Tag: Houston Rockets

Report: Hawks, Wizards considering Donovan Clingan at top of 2024 NBA draft

If Donovan Clingan is drafted at No. 1 or No. 2, that would leave at least one of Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher available to Houston at No. 3 overall.

For much of the NBA’s 2024 pre-draft process, mock drafts have placed French forwards Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher in the top-two slots. That would leave the remainder of the class available to the Houston Rockets, who are up next at No. 3 in the first round.

But, are Sarr and Risacher (in some order) a lock to go to Atlanta and Washington, and thus be off the board for Houston?

Not necessarily, per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. He reported Friday:

University of Connecticut center Donovan Clingan… is in conversation at No. 1 after working out in Atlanta, which is exploring trade-down scenarios. He is also spending time in Washington, which has the No. 2 pick.

Should Clingan go at No. 1 or No. 2, that could leave either Sarr or Risacher on the board for the Rockets. Or, perhaps Houston is one of the teams that Atlanta could potentially trade down with.

There is recent precedent for a prospect outside of the consensus top two making a late jump to the top. In 2022, Paolo Banchero was widely viewed as behind Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith Jr. during the pre-draft period, yet Orlando decided late in the process to take him at No. 1 (thus pushing Smith to Houston at No. 3).

Maybe there’s a similar dynamic in 2024. Whatever the case, with under three weeks left until the June 26 first round, it feels premature to rule out any option, given the instability at the top.

Clingan and his Connecticut teammate, guard Stephon Castle, are among the most popular mock-draft projections to Houston, as things currently stand. So, too, is Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard.

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‘Clutch City’ celebration: For 30-year anniversary, Rockets’ TV network to re-air 1994 NBA Finals

To celebrate the 30-year anniversary of Houston’s first championship, Space City Home Network is re-airing all games of the 1994 NBA Finals.

To celebrate the 30-year anniversary of Houston’s first championship in a major sport, Space City Home Network (SCHN) will be re-airing all games of the 1994 NBA Finals over the next two weeks.

Each game of the seven-game series between the Rockets and New York Knicks will be aired on the corresponding date in which the game was played 30 years ago. The schedule is as follows:

  • Game 1 — Saturday, June 8, 5 p.m. Central
  • Game 2 — Monday, June 10, 5 p.m.
  • Game 3 — Wednesday, June 12, 7 p.m.
  • Game 4 — Saturday, June 15, 8 p.m.
  • Game 5 — Monday, June 17, 7 p.m.
  • Game 6 — Wednesday, June 19, 3:30 p.m.
  • Game 7 — Saturday, June 22, 7:30 p.m.

Each NBC rebroadcast will be condensed into a two-hour version.

SCHN (program schedule) is now jointly owned by the Rockets and Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros, which gives the teams more flexibility in being able to schedule unique programming.

The newly branded network launched last October after the teams acquired what was formerly AT&T SportsNet Southwest from Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). The plan from WBD executives is to exit the regional sports network (RSN) business — and in the case of the Houston market, the negotiated arrangement was for WBD to give the broadcast rights and related infrastructure back to the teams.

Pre-existing carriage agreements with providers such as DirecTV, AT&T Uverse, Comcast Xfinity, and fuboTV have remained in place.

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DeMar DeRozan on Dillon Brooks scuffle: ‘I just don’t like him’

“I’m not going to lie, I just don’t like him,” Chicago’s DeMar DeRozan says of his March scuffle with Houston’s Dillon Brooks. “Don’t walk up behind me.”

Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan and veteran Rockets forward Dillon Brooks were both ejected in a March 21 game at Houston.

DeRozan committed a flagrant foul (seemingly out of frustration) against Houston’s Jalen Green, who went down and writhed in pain after DeRozan’s hard contact to Green’s upper leg.

From there, Brooks immediately came to the defense of his teammate and intervened. From there, a physical altercation ensued in which both players had to be separated by teammates and coaches.

No punches were thrown, though both were ejected. DeRozan was given a flagrant-two foul for his contact with Green, while Brooks was handed a technical foul and an ejection for retaliating.

During a recent episode of The 25/10 Show (hosted by DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy, former NFL stars with the Philadelphia Eagles), DeRozan discussed the altercation and said he was upset that Brooks had come up from behind him, when he wasn’t looking.

Among DeRozan’s comments:

I’m not going to lie, I just don’t like him. And for two, don’t walk up behind me. That’s rule number one, don’t walk up on no man behind him when his back’s turned.

Don’t run up behind me, and just don’t talk s–t. I respect everybody.

The full podcast can be viewed below, with discussion of the Houston incident starting at the 1:19:15 mark. As for the initial contact, DeRozan acknowledged being frustrated from a previous play and said he “wasn’t trying to hit him that hard.” He called it “a nudge.”

