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[Houston Rockets]

Dwight Howard Has Honest Admission About Time With James Harden

(Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

One of Dwight Howard’s many stops during his NBA career was the Houston Rockets, where he played for three seasons starting in 2013.

During that time, he played alongside James Harden, who was doing incredible things.

Talking on “7PM In Brooklyn,” Howard opened up about his relationship with Harden and how it didn’t pan out like he expected.

“I thought me and James were gonna work because I felt like he was a younger Kobe with better passing… But I did like playing with James for those first couple of years. Then, after that, I was like, ‘Dang, this dude don’t pass me the ball no more! What did I do to you?'” Howard said, per Legion Hoops.

Dwight Howard on playing with James Harden on the Rockets:

“I thought me and James were gonna work because I felt like he was a younger Kobe with better passing… But I did like playing with James for those first couple of years. Then, after that, I was like, ‘Dang, this dude… pic.twitter.com/XFBbupsZfk

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 31, 2025

During his three seasons with the Rockets, Howard averaged 16.0 points and 11.7 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Harden put up 29.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 7.7 assists during his nine seasons in Houston.

Harden was at his peak during that time and constantly in the running for MVP, winning once in 2017-18.

The goal was for Harden and Howard to work together and lead the team to new heights and possibly a championship.

When they joined up together, Howard imagined them both leading the team, but it soon became clear that the Rockets were Harden’s team, and Howard started to feel he didn’t have a lot of space to grow and flourish.

Following his stay with the Rockets, Howard moved on to the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, and Philadelphia 76ers.

Rockets fans fondly remember this period for the team, although they also wish the squad would have achieved more.

Howard and Harden didn’t work out as planned, and it sounds like there may still be bad blood between them.

The post Dwight Howard Has Honest Admission About Time With James Harden appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/dwight-howard-has-honest-admission-about-time-with-james-harden/

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets Are Showing Interest In Trading For Trail Blazers Veteran

(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

The Houston Rockets have been a very good team all season, but the toughest stretch of the campaign is ahead.

They could use another scorer off the bench.

However, it seems like they’re also looking to bolster their frontcourt rotation.

According to a report by Evan Sidery of Forbes, the Rockets have held exploratory talks with the Portland Trail Blazers regarding the availability of Robert Williams III.

The Rockets and Trail Blazers recently conducted exploratory trade talks centered on Robert Williams.

Houston is openly shopping Jock Landale’s non-guaranteed multi-year contract in order to upgrade their frontcourt.

Portland has strong interest from contenders on Williams. pic.twitter.com/5WCYHt4IUH

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) January 21, 2025

Williams has missed some time with injuries, and that has always been a concern with him.

However, he’s an outstanding defender and offensive rebounder, and he’s very efficient in limited time off the bench.

The Trail Blazers have their big man of the future in Donovan Clingan, and Deandre Ayton continues to hold on to the starting spot for now, so it could make sense for them to move on from the veteran.

As for the Rockets, they know Alperen Sengun cannot hold his own on defense for long stretches, so Williams could be of help in certain matchups.

Multiple teams could be in the mix to land a proven veteran like Williams heading toward the NBA trade deadline.

He doesn’t need many touches to be efficient, and despite being undersized, his hops and athleticism make him hard to deal with and keep away from the offensive glass.

Ime Udoka’s team may be a year or two away from real contention.

They do play outstanding team defense and thrive off their athleticism, and Williams checks both boxes and would be a seamless fit for them.

The post Rockets Are Showing Interest In Trading For Trail Blazers Veteran appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/rockets-are-showing-interest-in-trading-for-trail-blazers-veteran/

 

[Houston Rockets]

Steven Adams Has Honest Admission About Amen Thompson

(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

The Houston Rockets are having their best season in years, and a large part of that is due to Amen Thompson.

Now in his second season, Thompson is gaining a lot of attention for his fearlessness and jaw-dropping speed.

Thompson’s teammate, Steven Adams, is blown away by what he has seen.

According to ClutchFans, via NBACentral, Adams talked about Thompson’s speed and athleticism.

Adams said:

“One of a kind, bro. I haven’t played with anyone like this. His speed is unbelievable. His second jump, first jump, is so quick off the ground. I haven’t seen that type of athleticism, to be honest.”

