Houston Rockets: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

What Rockets Fans Should Know About 2026 Draftee Bruce Thornton

The Houston Rockets will bring in one new face from the 2026 NBA Draft, taking Bruce Thornton with the 31st overall pick, the first of the second round.

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Rockets 2026 NBA Draft grades for every pick

The Houston Rockets entered the 2026 NBA Draft facing a different challenge than they had just a few seasons ago. The rebuilding phase is officially over.

NBA News / The Dream Shake / June 24

Rockets’ second round highlighted by trades, but they should be happy

The Houston Rockets were busy on the phones throughout the second round of the 2026 NBA draft, but they are walking away from the annual event with someone they should be very happy about.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / June 24

Houston Rockets Trade to No. 31, Draft Bruce Thornton

The Rockets made the biggest move on Day 2 of the NBA Draft, trading multiple second round picks to move up to No. 31 and get their guy. After a season of lackluster point guard play due to injuries and a lack of overall development, Houston was able to grab Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton with the first pick of the second round.

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The '2nd-overall NBA Draft picks' quiz

How many of the players to be taken second-overall in each NBA Draft since the lottery era began in 1985 can you name in six minutes?

The 'No.1 NBA Draft picks' quiz

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The 'No.1 Draft pick & Rookie of the Year' quiz

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / June 24

2 Realistic Options for the Rockets in Round Two of the 2026 NBA Draft

The Houston Rockets will be making a selection tonight in the 2026 NBA Draft. Well, technically two selections. Which will be the Rockets' first time making a draft selection since 2024, when the team selected Reed Sheppard third overall (by way of the Brooklyn Nets).

NBA News / Yardbarker

The 25 most impactful international NBA draft picks of all-time

The NBA is truly a global league. As such, there have been historical impacts left on the game by players of all walks of life. Some of the game's all-time

Tari Eason News / Houston Rockets on SI / June 24

Rockets' Second-Round NBA Draft Picks Could Shape Their Offseason Plans

The second round of the 2026 NBA Draft is set to take place tonight, which means the Houston Rockets will be on the clock for the first time in this cycle.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / June 24

Rockets Big Board: Top Draft Options at No. 53

Today is officially the NBA Draft day for the Houston Rockets. With no first round picks this year, the Rockets were not a factor in day one of the draft on Tuesday night.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / June 24

The Rockets Head Coach Has The Most To Prove In Texas

The Houston Rockets once had the team with the highest upside in the state. The Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs spent several seasons near the bottom of the league, an experience the Dallas Mavericks are now feeling after Luka Doncic's departure.

Houston Rockets News / The Dream Shake / June 24

2026 NBA Draft Second Round: Rockets Thoughts and Discussion

The 2026 NBA Draft first round is in the books, and well, it was pretty chalky. Nothing crazy, nothing indefensible. Pretty much every player went about where expected.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / June 24

Two First-Round NBA Draft Picks the Rockets May Regret Not Trading For

The Houston Rockets didn't have a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, which meant they were among the few teams that watched all 30 prospects be selected by other teams.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / June 24

2 Under the Radar Defensive Specialists for the Rockets in the Second Round

The Houston Rockets will be making two selections tonight in Day 2 of the 2026 NBA Draft, as they hold two second round draft picks - picks 39 and 53. The team has an abundance of needs, especially on the back end of the roster.

NBA News / Yardbarker

Every NBA team's best-ever second-round draft pick

In the NBA Draft, the first round is where teams look for players who could be stars or at least contribute right away. Then there's the second round, where the stakes are low and not much is expected.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / June 24

Picks Who Dropped Out of the First Round That the Rockets Could Land on Day 2

The Houston Rockets were one of the few teams that did not have a first-round pick this season. With the 2026 NBA draft kicking off Tuesday evening, the Rockets were bystanders as other top Western Conference teams added to their already deep rosters.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / June 24

2 Shooters the Rockets Could Target in the Second Round Wednesday

Alas, the 2026 NBA Draft is underway. The first round is already in the books and the second round kicks off on Tuesday. The Houston Rockets didn't have any first round picks but hold two picks in the second round, at 39 and 53.