Jackson and McCoy didn’t buy that innocent explanation, however, and they jokingly referred to it as a football play.

(Less than a minute earlier, Green had blocked DeRozan at the rim, and DeRozan suggested that words were exchanged after.)

In postgame comments at the time, DeRozan said his contact wasn’t intentional or malicious, but that’s not how Brooks saw it. Thus, Brooks didn’t wait around when delivering his response.

It’s not how Rockets coach Ime Udoka saw it, either. “A guy takes a hit, and teammates are going to stand up for each other,” Udoka said.

The 2024-25 NBA schedule will be released in August, and that’s when we’ll learn the next potential DeRozan-Brooks meeting.

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Report: After landing at No. 3, Rockets less likely to trade 2024 first-round draft pick

Jonathan Feigen on the Rockets and the 2024 NBA draft: “They were more open, and looking to move it, at [pick] nine, than they would be at three.”

Prior to the 2024 NBA draft lottery, which the Rockets entered with a projected first-round position of No. 9 overall (via Brooklyn), Houston Chronicle beat writer Jonathan Feigen wrote that the pick could potentially be moved for future draft assets.

But after surprisingly jumping up to No. 3, such a deal has become less likely for a myriad of reasons.

In a podcast appearance with Grind City Media, Feigen says:

A lot of the talk about the Rockets has been that they’re open to moving that pick. I wrote that before the lottery, too.

They were more open, and looking to move it, at [pick] nine, than they would be at three. If only because it’s hard to trade the third pick for a future 12th pick or a future 15th pick, even though this is a weaker draft.

Now if they could get two 12s, they might do that. And obviously if they could pair it with some asset they have to get a star, they’d like to use moving up [in the order] to help them. But they are definitely more interested in picking in the first round, or in the lottery, in future years… than they are this year.

In a mock-draft exercise, Feigen selected French wing Zaccharie Risacher for Houston (Alex Sarr and Stephon Castle went at No. 1 and No. 2 to the Hawks and Wizards, respectively). Many other mocks have Risacher going in the top-two picks, so his selection by the Rockets could represent a best-player available approach.

Feigen said he believes the Rockets might like Castle, a guard out of Connecticut. However, he cautioned that No. 3 could be too high, even if Castle were hypothetically on the board. Feigen also mentioned Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard as a No. 3 candidate.

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Garrett Jackson to coach Rockets at NBA’s 2024 summer league

Rockets assistant Garrett Jackson, not Ben Sullivan, will be Houston’s head coach in July at the NBA’s 2024 summer league.

Garrett Jackson, an assistant coach on the staff of Ime Udoka in Houston, will serve as head coach when the Rockets participate in the NBA’s 2024 summer league next month. The league’s annual summer showcase will take place from July 12-22 in Las Vegas, with mini-camps held in each home city in the days prior to those games.

Game dates and times for the 30-team event have yet to be released.

Jackson made the announcement as part of a new interview with Vanessa Richardson, courtside reporter for Space City Home Network (Houston’s regional television broadcast partner).

Among Jackson’s comments to Richardson:

We’re doing a lot of group workouts right now. Our other development coaches and staff have done a good job of putting together a plan for each of our guys, so we’re just following through on it, this summer.

Also, I’m coaching summer league. So, we’re looking to have some carryover from the summer workouts — bring it over to Vegas — and improve it.

It’s about continuing to build relationships with the guys. It’s just about getting out there, growing, and pushing our guys… and myself.

More commentary from Jackson’s interview can be viewed below, and the complete interview can be viewed on SCHN’s latest Rockets All Access program (which debuts Wednesday at 6 p.m. Central).

Jackson, 32, was first hired by Udoka as part of Boston’s player enhancement staff in September 2021. Before that, he worked in the video department of the San Antonio Spurs and legendary head coach Gregg Popovich starting in 2019 — when Udoka was there.

Jackson played college basketball with USC and Saint Mary’s before a brief professional career with international clubs. From 2015 to 2018, he played for North-West Tasmania Thunder, Melbourne United, Sydney Kings, Dandenong Rangers, and TG s.Oliver Wurzburg.

As for Jackson’s summer-league roster in Las Vegas, that remains to be seen. Any rookies selected in the 2024 NBA draft are likely candidates to be included, as are a handful of undrafted free agent prospects; players from Houston’s NBA G League affiliate (the Rio Grande Valley Vipers); and recent two-way contract players such as Nate Hinton, Jermaine Samuels Jr. and Nate Williams.

It’s worth noting that then-sophomores Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason played in two of six summer-league games in 2024. With that in mind, it’s at least plausible that current second-year players Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore could briefly play this year.

Houston’s 2023 summer-league team finished in second place after a 5-1 stint and a loss to Cleveland in the 2023 championship game. That team was coached by Ben Sullivan, who remains on Udoka’s staff.

