Latest news with #AlperenŞengün
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
How additions of Kevin Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith can fix Rockets' spacing woes
One of the biggest takeaways from Houston's early playoff exit — aside from the lack of experience — was that its season-long half-court spacing (and subsequent 3-point shooting) issues had reached their apex. And it had become so entwined in their identity that the ineffectiveness took shape right from the opening tip in the most important game of their season. The above possession from Game 7 against the Golden State Warriors illustrated everything wrong with the Rockets' offensive approach, how defenses could stifle them and why shooting — which the Rockets just stocked up on — remains a premium asset in today's game. On Houston's opening set, the Rockets had Jalen Green initiate and used Dillon Brooks to set a down screen for Alperen Şengün, while the Warriors comfortably sat back in zone. Amen Thompson, who shot less than 30 percent from 3 this year, is stationed in the corner. Şengün, connecting on just 23.3 percent of 3s this season, is not a threat above the break and the attempted two-man game between him and Green is too compact to make a real impact. The play results in Şengün tossing up a prayer, snagging the rebound and then turning the ball over. An all-encompassing Rockets play. Houston shot just 5 of 17 from 3 in an elimination game, scoring a poor 78.0 points per 100 half-court plays. Charlotte, which ranked last in the league in the same category during the regular season, averaged 90.0 points per 100 plays. It was clear internally that the organization, which already had a talented defense, needed its offense to drastically improve outside of bullying teams on the offensive glass. In any trade that involved the now-departed Green and Brooks, Houston would need to bring in floor spacers. Those two comprised a large chunk of the Rockets' 3-point department, finishing first and third, respectively, in attempted 3s per game, and were among the top six in conversion rate. With Kevin Durant and Dorian Finney-Smith now in Houston, the Rockets can become one of the league's most efficient half-court offenses and deadliest outside shooting units. Advertisement Let's start with Durant. For all the dysfunction that Phoenix endured last season, it's a miracle the Suns were still a top 10 half-court team, which boils down to Durant and his consistency, even at age 36. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Suns were a plus-6.2 points better offensively when Durant was on the floor, a 90th percentile impact. Durant's teams' effective field goal percentage shoots up by nearly six percent, which has been a trend at each of his previous stops. With better players around him, Durant should help Houston's numbers spike. It's a seamless fit on paper, a smooth three-level scorer paired with high-motor athletes and a savvy low-post presence. That doesn't mean there won't be some growing pains, especially in the early stages of training camp and the regular season. Expect a natural adjustment period, as a team that adopted an equal-opportunity offense now has to shift towards someone who has had the ball in his hands a ton. Durant's usage has been in the 93rd percentile or greater in every season he's been in the NBA. The list of 36-year-old greats who suddenly change their game overnight is incredibly small — that means fewer touches for Şengün, Fred VanVleet, Thompson and others. But the tradeoff has the potential to be monumental. Last season, 77 percent of Houston's 3s were above the break, similar to Durant's shot distribution (76 percent), where he shot an impressive 40.8 percent. Despite the corner 3 being the shortest and seemingly most efficient outside look, the Rockets aren't one of those teams that design actions to target those areas. Over the two summers Ime Udoka has been in Houston, his staff has gone on coaching retreats, where everyone comes together for a weeklong brainstorming session, bouncing ideas off one another and watching hours of film of opponents and from different leagues. This offseason, improving the Rockets' setup against zone defenses and creating space has been a strong focus. Advertisement And nothing here is reinventing the wheel, Tyus Jones (21) is of a similar build to starting point guard VanVleet. Quick-hitting actions on the strong side, using Durant as a screener and allowing him to pop, while a big ensures Durant has ample room by screening his man, can easily work in Houston. This is a funky variation of Spain action and should be used a lot next season. The Rockets love to use VanVleet as a screener. He's one of the best guards in that respect, but it's one thing to force a switch for Şengün, who is going to back you down in the post. It's another to generate a wide-open attempt for a Hall of Fame sniper. Inverted pick-and-rolls only truly work where the bigger ballhandler is a respected playmaker and Durant's 18.9 assist rate (88th percentile among forwards) forces defenses to guess. In Finney-Smith, the Rockets are acquiring a veteran 3-and-D forward who torched them as a Laker, hitting 12-of-20 3s against them in late March and April. There's a gap in skill between Finney-Smith and Durant, but there's no mistake that the former's teams fare better offensively with him on the floor. Across Brooklyn and Los Angeles, Finney-Smith's teams were a plus-10.8 and plus-9.3 while he was on the floor, per Cleaning the Glass. Because he lacks