Tag: Khyri Thomas

Player salaries for the Houston Rockets in 2021-22, future seasons

Who do the Rockets have on their salary books for 2021-22 and beyond? Here’s a look at Houston’s financial status entering the new season.

Although the Houston Rockets are clearly rebuilding and in the early stages of a youth movement, they aren’t yet flush with cash.

For example, when the Rockets traded former MVP Russell Westbrook to Washington in December 2020, they took back another high-priced guard in John Wall. The Wizards needed to send out a comparable annual salary figure to make the trade work under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and the Rockets received a future first-round pick for taking on a contract that was viewed at the time as less desirable.

Thus, even though the Rockets began their rebuild by trading stars such as Westbrook and James Harden, they don’t yet have a clean financial slate. They also have veterans like Eric Gordon and Danuel House Jr. who are still under contracts that were signed in 2019 — when Harden was still in Houston and a rebuild wasn’t yet being planned.

It’s not as if Houston desperately wanted cap space in 2021, anyway. Even if the Rockets had the financial ability to sign top free agents during this past offseason, it seems doubtful that any elite veteran player would have wanted to sign with a team that just finished the 2020-21 season with the NBA’s worst record. In a year or two, though, the Rockets could be viewed as a team on the rise with a young core led by the likes of Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., and Christian Wood. In that context, Houston could quickly become a desirable destination for free agents.

That’s assuming they have the money, of course. Courtesy of the HoopsHype salary database, here’s a look at who second-year general manager Rafael Stone has on the books entering 2022 and beyond.

[lawrence-related id=50420,50427]

(Editor’s note: This list is sorted from most to least by annual salaries for the 2021-22 season. It does not yet include Armoni Brooks, who is on an Exhibit 10 contract heading into training camp.)

Rockets release behind-the-scenes documentary of 2021 summer league

The team’s behind-the-scenes footage is focused on first-round draft picks Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Usman Garuba, and Josh Christopher.

The Houston Rockets released a new documentary this week highlighting their recent stint at the NBA’s 2021 Las Vegas Summer League.

Published on the team’s YouTube page, the film features behind-the-scenes footage from practices and all five games, in which the Rockets went 3-2. Not surprisingly, the focus is on recent first-round draft picks Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Usman Garuba, and Josh Christopher.

Statistically, here’s a look at how each of Houston’s top players fared during their time at the NBA’s annual summer showcase.

  • Jalen Green (3 games): 20.3 points (51.4% FG, 52.6% on 3-pointers), 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists in 24.1 minutes
  • Armoni Brooks (2 games): 17.5 points (44.4% FG, 42.9% on 3-pointers), 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists in 24.7 minutes
  • Josh Christopher (5 games): 16.8 points (38.5% FG, 18.2% on 3-pointers), 4.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists in 27.2 minutes
  • Alperen Sengun (4 games): 14.5 points (43.2% FG, 37.5% on 3-pointers), 11.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 2.8 assists in 25.0 minutes
  • KJ Martin (4 games): 12.5 points (47.6% FG, 31.2% on 3-pointers), 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 blocks in 28.3 minutes
  • Khyri Thomas (2 games): 10.0 points (27.8% FG, 36.4% on 3-pointers), 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists in 27.6 minutes
  • Anthony Lamb (5 games): 7.2 points (36.1% FG, 33.3% on 3-pointers), 5.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists in 23.2 minutes
  • Usman Garuba (3 games): 4.0 points (33.3% FG), 8.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.0 steals in 18.0 minutes

The summer league documentary can be viewed below in its entirety.

[lawrence-related id=52435,52310]

[listicle id=52246]

Outlook: Offseason projections for 2020-21 Houston Rockets roster

With the 2020-21 regular season in the books, we look back at the performances of Houston’s roster and rank the likeliest to return.

For the first time in nearly 40 years, the Houston Rockets finished an NBA regular season with the league’s worst record in 2020-21. But that doesn’t mean the year was devoid of bright spots to build around.

Young center Christian Wood earned all-star consideration prior to a severe ankle sprain, and veteran point guard John Wall showed flashes of the form that made him a five-time All-Star earlier in his career. Prospects such as Jae’Sean Tate, Kevin Porter Jr. and KJ Martin burst onto the scene, punctuated by Porter’s historic game (50 points, 11 assists) in a feel-good victory over Milwaukee in late April. Porter, Tate, Martin and Wood were identified as the team’s “young core” to build around.

Veteran big man Kelly Olynyk also made quite an impression around Toyota Center by posting some of the best numbers of his career after his acquisition by Houston at the March 25 trade deadline.

