market for their next star, with players like the Suns' Devin Booker, New Orleans' Zion Williamson, Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell, Boston's Jaylen Brown and others known to be on the Rockets' wish list at various times, the focus had eventually turned to Durant. So after weeks of negotiations between Phoenix and so many teams around the league, with Houston, San Antonio and Miami known to be Durant's preferred destinations and, per league sources, the Suns exploring a variety of three-team structures that never materialized, the Rockets relented. Their hope, of course, is that the choice to finally do this deal makes them instant title contenders. With Durant leading the way, veteran guard Fred VanVleet expected to return and rising stars like Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson on board, the Rockets decided their time is now. Here's why the Rockets, aware that this move could make or break their promising era, pivoted from their longstanding stance on one of the game's greatest all-time talents. Over multiple weeks of discussions with Phoenix, with Rockets general manager Rafael Stone leading the talks, Houston maintained a firm stance in its refusal to include young players like Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, team sources told The Athletic. The Rockets refused to give up the Suns' 2027 and 2029 first-round selections as well, no matter how motivated the Suns were to recoup those prized picks (they sent them to Brooklyn in the February 2023 Durant deal, and the Rockets landed them in a June 2024 deal with the Nets). Advertisement The Rockets and Suns found common ground, however, in the availability of the No. 10 pick. Houston had been unable to bring in top players for workouts due to the increased likelihood of the deal and the Suns, through CEO Josh Bartelstein and owner Mat Ishbia, saw the selection as someone who could step in and contribute right away. To recoup assets in a return for Durant, different constructs involving three and four teams were presented, but those never gained suitable footing. Ironically, the longer both sides maintained levels of obstinacy, the clearer it became that a deal made sense. As recently as Thursday, team sources say the two sides hadn't spoken in a week after a previous discussion didn't go well. Yet throughout the process, the pressure of the playoffs — both past and future — remained. While the move wasn't directly tied to Green's struggles against the Warriors, it certainly didn't help his cause that he struggled so mightily at a pivotal point (he averaged 13.3 points while shooting just 37.2 percent overall and 29.5 from 3). Ever since he agreed to a three-year, $106 million extension in October, with Şengün having received a five-year deal on the same day, rival executives had predicted that Green might be on the move if he didn't meet this Rockets' moment. Despite Green's strong preference to stay in Houston, league sources said he became increasingly resigned to the reality he was on the move in the days leading up to the deal and received word that it was agreed upon approximately an hour before it was first reported by ESPN. Meanwhile, the prospect of adding an experienced, proven postseason performer like Durant — while increasing the roles of Eason, Sheppard and Smith — was suddenly seen as the best win-now option on the Rockets' board. Even if it meant losing players in Green and Brooks, who had been so crucial to the Rockets' resurgence. According to a source close to Durant, the future Hall of Famer is 'incredibly excited' about the opportunity to join a contender in Houston, surrounded by a talented coaching staff and top-five defensive unit. The news broke just as he was being interviewed in New York for Fanatics Fest, with the 14-time All-Star letting out a huge grin in front of hundreds of adoring fans. Advertisement 'We gon' see,' Durant said with a smile, regarding what to expect. Durant has one season remaining on his current contract (worth $54.7 million). Yet while he may not sign an extension when he's eligible in July, team sources said there is a strong belief that this will be a long-term partnership. On paper, the Rockets' potential looks extremely promising. Team sources said there are early indications Smith will likely return to the starting lineup, with Thompson — who originally replaced Smith last season after Smith broke his hand — slotting into Green's vacated starting spot. The Rockets now possess ample length at four starting positions, amplifying the defensive tools Udoka now has at his disposal. The 47-year-old coach has made a serious impact since his arrival in the summer of 2023, with the Rockets going from 22 wins in the season before to 41 in his debut campaign and 52 last season. Udoka was rewarded with an extension last week and now finds himself with yet another gift in the form of Durant. Now the Rockets, who embarked on this rebuilding journey when they traded James Harden four years ago, have a two-time champion in their midst and the goal of winning the franchise's next championship on their minds.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arizona Republic: Rockets ‘ideal trade destination' for Kevin Durant
The Houston Rockets are the 'ideal landing spot' in a trade for Phoenix star Kevin Durant, an NBA source told Suns beat writer Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. 'A league source informed The Republic the Rockets would be the ideal landing spot for Durant, saying they need a 'go-to guy' in the fourth quarter and have draft picks and young players to offer the Suns in return,' Rankin writes. Advertisement The story continues: Rockets coach Ime Udoka has a relationship with Durant. Udoka was an assistant in Brooklyn in the 2020-21 season when Durant was with the Nets. Durant is also close friends with Rockets assistant Royal Ivey. They both played at the University of Texas and were teammates at Oklahoma City. Confirming recent reports, Rankin notes that a Durant trade is expected to take place in the coming days. Among many ties to Houston and the state of Texas, Durant is also linked to Jeff Green, who played with the Rockets in each of the previous two seasons. For four seasons at the start of their NBA careers, Durant and Green were teammates in Seattle and Oklahoma City. More: Shams: Rockets, Heat, Timberwolves leading Kevin Durant trade pursuit This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Arizona Republic: Rockets 'ideal trade destination' for Kevin Durant
