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Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
ESPN's Windhorst: Rockets ‘definitely still in race' for Kevin Durant trade
The Miami Heat and Houston Rockets appear to be the only two NBA teams who are both on Kevin Durant's list of desired destinations and actively engaged with the Phoenix Suns to get such a deal done. And between those two, longtime league insider Brian Windhorst thinks it's Houston that could be the most compelling basketball fit. While the terms of a potential deal remain unknown, financial analysis from Rockets Wire suggests a package headlined by Jalen Green or a combination of Dillon Brooks and either Jabari Smith Jr. or Reed Sheppard as the most likely starting point. Advertisement Draft equity and further matching salaries would likely be a component, as well. Phoenix is reportedly underwhelmed by the current offer, though negotiations are ongoing. In a Wednesday appearance on ESPN's Get Up, Windhorst offered this update: I think he's got Miami on there because he's attracted by the city and Pat Riley. It's certainly not the team. So, let's put them aside. Let's look at Houston and San Antonio. He would be the No. 1 offensive option on those two teams. I don't know about best player, and I don't know if that's what he's looking for at age 37. But he certainly would join those two teams and make them way more dynamic offensively. Particularly Houston, who is an elite defensive team that had difficulty getting isolation and individual scoring. He certainly believes, by looking at those two teams, that he can be a very high-level member of a contending team. So, I'm going to listen to what he says there. That's why I think Houston especially has got their eyebrow up. I'm not sure they're willing to pay a massive price for a 37-year-old when most of the rest of their team is in its early-to-mid 20s, but I think Houston should definitely be considered still in this race. Especially if Minnesota doesn't close. Potential trade suitors not on that preferred-destination list (such as the Timberwolves, who Windhorst identified) are reportedly not bidding aggressively without a change in the All-Star forward's stance. Since Durant's current contract expires after next season, his choice to sign (or not sign) an extension carries significant weight in these talks, since many teams won't risk surrendering significant asset capital if they might lose him as an unrestricted free agent a year later. Advertisement With that in mind, it appears that could make the Rockets and Heat frontrunners for Durant's services, assuming the Suns remain committed to trading him. A deal is reportedly possible at any time. To Windhorst's point, Houston finished 52-30 and No. 2 in the Western Conference last season, while Miami went 37-45 in the East. Thus, from a purely short-term basketball perspective, the Rockets would seemingly give Durant a better opportunity to compete at the highest level over whatever remains of his prime NBA years. More: Report: Rockets have 'firm offer' to trade for Kevin Durant, but Suns are underwhelmed This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: ESPN's Windhorst: Rockets 'definitely still in race' for Kevin Durant
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
‘Whatever it takes': Veteran Fred VanVleet steps up as Rockets face playoff pressure
Brian Barefield Rockets Wire, Big Sarge Media Throughout the first two games of this first-round series against the Golden State Warriors, veteran guard Fred VanVleet struggled to find an offensive rhythm with the Rockets. While trying to help his young teammates, who were experiencing the NBA playoffs for the first time, Houston's floor general scored a combined 17 points in Game 1 and Game 2 while shooting just 23% from the field and 14.9% on 3-pointers. Knowing that things were not going his way as a scorer, VanVleet took it upon himself to be more aggressive over the next three games. From Game 3 through Game 5 of this best-of-seven series, VanVleet averaged 22.6 points per game while shooting 52.9% overall and 55.5% on 3-pointers. That mindset helped his team stay afloat. Now trailing 3-2 in the series, VanVleet and the Rockets will try and stave off elimination for a second time in Friday night's Game 6 at San Francisco's Chase Center. 'Coming out extra aggressive,' head coach Ime Udoka said of VanVleet after Houston's decisive Game 5 victory. 'The offense is icing on the cake and an added bonus. He is doing it all, facilitating, scoring, and guarding extremely well.' Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle Although the Rockets are only 1-2 in their last three games, VanVleet's improved performance has helped keep Houston competitive amid ongoing struggles from backcourt mate Jalen Green. VanVleet, a member of the 2018-19 Toronto Raptors team that defeated the Warriors in the NBA Finals, likely needs to continue his hot shooting to force a Game 7 back at Houston's Toyota Center. His head coach knows he has the capability of doing that. 'He takes whatever the game gives him,' Udoka said. 'They're keyed in on Jalen a lot, and he gets freed up a little bit there and creates those advantages for himself. But, he also makes the right reads, like he usually does.' 'He's not the type to force it. Obviously, he wasn't shooting it the best in the first few games, but he has had the same great looks and has been knocking them down. Whatever it takes, he's not a stat guy, he's a winning guy.' After Monday's last-second Game 4 loss at Golden State, VanVleet had one message for his young teammates as they headed back to Houston, facing potential elimination. It's a message he probably has repeated more than once since Game 5. 'Just got to get one,' VanVleet said. 'One game at a time. Anything is possible.'
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Four straight losses: In epic collapse, Rockets fall to lowly Nets again
In a stunning collapse during the final seconds, the Rockets lost their fourth straight game in Tuesday's 99-97 defeat (box score) at Brooklyn. The rebuilding Nets (17-33) have now beaten Houston (32-18) twice in four days. Houston led by four with under 10 seconds to play before the Nets had a pair of 3-pointers from Keon Johnson and D'Angelo Russell sandwiched around an inexplicable inbounds turnover by Amen Thompson. Jalen Green then missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that could have salvaged things. Alperen Sengun returned from a calf contusion to lead the Rockets with 24 points, 20 rebounds, and 4 assists, but none of Houston's double figure scorers shot above 45% from the field. Johnson led the Nets with 22 points, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range (50.0%). Brooklyn hadn't played since its previous game in Houston on Saturday, while the Rockets played Monday at New York — and that scheduling gap may have contributed to the Nets having some fresher legs. Even so, it's of no consolation to a Houston side that entered with 16 fewer losses and yet has somehow lost twice to lowly Brooklyn in a span of four dreadful days. The Rockets remain at No. 3 in the Western Conference standings, while the rebuilding Nets are No. 12 in the East. Ime Udoka: "More of the same. Lack of physicality, toughness. All those things. We didn't really deserve to win the game. Basketball Gods got us at the end." — ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 5, 2025 This is the collapse. Rockets had the game in the books. Brooklyn hit two unbelievable threes in a six-second span in the final seconds to pull off a miracle. — ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 5, 2025 Thompson threw the pass before Tony Brothers had even gotten to three. He could've run the baseline. He panicked. Again, an inexperienced player making an inexperienced play — Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 5, 2025 One of the worst losses in the Ime era. Absolutely horrendous late game execution. — Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) February 5, 2025 The collapse at the very end will overshadow this possession, but what in the world was Reed Sheppard doing taking this shot? And then Jalen Green did the same thing. — ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 5, 2025 The Rockets are now halfway through this week's four-game road trip, with the final two games looming Thursday in Minnesota and Saturday in Dallas. Thursday's tipoff versus the Timberwolves (27-23) is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Central from Target Center. The Rockets and Timberwolves are 1-1 against each other this season, with Houston staging a late comeback to win at Minnesota in late November and the Timberwolves returning the favor in Houston about a month later. More: 'Houston is coming': ESPN's Stephen A. Smith hails Ime Udoka, 'future star' Amen Thompson This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Four in a row: In epic collapse, Rockets fall to lowly Nets again