Yet, the status of the franchise’s roster entering the 2021-22 season remains very much in flux. Given Houston’s newfound rebuilding state, general manager Rafael Stone is likely to leave no stone unturned (pardon the pun) in searching for free agency or trade upgrades and potential paths to acquiring another superstar talent — similar to what they had in James Harden, prior to Harden’s forced departure in January.

[lawrence-related id=46978,46564]

There are also complicated decisions to be made involving free agents. For example, if Olynyk wants to stay, Houston has the financial means (Bird rights) to offer whatever it takes to get a deal done. But will he accept the type of proposal that could maintain financial flexibility for Stone to pursue better players in future offseasons? After all, while Olynyk was a good player with the Rockets, he’s certainly not a star.

With those types of considerations in mind, we’re ranking the team’s final 2020-21 roster by likelihood of returning — with categories of very likely, more likely than not, questionable and doubtful. Given Houston’s rebuilding state, it would be silly to call anything 100 percent or zero.

Keep in mind that there aren’t unlimited roster spots. For example, if Houston uses all three of its current 2021 first-round draft picks on players who are immediately available to play, that could require opening three roster spots by this fall. Similarly, any signing of an external free agent in August could take away a roster spot from a 2020-21 player.

Read on to see our tiers, with links to each individual player’s personal profiles and the factors likely to be considered.

[lawrence-related id=49477,46973]

2020-21 Rockets roster review, offseason outlook: Khyri Thomas

After being signed to a hardship exception, Thomas quickly made an impression in Houston and earned a standard multi-year contract.

(Editor’s note: We are reviewing all players from the Houston Rockets who finished the 2020-21 season on regular contracts, i.e. not hardship. To access other reviews in this ongoing series, click here.)

Rockets Player: Khyri Thomas, 6-foot-3 guard, 25 years old

2020-21 statistics in Houston: 16.4 points (48.5% FG, 33.3% on 3-pointers), 5.0 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 steals in 30.6 minutes per game

Professional Experience: Three NBA seasons

Contract Status: Signed for next two seasons at $1.8 million and $1.9 million, respectively; $2.2-million team option for 2023-24

Thomas was signed to a hardship exception late in the regular season. However, he quickly made a positive impression with head coach Stephen Silas and general manager Rafael Stone, and that deal was converted to a multi-year contract within days. Because the Rockets had saved a portion of their 2020-21 mid-level exception (MLE), they were able to sign Thomas to what could become a three-year deal.

 

Kelly Olynyk, Jae’Sean Tate lead Rockets past Clippers in home finale

Olynyk and Tate each scored 20 at Toyota Center as the Rockets upset Los Angeles in the final game for legendary broadcaster Bill Worrell.

Kelly Olynyk (20 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds) and Jae’Sean Tate (20 points, 3-of-5 on 3-pointers) led the Houston Rockets to a 122-115 win (box score) over the Los Angeles Clippers in Friday’s home finale at Toyota Center. Luke Kennard led the visitors with 23 points.

It was a balanced effort by the Rockets, who had seven players with 13 or more points. Besides Olynyk and Tate, other standouts included Khyri Thomas (17 points, 5 assists); Anthony Lamb (17 points, 3-of-5 3-pointers); Armoni Brooks (15 points, 3-of-7 3-pointers); KJ Martin (13 points, 9 rebounds); and DJ Augustin (13 points, 5 assists).

With the playoffs looming, the Clippers (47-24) didn’t play several of their regulars, including Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Pat Beverley. Nonetheless, for a squad like the Rockets (17-54) with the NBA’s worst record, it was a welcome opportunity to get a feel-good win — especially in the final career game for legendary broadcaster Bill Worrell.

Houston will finish out its 2020-21 season on Sunday at Atlanta, with tipoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Central. For now, here’s a selection of highlights, analysis, and postgame interviews from Friday night.

[lawrence-related id=49249,49243]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8971A4LmnBc

[listicle id=49068]

Rockets to sign young guard Khyri Thomas to multi-year contract

In four games with Houston, the 6-foot-3 guard is averaging 16.3 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in 30.8 minutes per game.

With an open roster spot from the release of DaQuan Jeffries, the Houston Rockets are signing recently acquired guard Khyri Thomas to a multi-year contract, per Kelly Iko and Alykhan Bijani of The Athletic.

Thomas was signed late last week to a hardship exception, which effectively operates as a 10-day contract. Thus, to retain the 25-year-old for future years, some sort of new transaction had to be made. Houston general manager Rafael Stone said recently that the Rockets planned to spend more of their 2020-21 mid-level exception (MLE), which would allow Thomas to be signed to a deal of three or four seasons in length.

