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The conversation around the Houston Rockets has focused on the possibility of a trade for a star player. Reports have connected the Rockets to a few big names like Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the Rockets have kept quiet about the timeline for any potential moves. They may have limited time to take advantage of any trades this offseason.
Houston's wish list includes a few shooters and a bona fide No. 1 option. The Rockets were exposed in these areas during the postseason, as they didn't have a player to depend on in their half-court offensive sets.
The team looked significantly better when Jalen Green or Fred VanVleet stepped up to take on the lead perimeter threat role. Neither was consistent enough to win a series, let alone an NBA championship.
For the Rockets to become a true championship contender, they must have a player who can consistently create offense. The front office believes that one of their current young players can become that caliber of player, but the Rockets have recently become more interested in seeking an outside source to fulfill that need.
Durant is the definition of a consistent scorer who can create offense of his own. His deadly mid-range pull-ups and fadeaways are nearly unguardable.
It would take a significant package to entice the Phoenix Suns to part with an all-time scorer such as Durant, and the Rockets might not have the benefit of time on their side to complete a deal. Durant made it clear that he did not want to be traded during the season. Now that the offseason has arrived for all but four NBA teams, front offices will likely look into how much it will take to add Durant's services. Contending teams may enter this offseason believing they are a Kevin Durant addition away from winning the Finals.
It's hard to see Durant still with the Suns when next season begins, putting a timer on Houston's potential to decide whether or not they'll offer a package to acquire him.
The Rockets may have more time to decide if they would rather pursue Antetokounmpo as a potential No. 1 option. Antetokounmpo has displayed signs of frustration with the Milwaukee Bucks after several first-round exits in a row. However, Milwaukee might not be so willing to part with one of its best players in franchise history.
There's a chance the Bucks could make one last attempt at putting a competitive team around Antetokounmpo next season. Antetokounmpo could decide to trial the team to start the season before pulling the plug and formally requesting a trade by the trade deadline.
The Rockets don't have many options outside of those two players, but they don't have forever to decide which move to take. Whether they pull the trigger on a trade or try again with their current top players, the Rockets must decide before they run out of time and opportunities.
More must-reads:
- Bucks executive opens up on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors
- Insider offers opinion on Lebron James' thoughts on Lakers
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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Jared McCain's return could shake up the 76ers rotation
Jared McCain’s rookie season didn’t end the way it was supposed to. The Sixers guard was turning heads early on and looked like a serious Rookie of the Year candidate, averaging 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists across his first 23 games. He even won Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in November. But everything came to a halt when he tore the lateral meniscus in his left knee. Just like that, his promising first year was over. For the Sixers, that injury was just one piece of a nightmare season. Joel Embiid missed time, Paul George dealt with nagging injuries and Tyrese Maxey couldn’t carry the whole thing on his own. Philly ended the year with just 24 wins and didn’t even sniff the playoffs. Yet, through all that, McCain had shown real flashes. He played with confidence, poise and a scoring feel that looked way more polished than expected from a rookie. That’s what makes his upcoming return so intriguing. He’s reportedly progressing well in rehab, taking his time but eyeing a full comeback for the 2025-26 season. In the meantime, the Sixers added more youth to the mix. They drafted VJ Edgecombe with the third overall pick — a high-motor two-way guard with a strong frame and a lot of upside. The plan is clearly to build around Maxey, McCain and Edgecombe as the new core in the backcourt. McCain and Edgecombe already seem to have good chemistry. They were spotted hanging out during Summer League, and Edgecombe’s mentioned how excited he is to share the floor with him. It’s not hard to imagine the Sixers trying lineups with both young guards alongside Maxey, especially as Paul George ages and Embiid’s health remains a question. McCain’s role this year is a bit of a mystery. If he looks sharp in training camp, he could easily challenge for a starting spot. At the very least, he should be a key bench piece with a real shot to close games, thanks to his shooting and shot creation. With his ability to stretch the floor and Edgecombe’s slashing and defense, there’s a lot of potential here if things click. The Sixers’ coaching staff will likely take it slow. Coming off a knee injury, McCain won’t be rushed. But there’s a quiet urgency around the franchise after such a bad year. The 76ers need wins, and they need their young guys to step up. That makes McCain’s return one of the biggest stories heading into the new season. If he picks up where he left off, Philly’s backcourt rotation suddenly looks deep and dynamic. Maxey is already an All-Star-level player. Edgecombe is raw but promising. McCain could be the bridge between them — polished enough to produce now, young enough to grow alongside them. Of course, there’s always the possibility he struggles to find his rhythm or needs more time to trust the knee. That’s normal. But if McCain proves he’s back and ready, the Sixers may have found a long-term piece right when they needed one most.