USA Today
16-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Despite external coaching inquiries, Royal Ivey likely to stay with Rockets, Ime Udoka
Despite external coaching inquiries, Royal Ivey likely to stay with Rockets, Ime Udoka Despite recent interest from teams such as San Antonio and Memphis, it appears assistant coach Royal Ivey is staying with Ime Udoka in Houston. Despite external pursuits from multiple NBA organizations, it appears that longtime assistant coach Royal Ivey will continue working for head coach Ime Udoka and the Houston Rockets for at least the 2025-26 season. 'Multiple teams, including San Antonio, have pursued Rockets assistant coach Royal Ivey this offseason, but Ivey is expected to stay in Houston,' Marc Stein of The Stein Line reports. 'Ivey did interview for the Suns' head coaching vacancy that went to (Jordan) Ott, and he is a close friend of Kevin Durant.' Coincidentally, Durant remains a potential trade target of the Rockets. Both Durant and Ivey played college basketball at the University of Texas in the 2000s, along with DJ Augustin — a former NBA player who was recently hired to Houston's front office. Ivey also drew interest this offseason from the Memphis Grizzlies, per HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. As with the San Antonio pursuit, it appears that interest was in an assistant capacity and not the potential head-coaching role that Phoenix considered Ivey for. Ivey has been a mainstay of Udoka's bench since the start of the latter's Houston tenure (2023-24), and it appears that partnership will continue for at least a third season. In 2024-25, with the Rockets finishing at 52-30 and at No. 2 in the Western Conference standings, Udoka finished third in NBA Coach of the Year voting. To no surprise, Udoka often credits the quality of his assistant pool as a key factor behind that success. In addition to Ivey's extensive NBA ties, both as a player and assistant coach, the 43-year-old was also the head coach when South Sudan secured its first-ever Olympic berth and victory in 2024. It's likely a matter of when, not if, that Ivey receives a similar head-coaching role in the NBA — but Udoka and the Rockets are happy to reap the rewards of having him as an assistant for as long as they possibly can. And it might even bring a few extra benefits, such as luring Durant. More: Report: Rockets assistant Royal Ivey could soon receive NBA head coaching interest
USA Today
15-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Rockets assistant Royal Ivey could soon receive NBA head coaching interest
Report: Rockets assistant Royal Ivey could soon receive NBA head coaching interest Rockets assistant Royal Ivey is among a list of candidates currently being evaluated by the Suns for their head coaching vacancy, Chris Haynes reports. The Houston Rockets (52-30, No. 2 in the Western Conference standings) have overachieved all expectations in the 2024-25 NBA season, and head coach Ime Udoka is getting consideration for Coach of the Year honors. Those accomplishments, of course, also speak well to the talented coaching staff on Udoka's bench. That includes Rockets assistant Royal Ivey, a former NBA player who coached South Sudan to its first-ever Olympic berth and victory last offseason. Thus, it shouldn't come as a surprise if Ivey gets a look at other head coaching vacancies around the NBA. Per longtime league insider Chris Haynes, Ivey could potentially receive an interview with the Phoenix Suns, who recently opted to move on from Mike Budenholzer. From Haynes' YouTube channel (Haynes Briefs): Sources relayed to me that these are a list of coaching candidates that are going to be looked at by the Phoenix Suns. Mike Brown, former head coach of the Sacramento Kings. Willie Green, current Pelicans head coach. We're going to see, is Willie going to stay there in New Orleans? I mean, New Orleans just parted ways with its president of basketball operations, David Griffin. If Willie is going to be outed, Phoenix is definitely going to take a look. Willie (previously) spent some time in Phoenix. Miami assistant Chris Quinn, Cavaliers assistant Johnnie Bryant. Mavericks assistants Sean Sweeney and Jared Dudley. Dudley played in Phoenix, and has strong ties to the Phoenix area. Rockets assistant Royal Ivey, and current Suns assistant David Fizdale. And former Suns assistant and current BYU head coach Kevin Young. Those are some names that I was told that the team will look into and evaluate, and (then) choose who they're going to bring in for interviews. These are largely guys who played in the NBA before, or are young, up-and-coming guys. I think a lot of teams feel like they need a voice that's not too far removed from playing, or a young up-and-coming assistant coach who has the ear of the players. Look at the Lakers (and JJ Redick). If you look at the issues with Bud and the players on this Suns team, that lack of communication was key, so bringing in somebody who has the ear of the players and can communicate and relay a message properly, and be received in the right way… that's going to be very important. Time will tell as to whether Ivey ultimately lands an interview with the Suns or other teams, but it's positive news for his career that he's in the conversation, no matter what. And it also shows that Houston's strong performance this season is drawing attention around the league. More: In second year with Houston, Ime Udoka could be in NBA's 2025 Coach of the Year finalists
