Tag: Houston Rockets

Rumor: Rockets expected to shop No. 3 pick ahead of 2024 NBA draft

After landing the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, the Rockets are reportedly open to trading the selection.

After landing the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, the Houston Rockets are reportedly open to trading the selection to acquire a veteran player to add to their roster.

The Rockets have built through the draft in recent years, selecting players like Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore. The team also has veterans in Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks and will be looking to add to that core.

With the organization looking to take the next step in its rebuild, the front office will discuss potential trade packages with teams involving the third pick, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

The No. 3 pick – one of five potential first-round picks the Rockets can trade this offseason in a package to land a star player – will be discussed in trade talks leading up to draft night, league sources told HoopsHype.

The Rockets jumped massively up the standings this season after posting a 41-41 record, which was a 19-game improvement from last year. The group, by led first-year coach Ime Udoka, had great stretches of the season and looked to be a team on the rise.

The team will likely look to continue to prioritize playing time for its veterans moving forward, making the No. 3 pick expendable. The pick is one of the Rockets’ best assets, and the front office will be tasked with seeing how valuable it can be in trade discussions.

If the Rockets cannot find a trade partner and keep the pick, they will reportedly look to draft a guard with the pick. They could target the likes of Stephon Castle, Rob Dillingham, Reed Sheppard or Nikola Topić, among others.

The 2024 NBA draft will take place June 26-27 in New York City.

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Mock trade sees Bulls flip Alex Caruso for No. 3 pick in NBA Draft

In this mock trade, the Chicago Bulls would trade Alex Caruso to the Houston Rockets for the third pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

If the Chicago Bulls want to reshape the course of their franchise, they should plan for the future this summer instead of choosing to remain competitive. Aaron Kellerstrass of Pippen Ain’t Easy proposed a mock trade that would flip Alex Caruso and the 11th pick to the Houston Rockets for the third pick and the 44th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

“Should the Bulls really be trying to move up in what is mostly seen as a weak draft?’ Kellerstrass wrote. “Probably not, but if they are enamored with a particular prospect, they may be able to use Caruso’s expiring contract to get the 3rd pick from Houston, who is dying to make some win-now moves, not add more young players. If the Bulls get the sense that Caruso is not going to sign an extension, then they should trade him, as they risk losing him for nothing, which has been a common theme in Chicago.

“This would give them a chance to grab a table-setting point guard like Nikola Topic or possibly a two-way wing like Zaccharie Risacher. Losing Caruso wouldn’t help in the short term, but if there is a risk he is going to leave anyway, this would allow the Bulls to get a future piece without giving up too much to get it. They also get an additional pick in the second round to add a project.”

Adding a top-three pick in this year’s draft would help the Bulls reload their pool of young talent.

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Could the Bulls make a deal for the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft?

Could the Chicago Bulls make a deal with the Houston Rockets for the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft?

The Chicago Bulls have the 11th pick in this year’s draft, but with the team potentially pivoting toward a rebuild, they could look for more. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that the Houston Rockets are open to shopping the third pick, and Aaron Kellerstrass of Pippen Ain’t Easy suggested that the Bulls think about making a move for it.

“Caruso would be a nice fit, though it’s unlikely the Rockets would give up the third pick in exchange for one year of Caruso, fit or not,” Kellerstrass wrote. “If the Bulls were to attach their own 11th pick to the deal, Houston may have some interest. The Bulls would get a chance at a higher-tier draft prospect, though in this draft, you could argue that they have about as much chance of finding a star at 11 as they do with the 3rd pick. Chicago would have to really like someone at the top of the draft, otherwise Caruso and pick 11 are arguably more valuable.

“Chicago could also get involved in a deal that could potentially land them one of Houston’s excess young players (Tari Eason comes to mind) if Houston decides to keep their pick but still wants a veteran player.”

Adding the third pick would give the Bulls a chance to add one of the best players in this year’s draft.

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Report: Rockets’ season-ticket renewals at highest rate since 2018

Per Gretchen Sheirr, Houston’s season-ticket renewal rate is above 90%, which is trending toward its highest renewal rate since 2018. New sales are up 15%.

By finishing 41-41, the 19-win year-on-year improvement by the Houston Rockets was the most of any NBA team during the 2023-24 season.

Between new head coach Ime Udoka and a promising core of talented young players, fans certainly seemed to have noticed.

Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations for the Rockets, tells Chandler France of the Houston Business Journal:

“(The successes) verified what we had hoped, which was if we were transparent with the fans, if we had a clear path and direction on how we were going to get back to a competitive, championship-caliber team, that the fans would support that initiative,” Sheirr told the Houston Business Journal.

Those successes are poised to continue into next season. The season ticket renewal rate is above 90% — trending toward the highest renewal rate since 2018 — and new sales are up 15%, Sheirr said. Additionally, courtside seating and Lexus Lounge memberships remain sold out for the 2024-25 season.

In 2018, the Rockets were coming off a 65-17 season, which remains by far the most successful (by win percentage) in team history.

