Houston Rockets - 11W in Last 12. They are legit.

[The Servant]

Really hope they get enuff wins the protection on their pick doesn't matter but also not enuff that the pick isn't great!

[RollingWave]

Are Sengun and Green both getting huge max or near max extensions this summer? If not, that becomes an interesting dynamic for next season for sure. Both are going to want to get PAID and both could possibly get near max deals or maybe even max deals on the open market the following summer.

They are set up to have space next off season potentially with all their vets except Dillon off the books potentially, if they stick to this plan they likely won’t extend Sengun as it seems extremely unlikely that he’ll take an offer around or lower than his cap hold

Jalen is more interesting because his cap hold is really high ( 36m vs a roughly 40m non rose rule rookie extension max) so this is pretty tricky especially if you don’t think he’s proven enough for a max, if you don’t want to max him and want to use space it probably make sense to trade him before next deadline, if they end up next offseason with him on roster but not max worthy it’s iffy cap management at best

Even with this current run I don’t think he’s proven enough as a max extension guy given the totality of work, at least it would be a significant gamble

I’m not the biggest cap pro so surely others know more, but I’m under the impression that the Rockets won’t extend Green and Sengun unless it’s for significant discount below the max, though this also hinges on if they want to just keep Van Fleet around after next year ( team option)

[K_chile22]

Are Sengun and Green both getting huge max or near max extensions this summer? If not, that becomes an interesting dynamic for next season for sure. Both are going to want to get PAID and both could possibly get near max deals or maybe even max deals on the open market the following summer.

They are set up to have space next off season potentially with all their vets except Dillon off the books potentially, if they stick to this plan they likely won’t extend Sengun as it seems extremely unlikely that he’ll take an offer around or lower than his cap hold

Jalen is more interesting because his cap hold is really high ( 36m vs a roughly 40m non rose rule rookie extension max) so this is pretty tricky especially if you don’t think he’s proven enough for a max, if you don’t want to max him and want to use space it probably make sense to trade him before next deadline, if they end up next offseason with him on roster but not max worthy it’s iffy cap management at best

Even with this current run I don’t think he’s proven enough as a max extension guy given the totality of work, at least it would be a significant gamble

I’m not the biggest cap pro so surely others know more, but I’m under the impression that the Rockets won’t extend Green and Sengun unless it’s for significant discount below the max, though this also hinges on if they want to just keep Van Fleet around after next year ( team option)

Yup, I don't expect any extensions. As you said Sengun's cap hold is too valuable to give up yet, he can wait a year for what will likely be a max either way. Jalen is too risky to give a big money extension to and I have an extremely hard time seeing him take something that the team would deem safe. Think both get to RFA and Sengun certainly gets a max if he even just repeats this season's performance, Jalen TBD

[K_chile22]

Think it's worth pointing out the rockets have had the net rating of a good team all year, just been blowing games they should win as young teams tend to do sometimes. They have the same net rating as the Mavs, and the expected wins for a team with that net rating is 46.4. They've been underperforming all season, don't think the record reflects how good they are

[Exp0sed]

they're doing great

idk why the Rockets fans itt seem unwilling to extend both guys, cap hold or no, Sengun will get a max this year or the next and so will Green. Amen Thompson looks like a real game changer as well, just a freak of nature tbh. yes his shot doesn't exist yet but he's a DPOY \ all defense team player basically already and will probably end up on such a team as early as next year

Udoka is a real coach

if it weren't for the bizarre home\away discrepancy they'd be a playoff team even this season and still have a shot to make it

and I didn't even mention Jabari, Eason, Whitemore etc nor did I mention FVV and Brooks who are both playing well and seem to fit

they'll be good next season, the West is ridicilously stacked makes a team like Houston seem weaker than it is

[jazzfan1971]

Glass half full or half empty?

