Rockets Well-Positioned To Go Star Hunting; Will They?

If it’s Option A, there should be no issue, wrote ESPN insider Bobby Marks.

For starters, the Rockets own five very tradeable first-round picks over the next seven years, including the No. 10 overall pick in this month’s NBA draft. They also have some unprotected firsts (2027, via Phoenix) and 2029 (via Phoenix or Dallas).

“The Rockets can also trade first-round picks in 2028, 2030 and 2032,” Marks wrote.

Oh, and let’s not forget those controllable contracts. You can’t say enough about them if the idea is to make a splashy trade.

As Marks noted: “The Rockets have five players — Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore and Amen Thompson — on first-round rookie contracts.”

The former NBA front office man also pointed to the “sizable contracts” in Houston as an option to land a superstar.

“Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green signed rookie extensions last October,” Marks wrote. “The poison pill restriction in their contracts gets lifted July 1, making them trade eligible. Both players are set to earn $33 million next season. Dillon Brooks has two years left on his contract ($22.1 million and $20.9 million).”

In other words, the Rockets have lots of options this offseason — and any team will tell you that, under the new labor rules, it’s a great position.

“The Rockets also have until June 29 to exercise Fred VanVleet‘s $44.9 million team option. Houston’s decision on VanVleet will play an important role in its financial flexibility in trades and retaining free agent Steven Adams,” Marks added, in case all of the above wasn’t enough.

For the record, the Rockets have been linked to Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Durant will be traded, somewhere. Antetokounmpo seems more likely to remain in Milwaukee.