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Western Conference · Southwest Division

Houston Rockets

Houston · Toyota Center · Founded in 1967 · 2 titles (latest in 1995)

Challenger Knocking on the door
  • 48.5projected wins
  • 28.3years, core age
  • 3years of window
  • 205.5 Mpayroll, in the luxury tax
  • +6.1net rating in 2025-26 (6th)
What would you do with the Houston Rockets? Propose a trade, an extension or the team's direction, and test it in its Trade Machine. Have your say →

The franchise

Front office and bench

Ownership
Tilman Fertitta
General Manager (top basketball executive)
Rafael Stone since 2020
President of Business Operations (non-basketball)
Gretchen Sheirr

Head coach

Ime Udoka since 2023

Demanding, defense-minded coach; took the Rockets from a rebuilding team to 52 wins and signed a long-term extension in 2025.

Assistants

  • Ben SullivanAssistant coach
  • Royal IveyAssistant coach
  • Garrett JacksonAssistant coach
  • Chip EngellandAssistant coach (shooting specialist, joined in July 2026)
  • Cam HodgesAssistant coach
  • Mike MoserAssistant coach
  • Robbie LemonsAssistant coach

The direction

What the franchise says and what its moves show

The Rockets remain in win-now mode: after two straight 52-win seasons and early playoff exits, the front office says it sought more ball-handling, passing and shooting without losing its defensive and rebounding identity. Kevin Durant remains the immediate centerpiece while the young core (Şengün, Smith Jr., Eason and now Amen Thompson) gets locked up long term. Udoka wants to lengthen the rotation to spread minutes and lighten the load on Durant and Thompson.

Building around

Alperen Şengün Amen Thompson Kevin Durant Jabari Smith Jr.

What they have said

  • He wanted a more skilled team with better shooting without sacrificing defense and rebounding, and believes he achieved it with Smart and Bogdanović; he added that Durant told him in person he's happy in Houston.

    General manager Rafael Stone · Rockets Media Day (NBA.com / Yahoo Sports) · September 2026

  • The goal is to lengthen the rotation to reduce the minutes load on Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant.

    Head coach Ime Udoka · NBA.com · September 2026

What the data points to

  • Deadline buyer Very likely
    • Projects to 48.5 wins: built to compete now.
    • Can offer 2 first-round picks (2028, 2030).
    • Has 25.0 M in expiring contracts to match salaries.
  • Extension coming Very likely
    • Reed Sheppard is finishing his rookie deal and producing: he needs to be locked up before he reaches the market.
  • Clean up the books Likely
    • Spends 205.5 M and is in the luxury tax.
    • Tari Eason is paid more than he produces.
    • It is 5.1 M over the tax, and every extra million costs another one and a half or more in penalties.
    • Expiring contracts appeal to it: swapping long money for salary that runs out frees up room for the summer.

Moves

Summer 2026

  • Tari Eason re-signs: five years, $81.5M.
  • Amen Thompson extension: five years, about $208M (agreed in September).
  • Marcus Smart signs (two years, mid-level exception), reuniting with Udoka.
  • Bogdan Bogdanović signs (one year, minimum) from the Clippers.
  • Draft: no first-round pick; after several pick swaps with the Knicks they end up with Bruce Thornton (No. 31).
  • Dorian Finney-Smith traded to Charlotte with three second-round picks to save luxury tax.
  • Departures: Josh Okogie (Utah), Aaron Holiday (Italy) and Jeff Green.
  • Julian Phillips and Jae'Sean Tate also arrive on minimum deals.

Latest

  • Oct 17 Waived Waived Gs Bryce Harris, Caleb McConnell and F Cameron Matthews.
  • Oct 17 Waived Waived Fs Bryce Harris and Cameron Matthews. Waived G Caleb McConnell.
  • Oct 1 Waived Waived C Rafael Castro.

