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Head coach Ime Udoka has made significant progress with the Houston Rockets since his arrival in the 2023-34 season. Along with quality veterans like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, Udoka has brought a sense of order to the locker room and organized a roster of talented young players. Now that the team has more expectations than it has in years, the entire organization seems to be solely focused on winning with this group of players and building on what has been a meteoric rise in the league.
The Rockets have been the center of several rumor mill reports this offseason. It seems Houston is in play for every available superstar, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant. Even Udoka has been part of the rumor mill, as reports have referenced the New York Knicks as reaching out to Udoka as a replacement for former Knicks Coach Tom Thibodeau.
However, it seems unlikely the Rockets would entertain any pursuit by the Knicks for the coach who has been a large part of Houston's turnaround.
Udoka has a team crafted entirely in his image, as the Rockets have several aggressive defenders who give nonstop effort. Even players not typically known for their defense have stepped up their efforts on that end to help the team become one of the league's best.
The Rockets have an identity that has shaped the young players on the team. The front office has shown significant commitment to young stars like Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun. Sengun completed a season that resulted in his first All-Star selection. Thompson earned the First-Team All-Defense honors for his efforts. Both players have been vocally supported by top officials in the organization.
That duo of elite young players is the foundation of a squad that took a huge jump throughout the season. That foundation is the basis of how the Rockets plan to improve their roster.
The goal is to build a roster around the team's core of young players to create a true contender based on elite defense and unique offensive skill sets. The Rockets' front office has committed to the plan under this iteration of the team, and the moves they make in the future will reflect their belief.
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Celtics Could Trade Away 3 Players Ahead of 2025-26 Season: Report
The Boston Celtics have already traded two starters away during this offseason. Getting rid of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis was always part of the plan in order to get under the second apron of the luxury tax. Boston got back Anfernee Simons in the Holiday deal and Georges Niang in the Porzingis trade. While other teams have called about Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, they have refused to trade either player so far. Brad Stevens might not be done making moves. They are trying to move a couple of players and could end up moving a third, too. More news: Celtics Exec Wants to Sign Big Man in Free Agency On a piece on The Ringer, Michael Pina theorizes that the Celtics could trade three more players before the offseason is over. Simons and Niang have been reported as being shopped. Simons' contract could be why the Celtics don't want to keep him, despite the need for a scoring guard off the bench. He is still making $27.6 million this season, even though it's an expiring deal. Flipping Niang might have to do more with a team fit than it does his contract. He would be in line to get rotational minutes if he does stay in Boston, but he's not a very good defender. Pina also believes that the Celtics could end up moving Sam Hauser this offseason, as well. "Boston is still in the second apron and about $20 million over the luxury tax, but, regardless of what Brad Stevens has said, it would be a true stunner if it didn’t shed more money during the season to dodge repeater tax penalties. The likely casualties are Anfernee Simons and Georges Niang, but no one should be shocked if/when Sam Hauser gets traded." More news: Celtics Summer League Standout Could Leave NBA This Year The Celtics' top priority this season is to get under the second apron. Without having Tatum for most of the season, this is the year for the Celtics to shed salary. Hauser is making just over $10 million this year. That's a pretty reasonable deal for a good guy off the bench with the way that the salary cap is set up. Boston should try everything they can to keep Hauser, because he's a key player off the bench. More news: Everything Celtics Fans Need to Know About Rookie First-Round Pick Hugo Gonzalez For more news and notes on the Boston Celtics, visit Boston Celtics on SI.
Raiders GM reveals how they will play safety Jamal Adams
The addition of safety Jamal Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders is a bit surprising given his injury history, but the Raiders brass is keeping their fingers crossed hoping the three-time Pro Bowl safety can stay healthy. In an interview with Raider Nation Radio 920 AM on Wednesday, Raiders general manager John Spytek revealed Adams will "play probably a little closer to the line of scrimmage than a true safety." It is not surprising Spytek would say such a thing since Adams played like a hybrid linebacker for head coach Pete Carroll with the Seattle Seahawks. In Seattle, Adams played 34 games for Carroll, including one game in 2022 due to a quad injury in the season opener against the Denver Broncos. He only played nine games in his final season with Carroll and the Seahawks in 2023 before joining the Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions last season. The 29-year-old Adams is entering his ninth season after he was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. If Adams can stay healthy, it could turn out to be a great thing for the Raiders since they need a playmaker and veteran leadership on the field. Spytek's words seem to indicate Adams will have a role when the season gets underway against the New England Patriots on Sept. 7. It will not be surprising if Adams gets a lot of reps during the preseason to see if he can stay healthy. For the Raiders' sake, they better hope they get the early version of Adams, who had 9.5 sacks in his first season with the Seahawks in 2020 - an NFL record for a defensive back. Spytek and Carroll are banking on Adams to remain healthy for the Raiders and give the team another threat on the defensive side to complement star pass rusher Maxx Crosby.
