Hoops Rumors is checking in on the 2024 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, recapping the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll take a look at each team’s offseason moves and consider what might still be coming before the regular season begins. Today, we’re focusing on the Houston Rockets.
Free agent signings
Aaron Holiday: Two years, $9,569,400. Second-year team option. Re-signed using bi-annual exception. Waived right to veto trade.- Nate Hinton: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed (Exhibit 10). Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
- Jermaine Samuels: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed (Exhibit 10). Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
Trades
- Acquired the Suns’ 2027 first-round pick, either the Mavericks’ or the Suns’ 2029 first-round pick (whichever is more favorable), swap rights for the Suns’ 2025 first-round pick, and swap rights for either the Mavericks’ or Suns’ 2029 first-round pick (whichever is least favorable) from the Nets in exchange for the Nets’ own 2026 first-round pick and control of the Nets’ own 2025 first-round pick (negating the Rockets’ right to swap either their own 2025 first-rounder or the Thunder’s 2025 first-rounder for Brooklyn’s pick).
- Acquired AJ Griffin from the Hawks in a three-team trade in exchange for the draft rights to Pelle Larsson (No. 44 pick; to Heat).
Draft picks
- 1-3: Reed Sheppard
- Signed to rookie scale contract (four years, $45,853,024).
Two-way signings
Departed/unsigned free agents
- Reggie Bullock (unsigned)
- Boban Marjanovic (unsigned)
Other moves
- Exercised Jeff Green‘s 2024/25 team option ($8,000,000).
- Exercised Jae’Sean Tate‘s 2024/25 team option ($7,565,217).
Salary cap situation
- Operating over the cap ($140.6MM) and below the luxury tax line ($170.8MM).
- Carrying approximately $163.9MM in salary.
- Hard-capped at $178,132,000.
- Full mid-level exception ($12.8MM) available.
- One traded player exception available (worth $797,080).
The offseason so far
After making a major splash on the free agent market a year ago by signing several Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and a handful of other veterans, the Rockets had a much quieter summer in 2024.
Houston’s only real move of note in free agency was to bring back reserve point guard Aaron Holiday on a two-year contract that isn’t guaranteed beyond 2024/25. Holiday was solid in a rotation role last season, but he’s unlikely to play more than 15-18 minutes per game.
The team also made a minor move on the trade market by acquiring AJ Griffin from Atlanta in exchange for the No. 44 overall pick in this year’s draft. A 2022 first-round pick, Griffin had a promising rookie season, with 8.9 PPG and a .390 3PT%, then missed significant time in 2023/24 due to leg and ankle injuries, as well as personal issues. He wasn’t effective even when he did play, but Houston is betting on a bounce-back season for a player who will remain on his affordable rookie scale contract for two more seasons.
While the Rockets didn’t control their own first-round pick in 2024, one of the first-rounders they acquired from Brooklyn in the James Harden blockbuster paid off in a major way, moving up to No. 3 on lottery night. Houston used that selection to draft Reed Sheppard, who posted a .521 3PT% in his lone college season at Kentucky. Having added Griffin and Sheppard, it’s clear the Rockets made it an offseason priority to improve a three-point percentage (35.2%) that ranked 23rd in the NBA last season.
The rest of the Rockets’ moves are arguably more noteworthy for what they mean going forward than the impact they’ll have in the short term.
Houston picked up its team options on Jeff Green ($8MM) and Jae’Sean Tate ($7.6MM) while guaranteeing Jock Landale‘s $8MM salary for 2024/25, giving the team nearly $24MM in expendable expiring contracts that could come in handy at this season’s trade deadline. Green, Tate, and Landale figure to see some action during the regular season, but none are locks to spend all year in the rotation, especially if the club’s young players continue to improve — they may be more valuable as trade chips.
The Rockets also gave up control of the Nets’ first-round picks in 2025 (they had swap rights) and 2026 (they would’ve acquired Brooklyn’s pick outright) in exchange for two future first-rounders and two future swaps. Three of those four are Suns picks. It’s an interesting play for Houston, which is pushing its trade assets further into the future and betting against Phoenix’s longevity as a contending team, as most of those picks and swaps are for either 2027 or 2029.
Up next
With plenty of expiring money on their books, a surplus of future draft assets, and a handful of talented young players on their roster, the Rockets are well positioned to make a bid for a star if one becomes available on the trade market.
Between now and the start of the regular season, however, the more pressing issue is whether to extend Alperen Sengun and/or Jalen Green. Both players are eligible for rookie scale extensions until October 21.
Sengun enjoyed a breakout year in 2023/24, finishing third in Most Improved Player voting after averaging 21.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 5.0 APG. Green’s scoring average declined, but he continued to show flashes of stardom, including one 20-game stretch from February to April in which he put up 26.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 4.3 APG on .465/.381/.822 shooting.
Still, Green remains an inconsistent overall shooter and defender; Sengun, who was injured to finish the season, isn’t really a rim protector in the middle; and the Rockets had a higher net rating when each player was off the court than when he was on it. That’s not to say that Sengun and Green don’t deserve extensions, but neither case is a no-brainer for Houston, especially if those 2021 first-rounders are seeking maximum salaries or something close to it.
It’s also unclear whether the Rockets want to maintain the flexibility to potentially clear maximum-salary cap room in 2025. If so, it would certainly make sense to hold off on an extension for Sengun, at least. His cap hold as a restricted free agent would be just $16.3MM, far below his projected first-year salary on a new deal. Green’s cap hold would come in just above $31MM, so postponing an extension for him would only create additional cap flexibility if Houston expects to pay him more than that in 2025/26.
What do Rockets need now?
Rockets need to consolidate young players into a ready to contribute and multi-skilled players
Rockers should not target expiring contracts like Butler and Ingram
In February Rockets target Zion and Mitchell
In June 26, Rockets target Devin Booker
Usually your comments are as Silli as your name. But I gotta give it to you, you’re not crazy this time. I think they will target any of the top 25 guys under 30 that come available, they’ll throw everything at them, or a fringe high upside “ready to go” star hoping to find the next Harden. But based on the regional chatter, I think they’re hoping suns blow up and then they can go for Booker.
Looks like asset grab for a big move. It’s a bloated roster of high ceiling young talent, talented role players and a good stash of picks, but no clear superstar. (I may stand corrected if Sengun keeps improving or Green finally becomes consistent)….. however, we can’t sleep on Reed. That’s kid looks like a star in the making with leadership written all over him.
Curious how all these players see time.
awe have Green, Sengun, Jabari, Brooks and Fred starting line up.
How do you play Tari, Amen, Whitmore, Reed, Holiday, Griffin.
Tate, Green and Landale do they play. Green did play last season, Landale came on late with Sengun struggling then hurt. Do they use their money this summer or what. I know talking deadline. But who knows. If no extensions for Green and Sengun I am sure still on contract for this season. But if Green starts as bad could someone else take his spot. But looking forward to what kind of season the Rockets have
I think you’ll see the same starting lineup to begin the year, with Tari, Amen, Adams, and Cam seeing good minutes off the bench. I also think Reed will see more and more minutes as the season goes on. Jeff Green probably still has a role too, but less than last season. Next year they can opt out of FVV’s contract and have a ton of expiring/team option deals they can use to free up cap space or salary match. Based on how the rockets have operated and what their front office continues to say, I only see them giving up assets for an all-star player who is still in their prime. If one isn’t available, then they’ll keep building around their own young talent.
All fifteen players on the roster deserve minutes. Good luck with that.