A 6-foot-3 guard, Thomas has made quite an impression over his first week in Houston. He’s averaging 16.3 points (43.6% FG), 5.0 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.3 steals in 30.8 minutes per game, and he’s also proven to be a tough and versatile defender for Stephen Silas.

Thomas was drafted No. 38 overall in 2018 by Philadelphia before being traded to Detroit. Over the next three seasons, Thomas played sparingly in the NBA but flourished as a sharpshooter in the G League, where he averaged 17.7 points per game on 44.5% 3-point shooting. Thomas had become well regarded for his on-ball defense, as well, having earned Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2017 and 2018 during his college basketball career at Creighton.

Now, Thomas appears poised to get his first extended NBA opportunity as the Rockets begin preparations for the 2021-22 season.

[lawrence-related id=48807,46982]

https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=CJBtMgSvvo-1302282-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on

Rockets open up roster spot by waiving DaQuan Jeffries

The open spot could be used to keep a player who is on a two-way contract or hardship exception, such as Armoni Brooks or Khyri Thomas.

The Houston Rockets announced Thursday that they have released guard/forward DaQuan Jeffries, who was claimed off waivers in April. Jeffries appeared in 13 games with three starts, averaging 4.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 20.1 minutes per game.

The move will open up a roster spot for general manager Rafael Stone, who has several possibilities for how to use it. They could use the spot to sign a two-way player to a multi-year deal, such as Armoni Brooks, or keep a player signed to a temporary hardship exception, such as Khyri Thomas. Another option would be signing an outside free agent.

Stone said recently that Houston plans to spend more of its 2020-21 mid-level exception (MLE), which could allow the Rockets to sign a young player like Brooks or Thomas to a deal of three or four years in length.

Brooks is averaging 10.6 points (38.6% on 3-pointers) and 3.4 rebounds in 25.1 minutes per game, while Thomas has averaged 16.3 points (43.6% FG), 5.0 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in 30.8 minutes per game. Brooks has played in 18 games, while Thomas has participated in the last four.

[lawrence-related id=49008,48807]

https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=qexSoouEes-1309153-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on

Rockets clinch NBA’s worst record with loss to Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers scored 50 points in the first quarter on 12-of-16 shooting (75%) on 3-pointers, and it was never especially close after.

The Houston Rockets (16-53) clinched the NBA’s worst record of the 2020-21 season with Monday’s 140-129 loss (box score) in Portland. The Trail Blazers (40-29) blitzed the visitors with 50 points in the first quarter, including an incredible 12-of-16 showing on 3-pointers (75.0%), and the game was never especially close thereafter.

For Houston, it’s the first time they’ve had the league’s worst record since going 14-68 in the 1982-83 season. That launched a run of consecutive No. 1 picks in the NBA draft for the Rockets, who selected Hall of Famers Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon in 1983 and 1984.

Damian Lillard led the Blazers with 34 points and 9 rebounds, while Kelly Olynyk (21 points, 8 rebounds), DJ Augustin (21 points), Khyri Thomas (18 points, 5 assists) and Armoni Brooks (18 points, 6-of-9 on 3-pointers) were among the standouts for Houston. Both the Rockets and Blazers hit 18 shots from 3-point range, which led to the high scoring totals.

As usual, the Rockets were quite short-handed, with marquee injury absences including Christian Wood (right ankle), John Wall (right hamstring), Eric Gordon (right groin), and Kevin Porter Jr. (left ankle).

Houston completes its four-game road trip on Wednesday night against the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, with tipoff scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Central. For now, here’s a selection of highlights, analysis, and postgame reaction from Monday’s loss to Portland.

[lawrence-related id=48929,48912]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjwuE-dFSQs

Rockets at Trail Blazers: Monday’s lineups, injury reports and broadcast info

The Trail Blazers (39-29) have won seven of their last eight, and Houston gets Portland’s first-round draft pick if they make the playoffs.

With their 2021 NBA draft lottery odds now secure, there’s no reason for the Rockets not to aggressively pursue some feel-good victories as Houston’s 2020-21 season draws to a close. The question is, do they have enough bodies for that to be possible versus a playoff opponent?

Perennial All-Star Damian Lillard has his Portland Trail Blazers peaking at the right time, having won seven of their last eight games. That’s who the short-handed Rockets will face at the Moda Center on Monday.