"One of a kind, bro. I haven't played with anyone like this. His speed is unbelievable. His second jump, first jump, is so quick off the ground. I haven't seen that type of athleticism, to be honest."

– Steven Adams on Amen Thompson

(Via @clutchfans ) pic.twitter.com/N69RIVsC5A

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 6, 2025

Watching Thompson move up and down the court really is something special.

The 21-year-old forward can weave his way through traffic and isn’t afraid of any sort of defense attempting to slow him down.

That’s why his second season is even better than his first.

He is currently averaging 12.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.

The numbers only tell half the story and fans constantly marvel at his athleticism and intense speed every single game.

He has an intense drive to play well and has great energy.

NBA teams are lucky to get young talent like Thompson, and many fans imagine him as part of the Rockets for many years to come.

He’s just one of several great up-and-coming players who are making their mark on the Houston roster.

Adams has been in the league for years and has played with some of the best and fastest players in the NBA, but Thompson is having an impact on him like no one else.

The post Steven Adams Has Honest Admission About Amen Thompson appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/steven-adams-has-honest-admission-about-amen-thompson/

 

[Houston Rockets]

Report: Notable Jimmy Butler Suitor Is Unlikely To Make Trade

(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

The Houston Rockets are the clear surprise team of the 2024-25 NBA season as no one predicted they would be in this position at this juncture.

The Rockets are a young team filled with talent at every position and a head coach who’s used to coaching more experienced players.

However, Ime Udoka has done well meshing with his roster, and the players have responded with one of the team’s best starts to a regular season.

The Western Conference remains difficult to compete in, though Houston’s blend of size, athleticism and defense gives it a shot against any other team in the league.

With how many pieces and future draft picks they have, the Rockets could swing a trade for another star to accelerate their title aspirations.

However, it appears they’re not looking to trade for Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, who appears destined to be moved.

“As it pertains to the Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler, who is known to be available and reportedly has the Rockets on his list of preferred destinations, team sources say it’s highly unlikely they’ll pursue the 35-year-old, six-time All-Star from nearby Tomball, Texas,” Sam Amick of The Athletic wrote.

Butler has been the center of trade talks with numerous teams linked to him, though Houston seems to value its young core enough to stay away from the veteran.

It’s a smart move for a franchise that looks to already have enough to make a deep playoff run.

The post Report: Notable Jimmy Butler Suitor Is Unlikely To Make Trade appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/report-notable-jimmy-butler-suitor-is-unlikely-to-make-trade/

 

[Houston Rockets]

Kendrick Perkins Says 1 Team Is Gonna Get ‘Smoked’ In NBA Cup Game

(Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)

The NBA Cup has come down to the final four teams, with games now set to be played in Las Vegas, Nevada, over the weekend.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks are the four teams left standing in this tournament, with three out of these four teams being potential NBA title contenders along with being in contention to win the second NBA Cup in league history.

Ahead of the semifinals set to be played on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, the Thunder are heavily favored to come out on top and lift the NBA Cup when it is all said and done in Las Vegas.

On Saturday, the Thunder will go head-to-head against the upstart Houston Rockets at T-Mobile Arena in the late game, with few believing Ime Udoka’s squad can come out on top against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company.

Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins thinks there’s no way Houston will be able to contend with Oklahoma City on Saturday via NBA on ESPN.

“OKC is going to smoke Houston,” Perkins said. “Because they are just too good defensively, and I’m talking about Oklahoma City. It’s a reason why they’re number one in everything.”

"OKC is going to smoke Houston."

@KendrickPerkins believes the Thunder will dominate the Rockets and advance to the NBA Cup Finals

pic.twitter.com/Yg7zotJDBo

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 12, 2024

Ahead of Saturday’s matchup against the Rockets, the Thunder are tied for the second-best record in the league with the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics at 19-5 while also sitting atop the Western Conference standings, winning eight out of their last 10 games.

It’ll be interesting to see if the Thunder can continue to play at a high level during the rest of this tournament and give the Rockets a run for their money this weekend.