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The '2nd-overall NBA Draft picks' quiz

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Dorian Finney-Smith News / Houston Rockets on SI / June 24

Rockets' Dorian Finney-Smith Reportedly Drawing Interest Around the League

Houston Rockets General Manager Rafael Stone has developed a pretty good track record in his six years as Houston's front office executive. Following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, Stone finished seventh in the league's annual Executive of the Year award.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / June 23

Rockets Big Board: Top Draft Options at No. 39

The NBA Draft is about to arrive for the Houston Rockets. Although they have no first round pick and did not pick last season, the Rockets will get that opportunity in 2026 with two second round picks towards the start and the end of the round on June 24.

Kevin Durant News / Houston Rockets on SI / June 23

Rockets Legend is Critical of Kevin Durant Following Debut Season with Franchise

San Antonio Spurs superstar French big man Victor Wembanyama has been under scrutiny for the last several weeks. The NBA Finals generated a litany of attention on the league's next big star. Everyone was glued to their screens and/or monitors for Wembanyama's first title chase (and postseason appearance).

Houston Rockets News / Hoops Wire / June 22

Rockets reportedly willing to entertain trade talks across roster

The Rockets may not be blowing things up. But they also don’t sound like a team that’s interested in standing still. According to Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports, Houston has become more open to trade discussions after taking a hard look at where it stands compared to the NBA’s elite teams.

Houston Rockets News / Hoops Rumors / June 22

Rockets Reportedly Open To Discussing Nearly Entire Roster

Although Rockets general manager Rafael Stone suggested after the team was eliminated from the playoffs that he was happy with the roster he assembled last season, injuries notwithstanding, evidently that stance changed to some degree after watching the Western Conference and NBA Finals, according to Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports.

Houston Rockets News / HITC / June 22

Shams Charania says how Giannis trade could rival complicated Kevin Durant move to Rockets

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s drawn-out future could be settled within hours — and the resolution may not be as simple as it first looks. The trade saga has dragged on for more than a year, with a long list of suitors circling the Milwaukee Bucks star.

Kevin Durant News / NBA on ClutchPoints / June 22

Kevin Durant reveals blunt ‘underdog’ view of Warriors before joining

Nearly 10 years have passed since Kevin Durant made the league-altering decision to join the Golden State Warriors in free agency. It was an unprecedented

Houston Rockets News / Fadeaway World / June 21

Under-The-Radar Players The Rockets Could Acquire In 2026-27

The Houston Rockets have made it clear they are operating in win-now mode. After acquiring Kevin Durant last season and pairing him with Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and a talented young core under contract, Houston enters the 2026-27 season with legitimate championship aspirations after a disappointing first-round exit.

Tari Eason News / NBA on ClutchPoints / June 18

Rockets rumors: Houston free agent gets $75 million prediction

The Houston Rockets have another long-term decision to make in the offseason in addition to Fred VanVleet’s future, as Tari Eason entered restricted free agency on June 30.

Rick Adelman News / The Lead / June 16

Rick Adelman Had a Remarkable Run With the Rockets

Rick Adelman passed away on June 1, 2026, at the age of 79. No cause of death was publicly released. Within hours, tributes came pouring in from everywhere — the responses said a lot about the man, and even more about what he meant to the players who played for him.

Houston Rockets News / HITC / June 13

Kyrie Irving to Houston Rockets? The explosive truth behind the endless rumours

The real intrigue around the Kyrie Irving rumours isn’t about him as much as it is about which team’s name has popped up – the Houston Rockets. It’s a notable shift for a team that spent years stockpiling draft picks, developing young players and preaching patience.

Houston Rockets News / NBA Analysis Network / June 12

The Houston Rockets keep getting linked to Kyrie Irving for a reason

The most interesting part of the Kyrie Irving rumors has less to do with Irving than with the team attached to them: the Houston Rockets. For years, the Rockets ran their operation like a rebuilding franchise.