real on-ball skills, he can space, relocate and convert, which makes him an asset. Finney-Smith shot 42.9 and 43.5 percent in the corners and 39.9 on above-the-break 3s. When teams go zone, as the Rockets did here against the Lakers, Houston won't need to force the issue or probe this season, knowing that there are quality shooters on the perimeter. Because the Rockets now have an abundance of talent, Udoka's in-game lineups might even be more effective than his starting and closing groups. Take this possession below, now with Thompson and Clint Capela running pick-and-roll instead of Luka Dončić and Rui Hachimura. Capela's vertical gravity (which is more prominent than Hachimura's) forces the opposing big to slide in, temporarily leaving Finney-Smith alone in the corner. Thompson has certainly made a similar cross-court pass like this before for an open man. As Houston's focus next season shifts to title contention, its new additions should be afforded a learning curve. But assuming the Rockets maintain their defensive prowess, adding bona fide spacers in Durant and Finney-Smith should solve their half-court issues once and for all.
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
WATCH: Why Kevin Durant is a natural fit to elevate Rockets to championship contention
Scroll down to watch my video showing the ways Kevin Durant should fit seamlessly into this rising Houston Rockets team. Following the trade to acquire 14-time All-Star forward Kevin Durant, the Houston Rockets have officially stamped themselves as championship contenders. You don't make an aggressive move for a future Hall of Famer, sending away two key starters, unless you believe an NBA Finals run is within your grasp. Advertisement On paper, the Durant addition in Houston addresses several offensive issues that arose last season, deficiencies that ultimately led to their postseason demise. Behind the scenes, Houston's coaching staff has committed to improving their offense this offseason in areas such as spacing and isolation efficiency, factors where Durant has been elite for nearly two decades. The Rockets, who finished last season ranked just 22nd in halfcourt offensive efficiency (according to Synergy tracking data), are a natural fit for Durant's three-level scoring, premier shooting and underrated playmaking. Even at age 36 in his 17th season, Durant was the driving force of a Phoenix Suns team that ranked in the top 10 in half-court scoring efficiency. Durant has also been a prolific floor spacer since the moment he graced an NBA court, which should be an immediate lift to a team that is expected to dive more into their double-big lineups with Alperen Şengün and Steven Adams. Houston's equal-opportunity offense under Udoka last season was designed to highlight the strengths of its pieces. In reality, it was a mask for the lack of a premier, go-to option. Oftentimes, there wasn't much player or ball movement, which created a less-than-desirable on-court product. Houston relied far too much on transition play and second-chance opportunities last season. Now that they can pair Durant's skillset with that of Şengün, Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson and more, there's a real opportunity for the Rockets to be a creative, free-flowing offense.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jabari Smith to sign $122 million extension to his rookie contract with Rockets
Jabari Smith is signing a five-year, $122 million extension to his rookie contract with the Houston Rockets, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The deal secures Smith's services with the Rockets through the 2030-31 season as Houston locks up its core around the newly acquired Kevin Durant. The deal ensures that Smith won't test free agency next offseason. Smith will sign the extension with one year remaining on his four-year, $40.3 million rookie contract. Advertisement Smith, 22, was the No. 3 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft behind Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero and newly crowned NBA champion Chet Holmgren. Banchero and Holmgren are both eligible for max extensions that could be worth up to $247 million over five years. Jabari Smith has agreed to sign with the Rockets through the 2030-31 season. () (Alex Slitz via Getty Images) While Banchero is an All-Star and Holmgren flashed All-Star upside as an integral player in Oklahoma City's run to the NBA championship, Smith has settled in as a role player for a Rockets team that made the leap last season from the lottery to the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. A 6-foot-11 stretch forward, Smith averaged 12.2 points, 7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game last season while shooting 43.8% from the floor and 35.4% from 3-point distance. He's a key rotation player on a roster that features emerging stars Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson alongside veteran point guard Fred VanVleet, who agreed last week to a two-year, $50 million contract to remain with the Rockets. Advertisement With the addition of Durant via last week's trade that sent Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to the Phoenix Suns, Houston seeks to take the next step into contention for an NBA championship. Houston finished second in the West with a 50-32 record last season, but lost in the first round of the playoffs to an experienced Golden State Warriors team. The offseason flurry of transactions in Houston signals the team's intent to compete for a title season and beyond.