The post Kendrick Perkins Says 1 Team Is Gonna Get ‘Smoked’ In NBA Cup Game appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/kendrick-perkins-says-1-team-is-gonna-get-smoked-in-nba-cup-game/

 

[Houston Rockets]

Fred VanVleet Names Top-5 Undrafted Players In NBA History

(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Few players in the NBA who go undrafted and are fortunate enough to get signed by a team have success on the professional level, as it takes some luck to be in the right situation in order to put their skills on display.

However, occasionally, a player can get in that ideal situation on an NBA team and seize the moment, proving they belong on the professional level and are capable of making an impact on the basketball floor on a consistent basis.

One player who is a perfect example of that in the NBA right now is Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, as he has been able to put together a successful career in the league, resulting in winning an NBA title with the Toronto Raptors and securing a lucrative long-term deal with the Rockets last year.

During an appearance on Draymond Green’s podcast, VanVleet was asked to name the top five undrafted players in league history, and he had some interesting answers, going with John Starks, Ben Wallace, Udonis Haslem, Bruce Bowen and Avery Johnson via ClutchPoints.

1. John Starks
2. Ben Wallace
3. Udonis Haslem
4. Bruce Bowen
5. Avery Johnson

Fred VanVleet names his top 5 undrafted players in NBA history

(via @DraymondShow)pic.twitter.com/Uay62lrsvo

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 6, 2024

That is a pretty solid list of undrafted players who became some of the best role players in league history, with some teams that are more often than not willing to take chances on players, like the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat, and San Antonio Spurs.

As for VanVleet, he could make this list from other players’ perspective down the line, as he’s put together a nice resume himself, which might continue to get bolstered in Houston in the years to come.

The post Fred VanVleet Names Top-5 Undrafted Players In NBA History appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/fred-vanvleet-names-top-5-undrafted-players-in-nba-history/

 

[Houston Rockets]

Ime Udoka Rips Players After Loss On Thursday

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Houston Rockets lost a second game in a row on Thursday night, and head coach Ime Udoka was not happy about it.

Following the game, Udoka had nothing but harsh words for his team, according to a video shared by ClutchPoints.

In the video, Udoka said:

“All the things we’ve done to get a decent record have gone out of the window these last couple of games… A few guys really didn’t look like they showed up til after halftime.”

He then called Thursday’s match “one of our softest games since I’ve been here for sure.”

“All the things we've done to get a decent record have gone out of the window these last couple of games… A few guys really didn't look like they showed up til after halftime… One of our softest games since I've been here for sure.”

Ime Udoka ripped his Rockets after losing… pic.twitter.com/nwj5T3ac7I

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 6, 2024

The Rockets just couldn’t keep up with the Golden State Warriors during Thursday’s game.

Although multiple players were in double digits, they didn’t have an answer for Golden State, especially Jonathan Kuminga, who scored 33 points.

The Warriors didn’t have Stephen Curry or Draymond Green, which led many Rockets fans to believe a victory would be achieved.

Instead, they fell 99-93.

That came just days after the Rockets were taken down by the Sacramento Kings, 120-111.

These were the first back-to-back losses for the Rockets all season and a sign that they could be slowing down after such a strong start to the year.

Udoka isn’t happy with what he saw, and he surely gave his team a very serious, intense chat after the game.

Will his words have an impact, and will we see the Rockets bounce back when they face the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night?

All teams go through rough patches, so that isn’t abnormal.

Now it’s time to see how the Rockets handle this and what they do next.

The post Ime Udoka Rips Players After Loss On Thursday appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/ime-udoka-rips-players-after-loss-on-thursday/

 

[Houston Rockets]

Former Player Names A Move That The Rockets Should Make

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Houston Rockets have worked their way up to the second spot in the Western Conference with a 15-8 record.

On Thursday night, they lost to the Golden State Warriors, and that defeat has some people saying changes need to be made.

Certain fans think the Rockets are close to perfect but need a little tweak or two to really reach their potential.

But speaking on “Run It Back,” Lou Williams said the team doesn’t need to make any changes and should be patient instead.

He said Houston should “go out and get Giannis or somebody like that, by all means,” if they can, but thinks the Rockets should just work with the team they have now.