Packers’ Starter Could Be Shocking Roster Cut Later This Summer
The Green Bay Packers have revamped the wide receiving corps over the offseason. In addition to selecting Matthew Golden in the first round of April’s NFL Draft, and rounding back to add Savion Williams in the third round, the Packers also inked veteran Mecole Hardman as a free agent, further bolstering Jordan Love’s supporting cast, creating competition and in all likelihood adding special teams value. Suddenly, the Packers’ crowded wide receiver room could be one of the hottest competitions for snaps and roster spots in the league. Could the Packers Move on From Christian Watson? Christian Watson is still recovering from a torn ACL, but not everyone believes he’s a lock to even make the Packers’ roster out of training camp. Pro Football Network’s Jacob Infante suggests Watson could be cut, or traded, at some point this summer. “Watson doesn’t have the special-teams value that Mecole Hardman,” Infante writes of Watson. “Bo Melton, and Malik Heath all have. Both Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks have done a better job of staying healthy, and Jayden Reed and the two rookies are locks to make the team. That could leave Watson as a realistic cut candidate since he is sidelined with a torn ACL.” Moving on from Watson would be a pretty big surprise, for the Packers, but not out of the realm of possibility. Through his first three seasons, Watson has caught 96 passes for 1,653 yards and 14 touchdowns, and if healthy, would likely begin this season at or near the top of the depth chart. He simply isn’t healthy and doesn’t contribute much on special teams. The Packers have established a youth movement and have certainly created competition at the position, and if Green Bay believes that the likes of Wicks, Reed, and Melton are more valuable than Watson, it could lead to some difficult conversations and decisions in the weeks ahead about the 26-year-old’s future.
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger's Bold Prediction Sets Steeler Nation On Fire For 2025 NFL Season
The Pittsburgh Steelers have some interesting expectations for the 2025 NFL season. After many fans were hopeful that the team would commit to a rebuild and begin preparing for the future, General Manager Omar Khan did the impossible. He orchestrated an impressive offseason that not only laid the foundation for long-term success, but also made the roster significantly better in the short-term. Khan’s approach brought in experienced veterans, addressed major roster holes, and added young talent through the draft. While the Steelers have certainly set themselves up for the future, this team is built to win right now. The biggest question mark remains Aaron Rodgers. At 41 years old, his ability to stay healthy and perform at a high level will be the ultimate factor in how far this team can go. On his podcast Footbahlin, Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger shared a surprising and bold take. He believes the 2025 season is 'Super Bowl or bust' for Pittsburgh. Citing the strength of the roster and the urgency created by Rodgers’ limited window, Roethlisberger’s comments have fired up Steeler Nation and added even more intensity to an already pressure-filled season. "I anticipate big things this year..." Roethlisberger said on Tuesday's episode. "When Coach Tomlin built this team, there was no way that they're saying that .500, that's not even on the table right now. This team right now is built, what Coach Tomlin has built, is a Super Bowl or bust team, in my opinion." Roethlisberger didn’t hold back, and while he didn’t want to add unfair pressure, he made one thing clear. In his eyes, this roster can win a Super Bowl in 2025. The pressure is on for the Steelers to deliver, but at the very least, Mike Tomlin must win a playoff game this season. If he doesn’t, the fan base is likely to go crazy and continue their calling for his termination. "I don't want to sit there and say that anything short of that is a failed season," Roethlisberger said. "Because that seems like that's unfair pressure, but it also feels like that's what they've built for. And so it's not about just getting to the playoffs. And it's not even just winning a playoff game. That's a step up and that's great, but that can't be what is the final goal of this team. It can't be that. This team is built right now to go to a Super Bowl and to win a Super Bowl. And so it needs to happen." Tomlin has remarkably never had a losing season in his 18 years as the Steelers' head coach. That is an incredible accomplishment, especially in a league built for parity. However, even with that level of consistency, it is hard to ignore the glaring issue. Tomlin has not won a playoff game in nearly a decade. That is a shocking reality for a franchise that is used to deep postseason runs and competing for Super Bowls. For many fans, that kind of drought is simply not acceptable. Steelers Are 110% Capable Of Winning The Super Bowl In The 2025 NFL Season Tomlin’s last playoff win came during the 2016 season, and that needs to change as soon as possible. That is part of the reason the Steelers went all in this offseason. They did not just make a few tweaks to the roster. They made bold and aggressive moves in an effort to break through. The addition of Rodgers and the focus on building a complete, veteran-ready team showed that Pittsburgh is tired of falling short when it matters most. While every season can be viewed as Super Bowl or bust, hearing Roethlisberger say it out loud adds weight to that belief. He has no reason to sugarcoat anything, and if he believes the Steelers are capable of winning it all, fans have every reason to feel excited. The expectations are sky-high and the pressure is real.
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