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Rockets 2025-2026 NBA player previews: Steven Adams

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In February 2024, I was overjoyed when the Houston Rockets acquired Steven Adams through a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. It had been entertaining to watch Adams and follow his career from Memphis to New Orleans to Oklahoma City. Unfortunately, Adams was recovering from surgery for a PCL sprain, so we had to wait until the following season to watch him play.

Adams was constrained by load management and injuries during the previous season. He averaged 13.7 minutes per game, scoring 3.9 points and pulling down 5.6 rebounds in 58 regular-season games.

Even though he only played a few minutes, he had an impact at times. He had one of his highest offensive rebounding rates ever.

His playing time increased during the playoffs, and he displayed glimpses of taking on more responsibility. As such, Adams signed a three-year, fully guaranteed, $39 million contract extension with the Rockets in the offseason.

Houston is now using “double-big” lineups, such as Adams and Alperen Şengün, to take advantage of their size and interior toughness.

Adams will probably play backup center behind Şengün, but he will have more opportunities than he did in 2024–2025, particularly in games where Houston wants more rebounding or physicality.He may also start in some lineups, particularly when Houston wants to use two big men (Adams + Şengün) together. He will be used sparingly, particularly in heavy interior matchups or the second unit.

One of his main weapons will be his offensive rebounding. He had one of his best offensive rebound rates last season, despite playing a few minutes.

He is physically present in the paint and a powerful screen setter. His intangibles—boxing out, enlisting assistance, and changing shots—should provide value beyond the box score, even if his counting stats are modest. When paired with Şengün, he can anchor the rim defensively, allowing for more switching or assisting with perimeter defense. Houston is expected to carefully manage his minutes due to his history of injuries and the fact that he was eased back last season, particularly when playing back-to-back games.

In order to protect his body throughout the remainder of the season, there will probably be “maintenance” or rest days, particularly in less important games.

Durability and health: He must maintain his health. Any setback might reduce his role or allow other players (like Clint Capela) to play more minutes.

The Rockets will benefit from having Steven Adams in 2025–2026; he is not a star, but a tough, hardworking veteran who can have a small impact. He can help in rebounding battles, add toughness in the paint, and solidify the center depth if Houston uses him wisely (by managing his load, deploying him in favorable matchups, and leveraging his strengths).

He might see a slight increase in playing time and counting statistics if all goes according to plan, particularly in playoff games or against teams with limited interior strength. However, his greatest influence will probably be felt in those intangible areas, like screens, boxouts, accelerating the game, and giving Şengün a break without compromising interior defense.

As always, we will see what happens once the season starts, but I look forward to seeing Adams on the court this season.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/houst...ts-2025-2026-nba-player-previews-steven-adams
 
Rockets Play Hawks In First Pre-Season Game of 2025-26

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Houston Rockets vs Atlanta Hawks

TV: Space City Home Network

Online: Rockets App

Gametime: 7 PM CST


Probable Starting Lineups​


Rockets: Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr, Alperen Sengun

Hawks: TV Trae Young, Dyson “The Vacuum” Daniels, Jalen “Jeremiah” Johnson, Kristaps “ouch!” Porzingis, Onyeka “King” Okongwu


Injuries​


Rockets: Dorian Finney-Smith (OUT – Ankle), Reed Sheppard (GTD? DTD?, Something or other.), Fred VanVleet (Out For Season – Did His Knee)

Hawks Caw! Caw!: N’Faly Dante (GTD), Eli John N’Diaye (GTD), Jobin Toppin (GTD), Nikola Ricola Djurisic (GTD)



Here we go! The Rockets first game, albeit preseason, of The Kevin Durant Era.

It’s Kevin Durant’s first game as a Rocket. It’s the first game with Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard sharing point guard duties. And, most importantly, the NBA is back. Some of us might need a little Rockets basketball more than others. That group would include me.

The Hawks are team with an actual chance to advance pretty far in the east, depending on the health of Jalen Johnson and Kristaps Porzingis.