[RollingWave]

Yup, I don't expect any extensions. As you said Sengun's cap hold is too valuable to give up yet, he can wait a year for what will likely be a max either way. Jalen is too risky to give a big money extension to and I have an extremely hard time seeing him take something that the team would deem safe. Think both get to RFA and Sengun certainly gets a max if he even just repeats this season's performance, Jalen TBD

Yes, and AFAIK the rookie extension still needs to be done by the start of next year right? unless the rockets somehow actually gets into the first round or something this year on the back of Jalen's play I would probably not give him a max extension, given the example of KPJ I don't think Stone is going to pull a Denver Nuggets and just always favor his guys on extension terms at the expense of team flexibility. (and the Nuggets have a much poorer record than Houston in attractive big fish FAs anyway so it made more sense for Tim Connelly and crew to gone that direction.)

Also it would be pretty weird to extend Jalen but not Sengun, so there's that.

Though in reality good FAs that actually make sense for their timeline actually getting to FA seems pretty unlikely these days (aka a Jason Taytum. Mitchell might switch team but he's basically the more actualized version of Jalen Green and has no obvious connection to Houston no? ), so from that perspective might as well extent the guys that are worth it so you'll have matching salaries on players people might actually want at least.

[AussieCeltic]

Only 1.5 games back of the Warriors now.

Blazers, OKC, Jazz next 3 games.

[brutalitops]

Vsing **** teams and are finally using Amen Thompson on offense in a great way, With Green also stepping up massively, yeah They are currently going to give GSW a run for the play in spot, I dont think they will make it, But some players have stepped up and its great to see, Having Green actually become the shot creator they needed and Amen being a menace and working hard off-ball in offense they can be dangerous next year

[Mr.Baller]

sorry to say that but rox have to deal Sengun this summer. Or just let him come off the bench.
He just doesnt fit with rest of the young guns

[reamily]

A lauri markanmen guy can be excellent for them

[jkvonny]

GSW sweatin balls right now.

Houston is 35-35, been heatin up lately.

FWIW, Rockets has a home game soon against GSW.

[Bloodbather]

sorry to say that but rox have to deal Sengun this summer. Or just let him come off the bench.
He just doesnt fit with rest of the young guns

Dealing your best young player and the only one who is anywhere near All-Star status to "fit" the other young players on the team seems like a great idea. "Let him come off the bench" are you for real?

[Mr.Baller]

sorry to say that but rox have to deal Sengun this summer. Or just let him come off the bench.
He just doesnt fit with rest of the young guns

Dealing your best young player and the only one who is anywhere near All-Star status to "fit" the other young players on the team seems like a great idea. "Let him come off the bench" are you for real?

1: Silas have done that last season when he started Fernando and let Sengun come off the bench.
but after a couple of good games. Fernando got injured.
2: Ime Udoka planned to do that too last summer when we tried to sign Lopez.
3: I support him but Sengun is not our best young player.

[Shock Defeat]

Warriors next three - wolves, heat, magic all on the road
Rockets next three - blazers, thunder, jazz

In 3 games the rockets could be in the play in spot

[reamily]

If houston lucky to get the no. 1 this year sengun will be off the bench..

Its just its hard to fin a big who can be defensively able but at the sametime a threat from 3..

[AussieCeltic]

Warriors lose to the Wolves and the gap is a mere 1 game.

[brutalitops]

Warriors lose to the Wolves and the gap is a mere 1 game.

Yep, both have relatively soft runs home, but they play each other once which will be huge

[Sane]

The gap is now 1 game. Warriors hold the tiebreaker so it's more like 2 games. We have a home game against them towards the end of a grueling road trip. Going to be a hell of a game because Warriors are a great road team and will be visiting Houston (25-11 at home).

[ChipotleWest]

I think the Rockets have a little bit tougher schedule.

Tough games for Rockets:
@OKC, vs. Dallas, @Minnesota, vs. Miami, @Dallas, vs. Orlando, @Clippers

Warriors
@Miami, @Orlando, vs. Dallas, @Dallas, @Lakers, vs. New Orleans

Here's Lakers (they have a 3.5 game lead)
@Milwaukee, @Indiana, vs. Cleveland, vs. Minnesota, vs. Golden State, @New Orleans