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In offseason work, Jabari Smith Jr. says he's developing as shot creator, ball handler
Ahead of his fourth NBA season, Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. is citing ball-handling and shot creation as points of emphasis during the 2025 offseason. 'I want to have a big summer and come back next year looking like a whole different player,' Smith told Ari Alexander of KPRC, Houston's NBC affiliate. Advertisement 'Confidence in my ball-handling, confidence in being able to create my own shot, and just having a better, stronger motor,' Smith says of what he'd like to gain from his offseason work. 'I just want to change, and come back different.' Smith has worked out this offseason with Aaron Miller, a skills trainer who has extensive experience working with NBA players. 'It's real technical, with a lot of attention to detail,' Smith said of Miller's workouts. 'I just like how detailed it is, and how down to the science it is.' Smith averaged 12.2 points (43.8% FG, 35.4% on 3-pointers) and 7.0 rebounds in 30.1 minutes per game last season. As the No. 3 overall draft pick from the NBA's 2022 first round, the 22-year-old Auburn product is eligible for a contract extension during a window from July 1, 2025, until the start of the 2025-26 regular season in late October. Advertisement Should he not receive one, Smith will become a restricted free agent in the 2026 offseason, and his likely contract will depend in large part on his play during the upcoming season. To say the least, a production uptick after a positive offseason would help him establish more long-term value. During Houston's first-round series loss to Golden State a few weeks ago, Smith's average minutes total tumbled to just 20.4 (and only 12 in a decisive Game 7 loss to the Warriors). Among frontcourt players, minutes for Smith and Tari Eason were scaled down in the playoffs while Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, and Steven Adams all played more. It appears that subpar finish to the 2024-25 season has provided fuel for Smith as he begins the 2025 offseason. 'We didn't finish the season how we wanted to, so I was ready to get back in the gym and work on what I need to work on,' Smith told Alexander. Advertisement More: Rockets reportedly open to contract talks with Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr. This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: In offseason work, Jabari Smith develops as shot creator, ball handler
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a day ago
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Potential Kevin Durant trade cost for Houston Rockets in dea with Phoenix Suns revealed
The Phoenix Suns continue to shop All-Star forward Kevin Durant ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, with the San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks and Houston Rockets all pursuing him. If the future Hall of Famer is going to land in Houston, it's going to come at a very high cost. During an appearance on the Burns & Gambo Show, John Gambodoro said that any trade for Durant with the Suns will 'very likely' have to include Houston sending both Jabari Smith and Jalen Green. 'Any deal with the Rockets is very likely to include Jabari Smith and Jalen Green. And you've got it, like, they're going to want to hold on to Eason, they're going to want to hold on to Sengun. They're going to want to hold on to their key core players and probably work out a deal around Green and Jabari Smith, which we've known for a long time that those would be the key players.' John Gambodoro on what a Kevin Durant trade will cost the Houston Rockets Advertisement Related: Houston Rockets in trading for All-Star has reportedly cooled off Kevin Durant stats (ESPN): 26.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 4.2 APG, 52.7% FG, 43% 3PT Even if Phoenix pulls the trigger on a deal, there are reportedly already questions about Green's fit with the Suns. He'd be playing alongside Devin Booker. Both players averaged more than 17 field-goal attempts per game last season and they each shot under 36 percent from the perimeter. However, the 23-year-old Rockets' guard is still an enticing talent who Phoenix could flip later this summer for draft picks. As for the Rockets, their hesitation would be more tied to having to move Smith in the deal. Last season, the 6-foot-11 power forward averaged a career-best .117 Win Shares per 48 Minutes and really seemed to be developing in his third full season. Related: Multiple teams eyeing trade for Rockets' young player Kevin Durant contract (Spotrac): $54.708 million cap hit in 2025-'26 Advertisement At the very least, a deal centered around Green and Smith for Durant would allow the Rockets to keep Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason and Reed Shepard. The deal would also provide the Suns with a big man to slide into the starting lineup next season. Smith is also a restricted free agent next summer, so Phoenix could match any offer he receives in NBA free agency if a deal is made. Related Headlines