Houston has been surprisingly competitive in recent days. Despite having a roster ravaged by injuries, the Rockets lost by only single digits versus a pair of playoff teams on Friday in Milwaukee and Saturday in Utah. Rookie forward KJ Martin and young guard Khyri Thomas did much of the heavy lifting, with each scoring a career-high 27 points on Saturday, but it remains to be seen if they will have any reinforcements arrive in time for Monday’s matchup versus Lillard, CJ McCollum, and the Blazers.

https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=CJBtMgSvvo-1302282-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on

Portland currently owns the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference standings, which would ensure that their 2021 first-round draft pick goes to Houston. (The Rockets acquired that selection, which is lottery protected, in last November’s Robert Covington trade.)

Should Portland fall to No. 7, the Rockets could move slightly higher in the draft order, but it might also put them at risk of not receiving the pick at all this year — since teams between No. 7 and No. 10 in each conference’s standings are subject to the NBA’s new play-in tournament to make the playoffs. So if the Blazers were to tumble in the standings over the regular season’s final week, there’s a delicate risk-reward balance, from Houston’s perspective. It could potentially nudge the pick higher, but the Rockets certainly don’t want them to miss the playoffs altogether.

With those storylines as the backdrop, here’s when you should tune in to check out Monday night’s game from Portland:

  • Date: Monday, May 10
  • Time: 9 p.m. Central
  • TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest
  • Live stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)

Probable starting lineups

Houston Rockets (16-52)

  • Guard: DJ Augustin
  • Guard: DaQuan Jeffries
  • Forward: Anthony Lamb
  • Forward: Jae’Sean Tate
  • Center: KJ Martin

Portland Trail Blazers (39-29)

  • Guard: Damian Lillard
  • Guard: CJ McCollum
  • Forward: Norman Powell
  • Forward: Robert Covington
  • Center: Jusuf Nurkic

Houston’s injury report includes 10 of the team’s 17 players under standard contracts: Christian Wood (right ankle), Kelly Olynyk (right ankle), John Wall (right hamstring), Jae’Sean Tate (left knee), Eric Gordon (right groin), Sterling Brown (left knee), Kevin Porter Jr. (left ankle), Avery Bradley (personal reasons), Dante Exum (left calf), David Nwaba (right wrist) and D.J. Wilson (health and safety protocols). Of those 10, the only ones who are potential options to play on Monday are Olynyk and Wood, who are each questionable. The other eight are listed as out.

Portland is much healthier, by comparison, listing only Zach Collins (out, left ankle) and Carmelo Anthony (questionable, right ankle).

[lawrence-related id=48857,48811]

Note: This post first appeared on Rockets Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=r6gtb8HQxH-1302241-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on

KJ Martin, Khyri Thomas set career highs in Houston’s loss at Utah

KJ Martin and Khyri Thomas each scored 27 points, but it wasn’t enough for the short-handed Rockets against the NBA’s best team by record.

Rookie forward KJ Martin (27 points, 10 rebounds) scored above 20 points for a third straight game, and it helped keep the Houston Rockets somewhat competitive in Saturday’s 124-116 loss at Utah (box score). Both Martin and newly signed guard Khyri Thomas (27 points, 5 steals) set new career-highs in scoring, and each hit four 3-pointers, as well.

Georges Niang led the Jazz with 24 points, including 6-of-8 (75.0%) on 3-pointers. Jordan Clarkson (21 points) and Bojan Bogdanovic (20 points) also had key roles for Utah, which had six players in double figures.

It was the second road game in 24 hours for a very short-handed Houston squad with only eight available players. Meanwhile, the Jazz (50-18) own the NBA’s best record and were playing at home. The Rockets (16-52) remain in possession of the league’s worst record, while Utah is close to securing home-court advantage throughout the 2021 playoffs.

With Saturday’s loss, Houston clinched one of the NBA’s bottom-three records in the 2020-21 regular season, which will maximize its odds of acquiring a top-four pick in the June 22 draft lottery.

The Rockets were missing 10 of their 17 players under standard contracts: Christian Wood (right ankle), John Wall (right hamstring), Kelly Olynyk (right ankle), Eric Gordon (right groin), Sterling Brown (left knee), Kevin Porter Jr. (left ankle), Avery Bradley (personal reasons), Dante Exum (left calf), David Nwaba (right wrist) and D.J. Wilson (health and safety protocols). Houston got to eight active players, which is the NBA’s minimum to play, by signing Thomas on Friday to a hardship exception.

Houston continues its four-game road trip on Monday night in Portland, with tipoff set for 9:00 p.m. Central. For now, here’s a look at highlights, analysis, and postgame interviews after Saturday’s loss at Utah.

[lawrence-related id=48826,48807]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp3POMkhkik