Forbes
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Amen Thompson's Breakout Paved The Way For Rockets' Kevin Durant Trade
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 02: Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns drives against Amen Thompson #1 of ... More the Houston Rockets during the game at Footprint Center on March 02, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Rockets defeated the Suns 118-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) Heading into the 2024-25 NBA season, the Houston Rockets were a ball of clay. After three straight years with 22 or fewer wins, the Rockets went 41-41 in 2023-24 and were in the mix for a spot in the play-in tournament until they went on a five-game losing streak in the final two weeks of the regular season. A career season from third-year center Alperen Şengün hinted at better days ahead for the Rockets, especially after they landed the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft courtesy of the Brooklyn Nets. They used that pick on Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard, pairing him with their trio of recent top-five picks—guard Jalen Green (No. 2 in 2021), forward Jabari Smith Jr. (No. 3 in 2022) and wing Amen Thompson (No. 4 in 2023). However, it was unclear heading into this past season whether any of them were franchise-cornerstone material. Green was a high-volume, low-efficiency scorer over his first three seasons, while Smith didn't take a major leap between his rookie and sophomore campaigns. Although Thompson didn't get a ton of run as a rookie, Smith's midseason injury this past year opened the door for him to move into the starting lineup. Once he did, he would not relinquish that spot for the remainder of the season. He wound up averaging 15.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.5 blocks in 37 games as a starter from January onward, and he carried that right over into the Rockets' seven-game loss to the Golden State Warriors in the opening round of the playoffs. With Thompson flashing Defensive Player of the Year upside along with well-rounded offensive contributions, the Rockets suddenly had their potential franchise cornerstone. His breakout paved the path for their blockbuster trade with the Phoenix Suns for 15-time All-Star forward Kevin Durant on Sunday. The Rockets agreed to trade Green, veteran forward Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft and five second-round picks to the Phoenix Suns for Durant, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Although Green has been one of Houston's two leading scorers in each of his four NBA seasons, Thompson's two-way upside made him expendable, particularly for a player of Durant's caliber. The Missing Piece? The Rockets were fueled by the league's fifth-ranked defense this season, but their offense sputtered at times, particularly in half-court settings. They averaged only 93.2 points per 100 possessions in the half court during the regular season, which ranked 22nd leaguewide, and they were 11th out of 16 playoff teams with 92.4 points per 100 half-court possessions in the postseason. That put them ahead of only the Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies. Charania noted that the Rockets finished 27th in effective field-goal percentage on off-the-dribble jumpers and 24th in effective field-goal percentage on all jumpers, while Durant led the NBA this season by drilling 50.9% of his off-the-dribble jumpers. In other words, the Rockets could not have found a better fit on paper to fill the offensive hole that ultimately upended them. Granted, it still might have taken some convincing for an up-and-coming team like the Rockets to give up assets for the soon-to-be 37-year-old Durant. He's showing no signs of slowing down, as evidenced by the 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.6 three-pointers per game that he averaged this past season, but he's also in no way aligned with the developmental timeline of Thompson, Şengün and the Rockets' other young prospects. "For months on end, the message from the Houston Rockets was consistent," Sam Amick and Kelly Iko of The Athletic wrote after news of the trade broke Sunday. "They had no plans to get into the Kevin Durant business." So, what caused them to change their minds? The Achilles injuries that Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard suffered during the playoffs might have compelled the Rockets to make more of a win-now push. "With Durant leading the way, veteran guard Fred VanVleet expected to return and rising stars Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson on board, the Rockets decided their time is now," Amick and Iko added. Mere hours after news of the Durant trade broke, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton then suffered his own Achilles injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. While Haliburton's injury didn't factor into the Rockets' thinking before they pulled the trigger on this deal, it likely removes yet another title hopeful from the mix next season. The