If you were wondering where my piece on minutes for backcourt and wing players went, between moving house, and assorted chaos, I decided to wait until we’d actually seen this brave, new, backcourt of the Rockets.

I’ll be recapping the game on TDS, too, so please look for that as well.

Streaming Option:

I know many of you enjoyed and supported our TDS playback stream last season. I did as well. I’m not sure what the status of the TDS Playback Stream will be going forward. Perhaps we will have more clarity at some point.

Until that time, if you want to join me, but not Armin (for tonight), you can swing by my very own playback channel – NBA Late Net – Rockets Red. The situation with playback and SBN isn’t what it was last season. That said, it should be a good time as the preseason and season roll on. We’d welcome your presence and support! There are now actual ways to support the stream without gambling, which I expect would mostly pay for dumb props for prop comedy or something. Maybe League Pass, I dare dream.

I have a limited number of VIPs to hand out so if you don’t have some other method of watching, you can watch with me.

NBA Late Net – Rockets Red on Playback

I don’t know how to put up a poll, still, with this WordPress front end. It’s beginning to bother me, and I’m sure you, too.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...lay-hawks-in-first-pre-season-game-of-2025-26
 
Alperen Sengun should be the Rockets new point guard

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Point guard.

Some Rockets fans are already too distressed to continue reading.

The team’s challenges at the position are well-documented. It was the foremost topic in the town square for too long.

“Is Kevin Porter Jr. a point guard?”

Yet, it goes back even further. At one time, James Harden was an off-guard. It was Mike D’Antoni who came along and said, “No. A point guard is any guard who makes the team’s overall offense better if we give him the ball a lot”.

The days of Mark “They invented five-second back to the basket for me” Jackson patiently waiting to make the right entry pass were over. Point guards were allowed to score (won’t somebody think of the children?). This led to a widespread error in thinking. Just because a point guard is allowed to score doesn’t mean a (reasonably) talented score-first guard is now a point guard.

This horse has already been beaten to death. Suffice it to say, Porter Jr. wasn’t a point guard. The Rockets went out and got Fred VanVleet, the most point guard-iest point guard of the entire point guardian. Everyone wants their point guard to be a Maserati GranTurismo, but VanVleet is the Toyota Prius your uncle is always talking about.

Reliable. Steady. Safe. VanVleet’s outrageously low turnover percentage relative to his passing volume has always been his calling card.

It’s something the Rockets won’t have in 2025-26.

VanVleet is out. The Rockets have half of the NBA’s starting-caliber wings, and little else. It seems Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard will be splitting floor general duties.

What if there’s a third way?

Rockets’ big man has point guard skills​


We can get more granular on what constitutes a point guard.

Is it pick-and-roll efficiency? If so, Alperen Sengun is a point guard. In 2024-25, the Rockets scored 1.11 Points Per Possession (PPP) when he was the ball-handler in pick-and-roll sets. That ranked in the 95.3rd percentile leaguewide.

Fine. Pick-and-roll efficiency only counts as the sole barometer of point guard viability if you worship at the Church of D’Antoni. The Rockets won’t spam those sets like a 15-year-old playing NBA 2K. Still, Sengun’s 3.5% pick-and-roll (ball-handler) frequency ought to tick substantially up in 2025-26.

Remember those inverted pick-and-rolls with KJ Martin? Why can’t Sengun run those actions with Amen Thompson? Imagine it. A point guard setting a pick and rolling for a center handling the ball. Up is down, the earth is flat, and Bret “The Hitman” Hart is the worst there is, the worst there was, and the worst there ever will be.

Still, that’s not precisely what it means to say Sengun should be the de facto point guard. He doesn’t need to spam pick-and-roll. He doesn’t even need to get the ball up the floor.

The Rockets simply need to make sure the ball is in his hands.

Alperen Sengun should run the Rockets’ offense​


If Thompson, Sheppard, Aaron Holiday, or whoever else needs to bring the ball up, that’s fine. If Sengun is on the floor, the Rockets should be looking to get the ball in his hands as a primary option.