Houston doesn't NEED to make a move, but if they do, it should be a big one

"If the Rockets can go out and get Giannis or somebody like that, by all means." – @TeamLou23

https://t.co/QtFewlWRtJ pic.twitter.com/22BoeZsWHZ

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) December 6, 2024

The Rockets are definitely doing better than many people expected, but there is no doubt they have a lack of postseason experience.

That could hurt them in the months ahead, especially as they take on teams such as the Warriors again.

For some, that means the Rockets need to add more talent, specifically seasoned vets who have played for a long time.

But Williams believes in the roster that currently exists and thinks they already have something special.

Obviously, they would leap at the chance to sign someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo, who could do great things for the team.

But they shouldn’t be looking for success through other players and need to foster the strong core they have now, Williams believes.

The Rockets have every reason to be confident, and now they just need to be patient.

The post Former Player Names A Move That The Rockets Should Make appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/former-player-names-a-move-that-the-rockets-should-make/

 

[Houston Rockets]

Insider Names 1 NBA Team ‘Not Interested’ In Trading For Giannis

(Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)

The Milwaukee Bucks have not lived up to expectations to start the 2024-25 NBA regular season, losing nine of their first 14 games.

With the Bucks off to a rocky start following a disappointing 2023-24 season that was marred by injuries, trade rumors have already started swirling around Milwaukee and if the team could be looking to shake things up by parting with Giannis Antetokounmpo or Damian Lillard.

Although it seems like it would be a stretch to see the Bucks trade Antetokounmpo, the superstar could force his way out of Milwaukee if he’s sick of losing, which might be the only scenario in which he’s moved before the NBA trade deadline in February.

One team that was thought to have the assets to trade for Antetokounmpo and potentially turn into a legitimate title contender in the Western Conference if they brought in the two-time NBA MVP is the Houston Rockets.

However, the Houston franchise reportedly is content with how things are going with its young players.

“The Rockets are not interested in breaking up their core for Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo,” Kelly Iko of The Athletic wrote on X.

The Rockets are not interested in breaking up their core for Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, sources tell @TheAthletic. Houston, sitting at 10-5 and a game out of first in the West, remains focused on developing its young players as a collective.

— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) November 20, 2024

This might be a smart move by Houston as there’s no reason to fix what isn’t broken.

The Rockets have been impressive so far this season, sitting in fourth place in a very competitive Western Conference with a record of 10-5.

However, this stance could change if the team starts to struggle, but it remains to be seen if Antetokounmpo even wants to get traded and if he will have some control in terms of where he might land in a deal.

The post Insider Names 1 NBA Team ‘Not Interested’ In Trading For Giannis appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/insider-names-1-nba-team-not-interested-in-trading-for-giannis/

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets Have Reportedly Made 2 Players Untouchable In Trade Talks

(Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

The Houston Rockets have a plethora of young talent on their roster.

However, unlike most teams with young players, they don’t want to build for the future.

Ime Udoka’s team is reportedly looking to win now, which means that they might part ways with some of their younger players.

Notably, that doesn’t mean everybody is up for grabs.

According to a report by Brian Windhorst of ESPN (via Gorman Christoph & NBA Central), the Rockets have deemed Amen Thompson and Tari Eason untouchable in trade talks.

The Houston Rockets have made Amen Thompson and Tari Eason untouchable, per @WindhorstESPN

(h/t @GormanChristoph) pic.twitter.com/4aEGqVyBWH

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 20, 2024

This is far from a surprise.

Ime Udoka hangs his hat on defense, and these are two of the best defensive players in the game.

Of course, Alperen Sengun is their best player right now, and Jalen Green might be their best three-level scorer, but Thompson has the upside of being an elite two-way player.

Also, that doesn’t mean that Sengun or Green can be had at a discount.

Assuming any team is even slightly interested in either of them, they’ll likely have to meet a steep price.

Even so, this speaks volumes about what the Rockets value right now.

They want gritty, physical, and intelligent defenders who aren’t afraid to put their bodies on the line, endure a beating, and check the opposition’s best players.

They’re not that far off from contention, and it’ll be interesting to see which pieces they can keep adding to this intriguing roster.

The post Rockets Have Reportedly Made 2 Players Untouchable In Trade Talks appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/rockets-have-reportedly-made-2-players-untouchable-in-trade-talks/