Rockets' Time Is Now With Thompson on his rookie-scale contract for two more years, the Rockets have a clear window to take advantage of right now. He's set to earn only $9.7 million this coming season and $12.3 million in 2026-27. If the salary cap continues to increase by 10% every year as expected, he'll be eligible for a five-year, $271.3 million extension that would begin with a $46.8 million salary in the 2027-28 season. If if he makes an All-NBA team or wins MVP or Defensive Player of the Year in 2026-27, his extension could start at $56.1 million and get bumped up to $325.6 million in total. The Rockets' next two years with Thompson could be akin to when NFL teams build around young quarterbacks on rookie-scale deals. The financial savings they gain from paying those players well-below-market prices allows them to splurge on veterans, even if they aren't aligned from a timeline perspective. Amick and Iko reported that Durant "may not sign an extension when he's eligible in July," but "team sources said there is a strong belief that this will be a long-term partnership." Still, Father Time remains undefeated, so "long-term" may only be three or four years at most. However, the league's current collective bargaining agreement may force teams into trying to capitalize on shorter windows rather than extended dynastic runs. Şengün's five-year, $185 million extension and Green's three-year, $105.3 million extension both begin this coming season. Smith and Tari Eason will both become extension-eligible this summer and would have their new deals start in 2026-27, while Thompson will follow suit the following offseason. The Rockets won't be able to pay all of their young players, particularly depending on what they do with VanVleet, whom they have a $44.9 million team option on for the 2025-26 campaign. They figure to decline that option and re-sign him to a multi-year deal with a smaller salary, although it's unclear how low they can get him to drop. Perhaps the acquisition of Durant convinces VanVleet to take a significant pay cut so the Rockets can afford to retain Smith, Eason and Thompson moving forward. Realistically, though, they figure to start shedding depth in the coming years. The next season or two may be their best shot to win a championship with this core. If not for Thompson's breakout this past season, the Rockets might not have been emboldened to cut bait on Green and accelerate their win-now window. But given the flashes he showed during his sophomore campaign and the Achilles injuries that ravaged the Eastern Conference throughout the playoffs this year, it suddenly made more sense for the Rockets to gamble on a star forward who's in no way aligned with the rest of their roster age-wise. Unless otherwise noted, all stats via PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Follow Bryan on Bluesky.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Magic Johnson Makes Strong Prediction After Kevin Durant Trade
Magic Johnson Makes Strong Prediction After Kevin Durant Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The NBA witnessed a blockbuster deal on Sunday that sent Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets, marking a seismic shift in the league landscape. Advertisement It caps a disappointing campaign in the desert while instantly elevating Houston's championship aspirations, a point underscored later that day by Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson. Posting on X, Johnson wrote, "Two-time NBA Champion and future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant being traded to Houston will make Rockets one of the favorites in West next season." Houston finished with a 52-30 record, clinching the Southwest Division and securing the No. 2 seed in the conference, only to get bounced in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. Under coach Ime Udoka, the Rockets boasted a balanced attack led by All-Star Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, the latter two of whom were traded away in the Durant deal. Advertisement Houston battled back from a 3-1 series hole against the Golden State Warriors to force Game 7, ultimately falling short in the first round. Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant (35) playing against the Los Angeles Camporeale-Imagn Images After acquiring Durant in 2023 to join Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, Phoenix underwhelmed in 2024-25, going 36-46 and finishing 11th in the West, missing both the playoffs and the play-in tournament. Despite this, Durant posted strong averages (26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game), making his 15th NBA All-Star team. Durant now joins a core already featuring Şengün, Thompson and VanVleet, making the Rockets instantly one of the NBA's most dangerous offenses and, in Johnson's eyes, a leading pick for Western Conference supremacy. Advertisement Related: Warriors Turn Heads With Steph Curry Post on Monday Related: Ben Simmons Update Announced After Clippers Issue Big Demand This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