In 2024-25, Alperen Sengun had a 25.9% usage rate, ranking 54th in the NBA. Ime Udoka should be nudging him into the top 30 next year. Nobody wants another heliocentric offense – Rockets fans have had their fill – but Sengun needs the ball more often with VanVleet on the sidelines.

Does that qualify him as a “point guard”? It’s a boring, tedious semantic debate. VanVleet has been Houston’s primary decision maker, and that’s the capacity Sengun should be replacing him in.

It may not be a seamless transition. It will look different. Sengun will turn the ball over more often, and his riskier passing style will pay off, too. The bottom line is that he’s the best-equipped player for the job on this roster. Sengun can create shots for both himself and his teammates. The fact that he’s not a conventional point guard is immaterial:

And since when has it mattered to the Rockets?

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...gun-should-be-houston-rockets-new-point-guard
 
Houston Rockets vs. New Orleans Pelicans preseason game preview

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Ime Udoka has said that the Houston Rockets will play tonight and Thursday’s game more closely to how they will play the regular season. That means rotations and minutes should play out more realistically than in the prior two preseason games.

Obviously, Houston is still missing two rotation pieces, but Fred VanVleet is out for the season and the Dorian Finney-Smith injury will keep him out of action until after the regular season begins. Also, how much will Houston want to show the New Orleans Pelicans, a division rival? And where does JD Davison fit in? He’s had a great preseason so far and could work his way onto the team.

After tonight, Houston has one last playoff games before starting their saeson next week.

What do you want to see tonight? Anything specific?

Tip-off


7pm CT

How To Watch


Space City Home Network

Injury Report

Rockets


Dorian Finney-Smith: OUT (ankle)

Jae’Sean Tate: OUT (ankle)

Pelicans


N/A

The Line (as of this post)


N/A

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can


Thursday night in Atlanta against the Hawks

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...s-new-orleans-pelicans-preseason-game-preview
 
Rockets down Pelicans 130-128 to go to 3-0 in the NBA Preseason

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The Houston Rockets continue to look the part, moving to 3-0 on the NBA Preseason with a 130-128 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Jabari Smith Jr. led the team with 26 points, 5 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal and a block, shooting 4-for-10 from three-point range to help pace Houston’s offensive attack.

The Rockets used a big third quarter to break open a close game, then hung on down the stretch, as everyone got to see some playing time. The Rockets started off, however, running their double-big lineup, with both Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams in your starting lineup and Reed Sheppard moved to the bench. Technically, Amen Thompson was your starting point guard, though it was Sengun often initiating the offense from the top of the key.

Sheppard still pitched in 13 points on 4-for-8 shooting, 3-for-6 from deep, off of the bench, and Adams pitched in 9 boards in 24 minutes as a starter. The other big stat lines, however, came from Amen Thomson, who finished with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists on 5-for-9 from the field and a huge 2-for-3 from deep, while Kevin Durant had 15 points, 5 boards and 2 assists on 6-for-13 shooting, though he was 0-for-3 from beyond the arc.

Sengun pitched in 8 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and a block, though point-Sengun wasn’t without its downside, as he committed 6 turnovers as well.

The Rockets also got 20 points from Tari Eason in his best preseason performance of the new season, and the backup point guard position swung a little over to Aaron Holiday, as he finished with 7 points and 4 assists, while JD Davison had just 3 points and 2 assists.

The Pels finished with all five starters in double figures, though they were led in scoring by Jeremiah Fears, who had 20 off of the bench for New Orleans.

The Rockets finish out the Preseason on Thurssday when they take on the Atlanta Hawks on the road at 6:30pm CST.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...-go-to-30-in-the-nba-preseason-alperen-sengun
 
Houston Rockets vs. Atlanta Hawks preseason game preview

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The Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks will play for the second time of this preseason. These teams won’t play each other until late January, so it makes sense for them to want to schedule each other. Obviously, geographically they’re pretty close but there’s also there’s a lack of worry about giving an opponent an advantage when you don’t play them for three months.

There’s been much discourse about how good Jabari Smith Jr. has looked in the preseason. He was stellar against the Pelicans, and any improvement he makes this season will make the contract extension that Houston gave him look fantastic.