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Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson to work as NBA Finals correspondents

Young Rockets prospects Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson will work as player correspondents for Game 1 and Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals in Boston.

According to a league announcement, young Houston Rockets prospects Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson will work as player correspondents for Game 1 and Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals. Game 1 is Thursday night, while Game 2 is Sunday evening.

Both of Smith and Thompson’s correspondent games are in Boston, where the Eastern Conference champion Celtics will host the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks.

Smith will work alone in Game 1, while Amen will work in tandem in Game 2 with Ausar Thompson, his twin brother (Detroit Pistons). The goal of the program is to bring fans on-the-ground coverage directly to NBA social media outlets, as well as the NBA mobile app.

Michael Levine, senior vice president of entertainment and player marketing, shared further program details with NBA.com.

Levine’s insight:

The reality is that we want to work with our players in unique ways in which they can be perceived positively. We are giving them access to this type of platform, not only from a content standpoint, but from being on the NBA’s biggest stage. This is where they aspire to be one day.

This program really gives players an opportunity to do four things. One, is to build their social profile. We want to keep the momentum from their season going, and get them back in the spotlight.

Two, we also want them to understand the business of the NBA, and specifically the NBA Entertainment side. So, they’re seeing how we cover the Finals from a broadcasting perspective, photos perspective, original content, etc.  I think when they go back to their markets, they then have a greater awareness of how things work. They leave with a better sense of how the NBA operates.

Three, is relationship building. So getting to know the people, the league office, our broadcast partners, our global partners, will help all of us build this game. This knowledge then leads to a more trusting and cooperative relationship.

Lastly, seeing the NBA Finals, this is where they hope to be. So all those things went into play as we were developing it. And the program has just gotten bigger and bigger over the years.

More information on the program is available here. Past participants in the media correspondent program — which also encompasses various events at All-Star weekend and the NBA draft — include CJ McCollum, Donovan Mitchell, Scottie Barnes, and Tyrese Maxey.

Smith and Thompson were each named to the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team after their rookie seasons of 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively. Both should play key roles for Houston in 2024-25, and while they’d like to play in the NBA Finals with the Rockets in the future — this weekend’s opportunity will suffice, for now.

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Report: Houston’s trade interest in Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges may have cooled

“I think Houston values Mikal [Bridges] a little bit less, based on how this year unfolded,” Yahoo’s Jake Fischer reports.

In the window leading up to the February 2024 trade deadline for the NBA’s 2023-24 regular season, the Houston Rockets were reportedly interested in Brooklyn Nets swingman Mikal Bridges.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean they will be in the 2024 offseason.

Following February’s All-Star break, the Rockets went 17-11 to close the season, and Jalen Green nearly earned Western Conference Player of the Month honors during a brilliant March. Houston finished the season with a 41-41 record, and that 19-win improvement was the biggest annual growth of any NBA team.

With that in mind, general manager Rafael Stone might now swing for bigger trade targets than Bridges — since the status quo is already quite competitive, as is. To that end, The Athletic’s Kelly Iko recently said this of Bridges and the Rockets (in his story regarding Houston’s interest in Cleveland star Donovan Mitchell):

Such a move for an All-NBA type player would be more suitable than for others who could potentially be available — New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram and Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges — for example.

That insight was seemingly reinforced on a newly released podcast featuring Jake Fischer, national NBA reporter for Yahoo! Sports.

Of Bridges, Fischer says (via the Bad Weather Fans podcast):

I think Houston values Mikal a little bit less, based on how this year unfolded.

That’s not to say there’s no path for a deal bringing Bridges to Houston. After all, he makes comparable money to incumbent small forward Dillon Brooks, yet he’s a better and more versatile player.

Should the price be low enough, he could certainly help a Houston team that wants to make the 2025 Western Conference playoffs.

But as for whether that’s feasible, the ball is in Brooklyn’s court. It doesn’t sound as if the Rockets are ready to aggressively bid on Bridges, at least not in terms of significant assets from Houston’s future draft stockpile or an existing young core of talented prospects.

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Report: Rockets talking to the Nets about the 3rd pick in 2024 NBA Draft

Per Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Brooklyn Nets and the Houston Rockets are talking about the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The Brooklyn Nets do not have a pick in the 2024 NBA Draft as of the writing of this piece as they are paying the price for the James Harden trade that happened years ago. While some in Brooklyn’s fanbase are calling for the franchise to begin a total rebuild of the roster, there is a team willing to give them another opportunity.

In a recent episode of The Ringer’s “NBA Draft Show,” Kevin O’Connor gave his take on what decision each team in the top 10 of the draft will make come June 26 when the first round begins. When O’Connor talked about what he sees the Houston Rockets doing with the third overall pick in the draft, he had something interesting to report.