The roster

16 NBA contracts · 2026-27 salaries

PlayerAgeSalaryThrough
Starters
Fred VanVleet G Expiring 32 25.0 M 2026-27
Amen Thompson G 23 12.3 M 2031-32
Kevin Durant F 38 43.9 M 2027-28
Jabari Smith Jr. F 23 23.6 M 2030-31
Alperen Sengun C 24 35.6 M 2029-30
Rotation
Marcus Smart G 32 6.1 M 2027-28
Reed Sheppard G 22 11.1 M 2027-28
Tari Eason F 25 14.1 M 2030-31
Steven Adams C 33 13.0 M 2027-28
Bogdan Bogdanovic G 34 2.4 M 2026-27

The analysis, with data

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

  • Offensive rebounding 1st · 34.8 % of its misses rebounded
  • Rim protection 2nd with today’s roster
  • Rebounding 2nd with today’s roster
  • Defense 3rd with today’s roster
  • Defensive rating 6th · 113.8 points allowed per 100 possessions
  • Net rating 6th · +6.1 per 100 possessions

Weaknesses

  • Scoring 28th with today’s roster
  • Three-point volume 28th · 35.0 % of its shots are threes
  • Ball movement 27th · 59.1 % of its baskets are assisted
  • Ball security 26th · 15.0 turnovers per 100 possessions
  • Three-point shooting 25th with today’s roster

Today's roster, facet by facet (league rank)

  • Defense 3rd
  • Rim protection 2nd
  • Three-point shooting 25th
  • Playmaking 21st
  • Scoring 28th
  • Rebounding 2nd
  • Offensive impact 18th
How it played as a team in 2025-26
Offensive ratingpoints per 100 possessions 119.9 7th
Defensive ratingpoints allowed per 100 possessions 113.8 6th
Net ratingper 100 possessions +6.1 6th
Pacepossessions per game 95.2 29th
Three-point volumeof its shots are threes 35.0 % 28th
Three-point accuracyfrom three 36.4 % 10th
Offensive reboundingof its misses rebounded 34.8 % 1st
Defensive reboundingof opponent misses rebounded 74.5 % 9th
Ball securityturnovers per 100 possessions 15.0 26th
Ball movementof its baskets are assisted 59.1 % 27th

Roster holes

  • Weak in scoringWith today’s rotation it ranks 28th in the league in scoring.
  • Weak in three-point shootingWith today’s rotation it ranks 25th in the league in three-point shooting.
  • 1 contracts too manyHas 16 NBA contracts and only 15 fit in the regular season: someone will be waived or traded.

Contracts and extensions

Expiring this season

  • Fred VanVleet 0 years old · paid 25.0 M Salary coming off the books
  • Oscar Tshiebwe 26 years old · paid 2.5 M Salary coming off the books
  • Julian Phillips 22 years old · paid 2.5 M Salary coming off the books

With an option next summer

  • Kevin Durant43.9 M · can leave early

Bargains (produce far above their salary, for several years)

None.

Pricey but short (paid more than they produce, but ending soon)

None.

Money and picks

Payroll 205.5 M Cap 165.0 M Tax 200.4 M 1st apron 209.0 M 2nd apron 221.7 M

Payroll
205.5 M · in the luxury tax
Distance to each line
tax: 5.1 M over · 1st apron: 3.5 M below · 2nd apron: 16.2 M below
Next summer
202.1 M committed · no cap space
First-rounders it can trade
2028, 2030 · holds 1 other team’s first and 3 swaps

Radar and possible trades

Players who fit and that it can afford

  • Tristan Da Silva ORL4.0 M · signed through 2027-28, produces above his salary
  • Royce O'Neale CHA10.9 M · signed through 2027-28, produces above his salary
  • Naji Marshall DAL9.4 M · signed through 2029-30, produces above his salary

A trade that works under the CBA

ORL gets

  • Bogdan Bogdanović

HOU gets

  • Tristan Da Silva
Try it in the Trade Machine ↓

Trade pieces

Assets
Alperen Şengün (worth 19.2 M more than his salary), Amen Thompson (worth 16.1 M more than his salary), Jabari Smith Jr. (worth 12.9 M more than his salary), Reed Sheppard (worth 7.2 M more than his salary)
Contracts that weigh
Tari Eason (overpaid by 9.0 M)
To match salaries
Fred VanVleet (25.0 M)

Your turn

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