What’s more, his jersey was retired last night at his high school, which is a huge accomplishment. Seemingly the entire team was there to celebrate with him, which says a lot about this team and how they feel about each other.

Tip-off


6:30pm CT

How To Watch


Space City Home Network

Injury Report

Rockets


Dorian Finney-Smith: OUT (ankle)

Jae’Sean Tate: OUT (ankle)

Hawks


N/A

The Line (as of this post)


N/A

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can


The regular season opener on Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...ckets-vs-atlanta-hawks-preseason-game-preview
 
Rockets 2025-2026 NBA player previews: Fred VanVleet

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Poor Fred VanVleet. He was one of the key catalysts of the culture change for the Houston Rockets, alongside head coach Ime Udoka and the traded away Dillon Brooks. The Rockets finally looked poised to pay off all of the hard work they’ve put in and actually be title contenders, and VanVleet goes down with a torn ACL during a team workout. Reports say he is likely out for the season.

There is a speck of good news there. While FVV is “likely” done for the season, that means a small chance remains that Houston’s floor general could retuern before year’s end. If that happens, the Rockets will have some major decisions to make. Bring VanVleet back and shake up the chemistry the team spent all year building, while also having to get Fred back into game shape? Or just keep him out for the year no matter what to ensure a full recovery?

VanVleet will be 32 years old this season. His stats have slipped. He’s clearly on the downside of his career. Would it do any good to rush him back? I guess that depends on how the Rockets fill in for him.

Reed Sheppard will get chances at the point. So will Amen Thompson. We’ll likely see Aaron Holiday or even JD Davison. Point Sengun will also be in full effect, especially when the Rockets are playing their double-big lineup with Steven Adams and Alperen Sengun on the floor together. They also have the option to go out and swing a deal, most likely after December. Lots of options remain.

Still, VanVleet signed a two-year, $50 million deal in the offseason. The Rockets are going to want some return on that investment.

Still, there is part of this that could be a blessing in disguise. The Rockets will get to see exactly what they have in Sheppard. He had a disappointing first season in the NBA. He’s been uneven in Summer League. There’s no doubt he’s looked a little better this preseason. Certainly more confident. This could be the exact opportunity the youngster needs to show off his stuff, or show the Rockets that they made a mistake taking him number three overall.

I think the bigger question is… what happens to FVV from here? When he comes back healthy, do the Rockets try to deal him? If Sheppard hits at the point, an FVV deal is certainly a real possibility. Although I’m sure Ime Udoka has some loyalty to Fred, the front office has shown it’s willing to do what it takes to improve. The injury leaves his future a little murky. But for now, it’s all aboard the Reed/Amen/Point Sengun train.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/houst...s-2025-2026-nba-player-previews-fred-vanvleet
 
Rockets 2025-2026 NBA player previews: Jabari Smith Jr.

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The day is June 23, 2022 as millions of NBA fans tuned into that years draft. For Rockets fans, everyone had their guy, whether that be Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, or Jabari Smith Jr. I was a Paolo fan, and the general consensus was that Houston would be able to draft him at pick three, as most scouts had Jabari going first followed by Chet, and finally Paolo.

However, before the draft even started, it was revealed that the Orlando Magic were planning on selecting Paolo Banchero first overall. Obviously, I, along with other Rockets fans, was upset because, as a fan base, many of us had spent the past few months campaigning for whichever player we wanted the Rockets to draft, but in a way it feels like everything worked out. Paolo had an incredible start to his career, and if he had landed in Houston, perhaps the Rockets would have improved enough to avoid the fourth overall pick, meaning they would not have been able to draft Amen Thompson, which I can’t even begin to imagine this team without Amen Thompson.

Although Jabari has shown signs of being a top player in the NBA after three seasons, he has acknowledged that his own career has not gone as planned. But such flashes of brilliance do offer the Rockets optimism. He hasn’t been a complete failure. The only player in the 2022 draft class with 2700 points and 1500 rebounds is Jabari. Rockets supporters questioned why head coach Ime Udoka didn’t use him more because of his performance in the few minutes he played during this past season’s playoffs.