Why Yankees' trade for All-Star 3B is disappointing
The New York Yankees’ first move ahead of the July 31 MLB trade deadline falls a bit flat. They traded two prospects most fans have never heard of to acquire Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon, a lackluster move that indicates New York is throwing in the towel on the 2025 season. McMahon is an upgrade — but only a slight one. Yankees GM Brian Cashman replaced a .147 hitter in Oswald Peraza with a .217 hitter in McMahon, who also happens to lead the National League in strikeouts (127). But really, New York just added another Anthony Volpe — one of the biggest problems in the Bombers’ lineup — to the left side of their infield. The two infielders’ 2025 stats tell virtually the same sad tale: McMahon: .217/.314/.403, 16 home runs Volpe: .214/.286/.400, 13 home runs The Yankees should have risked a top prospect or two for Arizona Diamondbacks power-hitting third baseman Eugenio Suarez. A 2026 free agent, Suarez is a rental, but with his .252/.325/.593 slash line, 33 home runs and MLB-leading 86 RBI, he’d be a huge upgrade at third base, rather than a slight one. Instead, the Yankees opted for a player who they’ll have control over until 2028 and cost them almost nothing to acquire. Apparently, they believe McMahon will prove valuable in the long run, based on his advanced analytics. After all, he’s been crushing the ball in 2025, averaging a 94 mph exit velocity. However, his ability to hit the ball hard doesn’t mean he’s just been unlucky this year, as his xBA is just .232 — not too far below his .240 career actual batting average. Compare that to another guy who’s known for hitting the ball hard in Yankees first baseman Ben Rice, who is hitting just .232 but has an xBA of .289. It doesn’t matter how hard McMahon hits the ball if he tends to hit it directly at a fielder. There’s still a week until the trade deadline, but don’t expect the Yankees to make any truly splashy moves. Suarez was the better choice to fix New York’s third base issues, and their pivot to McMahon was disappointing.
Dustin Rhodes Assigns Blame After Hulk Hogan’s Death
Following the shocking news of Hulk Hogan’s passing, wrestling legend Dustin Rhodes, known to millions as Goldust in WWE, took to social media to share a deeply personal and provocative reaction: “Hospitals truly kill people. I really do mean that.” Rhodes’ blunt statement stunned many fans, but those who know his story saw the pain behind the words. His father, the iconic Dusty Rhodes, passed away in 2015, aged 69, after a fall at home led to hospitalization for kidney failure. After his father's passing, Dustin shared a contemplative response on WWE's YouTube channel to discuss the legacy his father left behind. The news of Hogan's death comes just a month after reports suggested he was on his "deathbed" after undergoing a neck procedure back in May. Hogan's reps denied that was the case. In June, US Weekly reported that Hogan had also undergone a "pretty serious heart surgery and was doing well afterward." Dustin’s connection to his brother Cody Rhodes, now a top WWE superstar and face of the company’s next generation, is unbreakable. The Rhodes family legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of pro wrestling history, and seeing another legend like Hogan pass has clearly hit close to home. While Goldust and Hulk Hogan never had a headline-grabbing rivalry, they did share the ring once. It occurred in WCW in 2000 when Dustin Rhodes matched up against Hogan. Although their paths didn’t often cross in the squared circle, Hogan and the Rhodes family were part of the same larger-than-life era that helped define pro wrestling for decades and catapult the sport into society's zeitgeist. Rhodes’ comment about hospitals might not sit well with everyone, but it speaks to a raw and honest pain felt by someone who has seen too many legends, both personal and professional, fade away in similar fashion. The sport of wrestling has endured more than its fair share of lives cut short. As tributes continue to pour in for Hogan, Rhodes’ reaction serves as a powerful, if somber, reminder of the real human emotions behind the wrestling personas.
Mets Unlikely to Trade for $56 Million Pitcher After New Report
The New York Mets are a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the NL East ahead of Friday night's bout with the San Francisco Giants, but they are still one of the most vulnerable teams in baseball. New York has a laundry list of pitchers on the IL, including Tylor Megill (elbow), Griffin Canning (Achilles), and Max Kranick (flexor). However, it did acquire southpaw hurler Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. The veteran is 0-2 with a 3.96 ERA over 45 appearances this season, including 18 holds and one save. While the Mets could stand to add more healthy arms, they probably won't get a certain prominent hurler on the Miami Marlins, via The New York Post's Mike Puma. "The Mets are among the teams that have checked in on Sandy Alcantara," he reported on Friday. "The asking price is steep. The Mets haven’t ruled out adding a starting pitcher, but view it as a tough add given the market." Alcantara is 5-9 with a 6.66 ERA over 20 starts this season. The 29-year-old won the NL Cy Young Award in 2022 after going 14-9 with a 2.28 ERA in 32 starts. His current contract extension has a $21 million club option for 2027, and he's scheduled to make $17.3 million in both 2025 and 2026. Right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes (8-5, 3.48 ERA) will start for New York against San Francisco right-hander Logan Webb (9-7, 3.08 ERA) on Friday.
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