“The Rockets, according to my sources, are listening to trade offers for that number three pick,” O’Conner said. Since Houston was awarded the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft via the Draft Lottery, reports around the league have indicated that the Rockets are more interested in acquiring a proven player for the pick as opposed to adding another young player to a already-young team. However, what O’Connor said next is interesting.

“They’re talking to the Nets, they’re talking to the (Memphis) Grizzlies. They could end up moving down to number nine if it’s Memphis or out if it’s Brooklyn and then get back Mikal Bridges,” O’Connor explained. Essentially, it seems that the Rockets are intent on trying to get something from Brooklyn, whether it’s Mikal Bridges or the Phoenix Suns’ draft picks that the Nets own because of the Kevin Durant trade.

Ultimately, this recent report could just be Houston trying to convince Brooklyn to play ball with them in an attempt to move off the third overall pick. However, based off previous reports, the most likely outcome is that the Nets will continue to be uninterested unless the Rockets can blow them away with an offer for either Bridges or Phoenix’s picks.

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Report: Rockets talking to Nets, Grizzlies about trades involving No. 3 draft pick

Brooklyn (Mikal Bridges) and Memphis (No. 9 pick and more) are potential trade partners for the Rockets with their No. 3 overall draft pick, Kevin O’Connor reports.

Through great lottery luck, the Rockets landed the No. 3 overall draft pick in the NBA’s 2024 first round. Yet, with a clear emphasis on winning now under head coach Ime Udoka and a young core that already consists of six first-round prospects from each of the previous three years, it’s unclear if Houston has the immediate playing time available to develop a player drafted that high in the order.

Thus, expectations are for the Rockets to actively engage in trade talks leading up to the June 26 first round.

Per Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, a longtime league insider, two candidates could already be at the front of the line.

As part of the video reveal of his latest mock draft (via YouTube), O’Connor says of the Rockets and the No. 3 pick:

The Rockets, according to my sources, are listening to trade offers for that No. 3 pick. They’re talking to the Nets, they’re talking to the Grizzlies. They could end up moving down to No. 9, if it’s Memphis, or out, if it’s Brooklyn — and then get back Mikal Bridges.

In the Memphis scenario, the Rockets would likely get some combination of future draft assets and/or a current role player in exchange for moving down from No. 3 to No. 9. The Grizzlies are seemingly targeting Connecticut center Donovan Clingan at No. 3, and the Rockets could have less of a need for Clingan — since they already have a talented young starter at center in Alperen Sengun.

In the Brooklyn scenario, Bridges would potentially be an upgrade over Dillon Brooks at small forward. He’s under contract for two more seasons at an average annual value of near $24 million.

Earlier this year, Houston reportedly inquired about Bridges, but the Nets had no interest in trading him at that time. But in the aftermath of a 32-50 season, perhaps the thinking has changed.

O’Connor didn’t report who Houston’s matching salary along with the No. 3 pick would be in any trade. To make a deal work under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Rockets would need to send out something in the range of $20-25 million in 2024-25 salary.

That might be Brooks ($22.3 million), but time will tell as to whether the Nets are interested in such an arrangement.

Now 27 years old, Bridges averaged 19.6 points (43.6% FG, 37.2% on 3-pointers), 4.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game last season. He’s also well regarded for his defensive talent and versatility.

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The latest 2024 NBA mock draft from CBS has Stephon Castle to the Rockets

CBS Sports has the national champion going to the Rockets.

The Houston Rockets will have a big decision to make when they are on the clock at No. 3 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.

French prospects Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher are considered the most likely players to hear their names called at No. 1 overall and No. 2 overall to the Hawks and to Wizards, though the order of who goes first is still debated and unclear.

In our first 2024 NBA mock draft after the lottery, we had Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard as the third player off the board. But in the latest mock draft from CBS Sports, NBA writer Colin Ward-Henninger had a different player off the board.

Here is what he wrote about UConn’s Stephon Castle, who won a national championship during his sole collegiate campaign:

“Do I think Castle is the third-best prospect in this class? No. However, the fit with the Rockets is too perfect to pass up. Ideally they’d like a better shooter here, but Castle’s versatility and defensive upside make him a perfect Ime Udoka player as Houston attempts to climb into the postseason picture. I could see Castle having a Josh Hart-like impact on winning from day one with plenty of other Rockets to run the show offensively.”

We still have a few weeks until Houston has to make a decision, but Castle makes a lot of sense as a player who could potentially provide an immediate help on the defensive on the floor.

It is worth noting that according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, however, the former UConn standout reportedly views himself as a point guard and may be avoiding workouts for teams with established point guards.

The Rockets have Fred VanVleet under contract for another year before a club option for 2024-25.

Make sure you check out our newest post-lottery mock draft, along with the official full draft order post-lottery.