During the postseason, he averaged just 20 minutes per game, yet he scored 7.4 points, pulled down 3.9 rebounds, and shot 50 percent from the field, including 45.5 percent from three-point range. Given the team’s offensive struggles against the Warriors, more of that kind of performance would have been appreciated. But as they say, it’s useless to linger on the past. All the effects of that series’ failures have already been felt this offseason, so it’s time to move on. What can we expect from Jabari this season?

The question of whether Jabari should rejoin the starting lineup in 2025–2026 has generated a lot of discussion. We saw the rise of Amen Thompson as a defensive star and possible all-around superstar, and the Houston Rockets were able to continue winning games without Jabari, keeping them as the two-seed in the Western Conference, and even decided to start Thompson once Jabari returned from injury.

According to most reports, Jabari will be back in the starting lineup on opening night. The basic objective is to surround Kevin Durant with as many scoring sources as possible. I think the space Durant will give Jabari Smith Jr. will be very beneficial while also being able to get cleaner and more efficent shots, and Jabari has been training with KD for the past two summers, including with team USA, so they should have some camaraderie established. Jabari should be able to average close to 15 points and 9 rebounds per game in his fourth season of playing more than 30 minutes per game. Jabari needs to improve his ability to get to the line more frequently by being physical inside the paint. He should aim for a shooting percentage in the mid-to-high 40s and a three-point shooting percentage in the high 30s. Because their top free-throw shooters rarely reach the line, Houston has struggled in that area.

All things considered, Jabari Smith Jr. has high hopes going into his fourth year. He has the chance to significantly improve his entire game, especially if he can take advantage of the opportunities that come with playing with Kevin Durant and keep honing his offensive repertoire. If Jabari can take a leap, it will likely lead a successful season for Houston!

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/houst...2025-2026-nba-player-previews-jabari-smith-jr
 
Rockets Sign Daishen Nix

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Daryl Morey had Joey Dorsey (The Dorsal Fin). Rafael Stone has…Daishen Nix?

It appears to be true. Stone just doesn’t know how to quit Nixing.

A transaction went down with the undrafted guard who played more minutes in a season for the Rockets than the number three overall pick Reed Sheppard did last season. Granted those were very different seasons, with highly different expectations, but still.

In any case, the Rockets signed Nix and Caleb McConnell, a 6’7” shooting guard who went undrafted in 2023, and spent last season playing for the Greensboro Swans. Lest you think this is actually a shooting guard, well, kind of, he was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. The 26 year old McConnell attempted 5 shots a game for the Swans, and shot a robust 27% from three, so a perfect Ime player in some regards. You can follow the link for some stats.

Nix played a little last season for the Timberwolves, and good bit for the RGV Vipers, and that’s what he’ll be doing again it seems. He was kind of dismal in the Valley. You can look at his Viperish stats here. Forgive me if I don’t want to spend a lot more of my life talking about Daishen Nix. Rafael Stone on the other hand just can’t stop giving him money. Who knows why? To avoid any scurrilous speculation, I’m going with “He’s Joey Dorsey for the modern world.”

The transaction appears to be that the two were signed for camp, then waived, then signed to the RGV Vipers.

Anyhow, if Daishen Nix gets a single minute over Reed Sheppard in anything but garbage time, I riot.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rio-grande-valley-vipers/36252/rockets-sign-daishen-nix
 
Rockets must not deviate from their master plan

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The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

Let’s narrow the focus to men. The plans of mice mostly seem to be to infiltrate the basement apartments of non-cat-owning humans. Their motivations outside of this endeavor are unclear.

Plans are infamously difficult to make. The best plans aren’t linear. They have built-in contingencies.

A bad plan looks like “A, followed by B, and completed with C”. A good plan is, to the eye, messier:

“If A, then B, but if C, either D or E, depending on F. If G, either H, I, J, K, unless L, M, N, or O.”

Halfway through the alphabet feels far enough.

