Rockets Notes: Eason, Thompson, Green, Sengun, VanVleet

Discussing the Rockets on the latest episode of the Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reiterated a point he made last month, stating that rival teams believe Houston is poised to make a big trade, while the Rockets themselves are letting it be known that they’re in no hurry to pull the trigger on that sort of deal.

“You look at (their young players), you look at their draft assets, you look at where they are in the standings,” Windhorst said. “… It seems like they’re primed for a trade. And believe me, teams in the league believe the same thing. But the message that I have been told, and I think I was told it to spread the word, is that Amen Thompson and Tari Eason are untouchable.”

Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported a couple weeks ago that the Rockets aren’t looking to break up their core this season even if a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo is available. Tim MacMahon of ESPN said people in Houston have conveyed a similar sentiment to him.

“I’ve just spent some time around the Rockets and I was told by more than one person – very firmly, very adamantly – they will not change the core of that team this season,” MacMahon said. “Maybe they make a fringe rotation type of deal, but they are going to play this season out with the core of that team, is what they’re saying right now.”

As ESPN’s Tim Bontemps points out, the young player who seems most likely to be the centerpiece of a significant Rockets trade offer is Jalen Green, and he would be extremely difficult to move this season due to the poison pill provision, which – as a result of his recent contract extension – creates a significant disparity between his incoming and outgoing salary for matching purposes until July. With that in mind, it makes sense that Houston would prefer to wait until at least next summer to more seriously weigh its trade options.

Windhorst notes that the Rockets’ stance on certain players could change once they begin pursuing a trade in earnest.

“It’s also a negotiating position to say (Thompson and Eason are untouchable),” he said. “Because at the end of the day they are role players.”

“This is exactly what you do when you have 19 interesting trade assets, all these draft picks and all these young guys,” Bontemps added. “You say, ‘Hey, every good thing we’ve got, we’re not sure we’re going to do anything with any of those.’ And then you start to negotiate.”

Here’s more on the Rockets:

• The Rockets are going to be “very selective” about cashing in their top trade chips, according to MacMahon, who said on the Hoop Collective podcast that the team will be seeking an “age-appropriate” star to add to its core. Noting that Houston would have had serious interest in Donovan Mitchell if he had emerged as a trade candidate instead of signing an extension with the Cavaliers, MacMahon said the Rockets know they need a “legitimate offensive engine” in order to become a real title contender.
• Houston isn’t giving up on the idea that the offensive star they need could emerge from among the players currently on the roster, per MacMahon: “They’re not ruling out that Jalen Green could become that. I think they have some evidence that it’s possible from last season. They’re not ruling out that (Alperen) Sengun can continue developing. He’s still a young guy. … They’re not ruling that Tari Eason could become that.”
• After his statement about Eason was met with skepticism by Bontemps, who questioned the third-year forward’s offensive ceiling, MacMahon further explained the Rockets’ position: “(Head coach) Ime Udoka, on the record, he was asked (last month), ‘Who does Tari Eason remind you of?’ He said, ‘A young Kawhi Leonard, who I’ve coached.’ A lot of that is just the defensive impact. Physically, he’s as close to Kawhi as you can get. The size, the hands, the athleticism, the defensive impact. … But they’re not ruling out that Eason could have a Kawhi- (or) Jimmy Butler-type of track. Now that’s pie-in-the-sky, top-end scenario. I’m just saying they’re not ruling out that possibility. … All those guys, they’re not ruling out they could emerge as the No. 1 offensive player. (But) most likely, it’s going to have to be a trade.”
• While it’s probably not realistic to expect offensive stardom from Thompson, who has made just 14 career three-point shots, the Rockets remain very high on his upside due to his defense and athleticism. “We’ll see what Thompson becomes as a scorer, but they think he has to be a chance to be a hyper-athletic wing version of a Draymond Green, where you’re just wrecking things defensively,” MacMahon said.
• In a story for The Athletic, Iko explores how Fred VanVleet‘s experiences during his final years in Toronto helped prepare him to take a step back this season in order to accelerate the development of the Rockets’ young players. VanVleet’s usage rate so far in 2024/25 is 19.6%, which would be his lowest mark since 2018/19.