The current Rockets aren’t back to that level yet, but there is a palpable increase in enthusiasm after emerging from the depths of three rebuilding seasons between 2020-21 and 2022-23.

Houston sold out 28 of its 41 home games at Toyota Center — its highest mark since 2019-20 — and set a franchise record for single-game ticketing revenue, according to the Houston Business Journal.

Houston won an impressive 27 of 41 home games this season.

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Report: With No. 3 pick, Rockets to remain active in trade talks until NBA draft night

Michael Scotto on the Rockets: “The No. 3 pick will be discussed in trade talks leading up to draft night, league sources told HoopsHype.”

After some great lottery luck, the Rockets own the No. 3 selection in the 2024 NBA draft. However, Houston already has a roster filled with young talent, including a pair of rotation players selected in each of the previous three first-round classes.

And after a 41-41 campaign with year-on-year growth of 19 wins (most of any NBA team), general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Ime Udoka want to be in the postseason mix come 2025.

So, does Houston want to add another young player that could take time to develop? Or, might that No. 3 pick be used as part of a deal to acquire a veteran that could help win more games now?

Michael Scotto, who covers the NBA for HoopsHype, writes in his latest aggregate mock draft that trade talks involving the Rockets will remain active leading up to the June 26 draft.

Scotto reports:

The Houston Rockets are transitioning to a win-now mode and looking to take the next step to become a playoff team after significant progress from their young core under coach Ime Udoka.

The No. 3 pick — one of five potential first-round picks the Rockets can trade this offseason in a package to land a star player — will be discussed in trade talks leading up to draft night, league sources told HoopsHype.

Should a deal not materialize, Scotto says the Rockets could select from several guards, including former Kentucky teammates Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham, Nikola Topic and Stephon Castle. Or, Houston could select Matas Buzelis, who can play both forward spots.

Scotto is less bullish on the potential of the Rockets drafting Connecticut center Donovan Clingan, saying “it’s hard to imagine a world where (Alperen) Sengun and Clingan play together when they occupy the same position.” Sengun is Houston’s starting center.

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Bleacher Report suggests Buddy Hield as offseason signing for Rockets

After an underwhelming run in Philadelphia, could veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield turn to the Rockets? Bleacher Report thinks so.

The Rockets appear to be prioritizing shooting in the 2024 NBA offseason, and Milwaukee guard Malik Beasley (41.3% on 3-pointers) is reportedly among Houston’s free agency targets.

Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey suggests Buddy Hield is another name to monitor in 2024 free agency.

Of Hield and the Rockets, Bailey writes:

It’s about solidifying supporting cast around that [young] core, and shooting should be a priority there. Houston was 23rd in 3-point percentage this season, and Hield is certainly a player who can help on that front. Signing for the non-taxpayer’s mid-level would be a step down in pay, but it may be worth it for an opportunity to play for an up-and-comer like this.

For his eight-year NBA career, Hield is a 40% shooter from 3-point range on high volume (7.6 attempts per game).

On paper, that type of efficiency might make Hield too expensive for the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (NT-MLE), which, with a starting annual salary of around $13 million, is the maximum financial tool the Rockets have available to use this offseason.

Then again, Hield is 31 years old, and the 6-foot-4 guard is coming off an underwhelming run in Philadelphia where he fell out of the 76ers’ rotation during the first round versus New York. In all, Hield averaged just 12.8 minutes per game against the Knicks and missed two games altogether (at the decision of head coach Nick Nurse). Former Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who heads basketball operations there, gave a less-than-glowing review.

That could make it less likely the Sixers want to retain Hield, and it might also lower his leverage on the open market. In turn, that could make Hield more affordable to a team like the Rockets. On the other hand, it’s entirely possible that Hield might not defend at a high enough level to interest Rockets head coach Ime Udoka.

Stay tuned! Free agency negotiations can begin on June 30.

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Nets owner Joe Tsai hints at longer-term approach, which could benefit Rockets’ future draft picks

Brooklyn’s sudden emphasis on taking a longer-term approach could benefit Houston, which owns first-round draft assets from the Nets through 2027.

The Houston Rockets already landed Tari Eason and the No. 3 pick (via Brooklyn) in the 2024 NBA draft as part of the January 2021 blockbuster trade involving James Harden.

More assets from that Rockets-Nets deal are still to come over future years. Houston owns unprotected pick-swap rights with Brooklyn in the 2025 and 2027 first rounds, along with another unprotected pick conveyance from Brooklyn in 2026.

With that in mind, the latest comments by Nets owner Joe Tsai could be very encouraging, from a Houston perspective.

When recently asked about his team at J.P. Morgan’s Global China Summit in Shanghai, Tsai said on stage:

I want to build a winning mentality and culture that’s sustainable. Those two are very different things. If you just want to be win-now, you could ruin your future by trading away all of your assets. But I think what I want to do with the Brooklyn Nets is take a longer-term approach and build a sustainable, winning culture.