The Houston Rockets had a plan. Tank for three years, then pivot hard. Develop organically, unless accelerated team progress and stunted individual progress collectively necessitate a trade.

That’s what happened. Jalen Green wasn’t ready to be a lead scorer on the caliber of team the Rockets were becoming. So they flipped him for Kevin Durant. Given the minimal cost, it was a good decision:

But it shouldn’t be the modus operandi moving forward.

Rockets should still prioritize youth​


This article, as many great articles ought to be, was inspired by Tari Eason.

His extension is pending. So is Kevin Durant’s. It may sound counterintuitive, but if the Rockets had to pick one, it ought to be Eason. To let him walk in favor of retaining Durant would be too significant of a deviation from drafting and developing a core.

Confession: Salary cap machinations are not my bag. As far as I understand, it should be possible to keep both. It will presumably make it difficult to retain Amen Thompson, who (obviously) ought to be the top priority among these three players.

Let’s assume retaining all three is possible. The conversation is broader. This is a Rockets team with a cache of future first-round picks:

They shouldn’t be rushing to trade them all.

Rockets should lean into their drafting acumen​


Alperen Sengun at 16. Tari Eason at 17. If we pretend that Rafael Stone didn’t choose Jalen Green over Evan Mobley, his draft record is strong.

It’s admittedly too early to look into the 2029 draft. Side note: Eric Dampier Jr. is currently a highly-rated prospect. Does everyone else feel like legacy players give them a sense of temporal alignment? Will a third Eric Dampier find his way into the NBA before I leave this realm?

That said, we can start thinking about 2027. If you think that’s exclusively the domain of armchair scouts on X, you’re not aware of how many of X’s armchair scouts landed NBA jobs this summer.

As it stands, Notre Dame’s Tyran Stokes is atop the field. He’s a 6’7″ wing with a 7’0″ wingspan who’s presumably still growing. Stokes looks the part of a shot-creating two-way wing that’s highly coveted in today’s league.

Yet, the Rockets don’t have to land the top pick (via the Suns). Recall Rafael Stone’s draft record. The middle of the draft is a sweet spot for him. Finland’s Miika Muurinen (pronunciation: Meeeeeeee-kah Moooooooo-rin-en, I think) is a 6’11” wing with remarkable coordination.

Perhaps you hate looking at prospects two years out. Valid. The point is this: there’s always young talent coming into the league. The Rockets have the assets to bring that talent in.

If you haven’t noticed, the league is changing. The superteam is dying. Depth, team philosophy, and cohesion are ruling the day. Talent will always matter, but the recipe for success has gotten more complicated.

That’s not to say the Rockets shouldn’t eventually push all-in. If the right star comes along, that could be the contingency plan. There’s simply no reason for any sense of urgency. For the time being, acquiring Durant should be the exception to the rule. As a rule, the Rockets should be establishing a farm system of young talent that they can develop in unison.

What better plan is available?

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...urant-must-not-deviate-from-their-master-plan
 
Rockets and Kevin Durant agree to contract extension

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Shams Charania said early on Sunday that Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets had reached an agreement on a two-year, $90 million deal. The deal comes with a player option for the 2027–2028 campaign and is completely guaranteed.

BREAKING: Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant has agreed to a two-year, $90 million contract extension with the franchise, his business partner and Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman tells ESPN. The new deal includes a player option in 2027-28. pic.twitter.com/5GdhzgnSPa

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2025

Durant knew going into the trade to Houston that he would have to forgo a new max contract, in this case around $30 million extra, for the two parties to collaborate for the long term and to give the team flexibility. Even though he was eligible for a maximum contract extension of $120 million over two years Durant took a pay cut which leaves Houston enough space for Tari Eason to be extended while still being under the second apron. Additionally, the extension occurs only before the deadline of Monday, October 20, which is the day before the regular season begins.

The 37-year-old Durant now holds the record for the most career earnings in NBA history, surpassing LeBron James ($583.9 million) with $598.2 million based on existing and future salaries. Durant is earning $54.7 million this season with three years and $144.7 million remaining on his contract. The Rockets have a premier jump shooter and shot maker in Durant, a 15-time All-Star who fits in perfectly with the team’s lineup. He shot an NBA-best 49.7 percent on jumpers and 53.1 percent on midrange shots last season, and he had the highest shooting percentage on off-the-dribble jumpers (50.9 percent), according to GeniusIQ. According to GeniusIQ, the Rockets finished 27th in effective field goal percentage on off-the-dribble jumpers and 24th in effective field goal percentage for all jumpers. Durant will regularly help the team in those categories. The Rockets ranked eighth in isolations per game but 27th in points per direct isolation.

Houston’s season, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Central on NBC against the reigning champion Thunder, will undoubtedly be thrilling.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...-and-kevin-durant-agree-to-contract-extension
 
Why the “Jumbo” lineup is here to stay for the Rockets

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The Houston Rockets second iteration of the Victor Oladipo trade was far more intriguing than the original trade back in 2021. At that time, the franchise was desperate to reach postseason play, after trading away their All-NBA backcourt of James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

The team hoped Oladipo and John Wall could rewind the hands of time and resort back to the pre-injury version of themselves.

Unsurprisingly, that failed.

(Although Oladipo would surely like to have that $45 million offer back on the table).

The second deal from 2023 was merely a means of turning embattled point guard Kevin Porter Jr. into something useful. Salary retention is oftentimes the key to adding solid role players.

(And second-round draft picks).

The Rockets ultimately used Oladipo’s $9.5 million expiring salary to land Steven Adams, who was injured for the season at the time. Questions arose regarding what version of a player Adams would be upon his return in 2024-25.

Adams needed some time to ramp up, which is normal after knee surgery. However, he started playing 20+ minutes at the 47 game mark — a little more than halfway through the season.

He began absolutely eating on the offensive glass, with five games of at seven offensive boards. Rockets coach Ime Udoka, who hasn’t necessarily always trotted out the best rotations, began to play the double-big lineup with both Alperen Sengun and Adams on the floor at the same time.

The Rockets led the league in offensive rebounds and total rebounds last season. In their postseason series against the Golden State Warriors, Houston also won the rebounding edge.

This became a great way to overcompensate for Houston’s middle of the pack offense, because they were getting extra possessions and additional opportunities to score.

Adams averaged 5.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.3 offensive rebounds, and 60 percent from the floor during the series, despite playing just 22.1 minutes on average per night. His stats for the season were similar — 3.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.9 offensive rebounds, 54.5 percent from the field.

The Rockets gave Adams a long-term deal, agreeing to terms on a $39 million contract over three years during the offseason.

Which made it surprising when Houston signed Clint Capela, who starred for the franchise much earlier in his career, during the James Harden era.

However, it was further proof of Rockets coach Ime Udoka leaning in on the “Jumbo” lineup. He explained during Media Day that it was all about allowing Adams a night off for occasional rest, while still trotting out two serviceable bigs, in Capela and Sengun.

Throughout the preseason, we’ve seen success yet again with the lineup. Sengun’s skillset allows it to work, as we’ve seen him operating as the offensive fulcrum and dish passes to Capela around the rim for easy, high-percentage looks.

Jabari Smith has also been a beneficiary of the lineup, playing at small forward and taking advantage of smaller wings that have been switched onto him — cutting to the hoop easily and making life easy for Durant and Sengun as facilitators.

Smith had 26 points and had easy scoring opportunities from the charity stripe — going 8-for-8.

Sengun had seven assists. To that point, Sengun has averaged 8.3 assists through the preseason thus far, constantly making the right reads.

Throughout the first three preseason games, the Rockets have ranked fourth in offensive rebounds — 15.7 per game — and sixth in total rebounds at 50 per game. The double-big lineup gives players confidence to shoot from deep, knowing there’s a high likelihood of a second-chance scoring opportunity.

In other words, the jumbo lineup is here to stay. So much that it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Adams announced as the Rockets’ fifth starter.



Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...e-houston-rockets-steven-adams-alperen-sengun
 
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