With a team that went 32-50 in the 2023-24 season, that longer-term approach doesn’t suggest an immediate return to form. In turn, that could make those Houston draft assets more desirable.

On the other hand, it might also suggest a desire by the Nets to reacquire their picks from the Rockets — since those talented prospects could help build the culture Tsai desires.

In a trade scenario for some or all of those Brooklyn assets, the Rockets could have a path to acquiring Mikal Bridges (likely Brooklyn’s best player, at present). Or, they could pursue draft assets that stretch further into the future — such as those Brooklyn owns from Phoenix in the Kevin Durant trade from early 2023.

With Houston featuring a roster deep in young players, there’s a case to be made that pushing those draft assets further into the future could preserve the asset value over a longer period. After all, the valuation of any prospect who struggles to show his on-court value (even if it’s due to a deep rotation) is likely to decline.

Or, the Rockets could simply stay the course with those Brooklyn picks, as is. Generally speaking, adding more talented players than expected is a good problem to have in the NBA.

All in all, it’s a good place to be for Rockets general manager Rafael Stone, since each of these paths involve Houston adding even more talented players and/or draft assets to its stockpile. Stay tuned!

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Report: Rockets to have new jersey patch sponsor in 2024-25

After three seasons with Intuit Credit Karma, the Rockets will have a new jersey patch sponsor in the 2024-25 season, the Houston Business Journal reports.

After three seasons with Intuit Credit Karma, the Rockets will have a new jersey patch sponsor when the 2024-25 NBA season begins this fall, the Houston Business Journal reports.

According to Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations for the Rockets, jersey patch sponsorships trail only venue naming rights when it comes to partnership revenue sources for teams.

Starting with the 2017-18 season, the NBA was the first U.S. professional sports league to introduce jersey sponsorships. In 2018-19, Houston signed its first jersey patch deal with ROKiT Phones, and the franchise subsequently transitioned to Credit Karma in 2021.

According to the Houston Business Journal, an Intuit Credit Karma spokesperson said the sponsorship had been successful and mutually beneficial over the past three seasons.

The report indicated owner Tilman Fertitta, general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Ime Udoka recently held an event at the Post Oak Hotel to discuss the jersey sponsorship opportunity with local and national brands. As of now, Houston is not in negotiations with a specific company.

According to a report from The Athletic in late 2020, NBA jersey-patch deals ranged in average annual value from $7 million to $10 million. However, some are significantly larger, depending on the value of the franchise involved. For example, Golden State’s deal with Rakuten is believed to be worth $20 million annually.

Major League Baseball’s Astros signed a jersey-patch deal in 2023 with Houston-based oil and gas company Occidental Petroleum Corp. (OxyChem). The value of that isn’t yet known, though it’s worth noting the Astros were reigning World Series champions at the time, which likely gave them significant leverage in talks.

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Report: Some 2024 NBA draft models rank Reed Sheppard as top prospect

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony: “Several teams have said that Reed Sheppard’s statistical profile have him ranked as the No. 1 prospect in their draft models.”

With elite shooting and scoring efficiency, freshman Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard is something of an analytics darling.

That could make him a prime target for NBA teams that consider analytics heavily, such as the Houston Rockets, who will pick at No. 3 on June 26.

Per Jonathan Givony, draft insider for ESPN:

Several teams have said that Sheppard’s statistical profile — with his incredible scoring efficiency (56% FG, 52% 3-point shooting%, 83% free throws) combined with his excellent steal, block and passing metrics — have him ranked as the No. 1 prospect in their draft models, something that surely has caught the attention of analytically inclined front offices, such as the Houston Rockets.

Perhaps with that in mind, Givony’s latest mock draft projects Sheppard to go to Houston with the third overall selection.

Givony projects French forwards Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher to be selected by Atlanta (No. 1) and Washington (No. 2), which would take them off the board for Houston’s pick. However, he notes Connecticut center Donovan Clingan could be under consideration by the Hawks. Stay tuned!

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Jalen Green sees Rockets advancing to 2025 NBA playoffs

“Playoffs gonna be crackin’ with Houston in it next year,” Jalen Green posted to Instagram to kick off Memorial Day weekend.

With third-year guard (and one-time Western Conference Player of the Week) Jalen Green taking on a starring role, the Houston Rockets had an 11-game winning streak during a 13-2 month of March.

At one point, the streaking Rockets came within a half-game of the Golden State Warriors for the final spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament to qualify for the 2023-24 playoffs.

Though Houston (41-41) couldn’t finish the job, they did post a 19-game improvement relative to the previous season, which was the most of any NBA team. With that in mind, in the 2024-25 season, Green and the Rockets are looking to kick in that postseason door.

In an Instagram story, Green posted on Friday:

Playoffs gonna be crackin’ with Houston in it next year

At a high level, the goal of 2023-24 for the Rockets was to get back to relevance, and they generally achieved that. For 2024-25, it seems they’re not shy on stating a higher goal.

As for Green, he’s eligible for a contract extension this offseason, though it could benefit the Rockets to delay those talks until 2025. More success at a team level would only help his cause.

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