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Category: Rockets

Latest Houston Rockets Rumors and News.

  • Rockets’ Dillon Brooks Fined $25,000 by NBA

    Rockets’ Dillon Brooks Fined $25,000 by NBA

    Rockets small forward Dillon Brooks was fined $25,000 for his actions in a preseason game against the Pacers, for what the league called “recklessly making contact with Indiana center Daniel Theis in the groin area.”Dillon Brooks

    Brooks was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected for the incident, which occurred with 7:27 remaining in the first quarter.

    Brooks implied he may have a target on his back by the officials, given his history of confrontation while with the Grizzlies.

    “What is the name,” Brooks said. “What’s my name? My name is ‘Dillon the Villain,’ so I guess.”

    Brooks and Theis were involved in a brief skirmish before Brooks’ ejection.

    “On the previous play, Theis may have flopped, in his [Brooks] opinion,” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka told reporters. “So, he does something on the next play. You can’t let that carry over. The same guy baited him twice.”

    “You have to learn to control your emotions and stay in the game, you can’t get yourself taken out in the first quarter. We love his aggressiveness and physicality, but reputations carry in the NBA, and people will look for certain things, and you have to learn to monitor that better.”

  • West Notes: Warriors, Klay Thompson, Rockets, Dillon Brooks, Clippers

    West Notes: Warriors, Klay Thompson, Rockets, Dillon Brooks, Clippers

    Warriors

    Shooting guard Klay Thompson stands a chance to become a free agent at the end of the season, but strongly suggested he doesn’t intend to play for anyone but the Warriors.

    “It’s not going to be a thing,” Thompson told Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “The fact that I’m going into my 13th season — that alone — it gives me such peace of mind. Granted, I’ve made money, I’ve been able to take care of my family, myself, the people I love. But when I started playing this game, I never once thought I’m playing the game because I’m going to be rich and famous. Never did.

    “I played this game because my dad played. I idolized him. My favorite athletes were hoopers. (Kobe Bryant). Clyde Drexler and Rasheed Wallace, guys I was able to watch growing up. Reggie Miller. I just wanted to do something I loved for a living. It happened to be basketball. The fact I’m doing it for a 13th straight season is amazing.

    “I don’t need to go into this year and … I know if I just do my job and I’m in shape and I compete at my highest level, I’m going to make money in this league for a long time. So I don’t worry about it. I’m blessed beyond measure. Obviously you want to make the most in the window you have as an athlete. But I’m not going to let that get in the way of winning a championship. When you win, everything else will be taken care of.”

    Rockets

    Small forward Dillon Brooks told reporters he wasn’t all that surprised by his ejection in Tuesday’s preseason win over the Pacers.

    Brooks implied he may have a target on his back by the officials, given his history of confrontation while with the Grizzlies.

    “What is the name,” Brooks said. “What’s my name? My name is ‘Dillon the Villain,’ so I guess.”

    Brooks was ejected just five minutes into the game after what the refs believed was a vicious hit below the belt of Pacers center Daniel Theis. That followed a brief skirmish between the two moments earlier.

    “On the previous play, Theis may have flopped, in his [Brooks] opinion,” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka told reporters. “So, he does something on the next play. You can’t let that carry over. The same guy baited him twice.”

    “You have to learn to control your emotions and stay in the game, you can’t get yourself taken out in the first quarter,. We love his aggressiveness and physicality, but reputations carry in the NBA, and people will look for certain things, and you have to learn to monitor that better.”

    Clippers

    Coach Tyronn Lue said while the Clippers were bitten by the injury bug last season, it’s not necessarily an excuse to not get where they had hoped to go.

    “When you end the season on — I know we had injuries and everything — but when you end the season and you don’t accomplish your goal of winning a championship, making it to the NBA Finals, you have a lot of time to sit back and reflect on things you could have done better,” Lue said, via Law Murray of The Athletic.

    Forward Kawhi Leonard, of course, missed all of 2021-22 with an ACL injury, then returned to play in 52 games last season. He also made no excuses for the Clippers’ first-round playoff exit vs. the Suns.

    “Last year, I think everybody was a little excited just by me coming back,” he said. “I didn’t feel like we really — we skipped some steps, I would say. That’s on all of us in here: the front office, me included, and the coaching staff.”

    • The Clippers continued to be mentioned as the strongest suitor for 76ers guard James Harden, who demanded a trade in June. But no progress has been made in those talks lately, reports and hoops Wire sources suggest.
  • Rockets Announce Signing of Reggie Bullock

    Rockets Announce Signing of Reggie Bullock

    The Rockets have officially signed agent forward Reggie Bullock, the team announced in a press release.Reggie Bullock

    Bullock, 32, is 6-foot-7 and was waived by the Spurs on Oct. 1. He was acquired by San Antonio in a July trade with the Mavericks.

    Last season with Dallas, Bullock appeared in 78 games and averaged 7.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and shot 38 percent on 3-pointers.

    The Rockets are seeking another rotation player, given that guard Kevin Porter Jr. has experienced a domestic violence issue and is not expected to return.

    Bullock’s deal is likely a one-year contract and for the veteran’s minimum.

  • Rockets to Sign Reggie Bullock

    Rockets to Sign Reggie Bullock

    The Rockets intend to sign free agent forward Reggie Bullock, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.Reggie Bullock

    Bullock, 32, is 6-foot-7 and was waived by the Spurs on Oct. 1. He was acquired by San Antonio in a July trade with the Mavericks.

    Last season with Dallas, Bullock appeared in 78 games and averaged 7.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and shot 38 percent on 3-pointers.

    The Rockets are seeking another rotation player, given that guard Kevin Porter Jr. has experienced a domestic violence issue and is not expected to return.

    Bullock’s deal is likely a one-year contract and for the veteran’s minimum.

  • Heat, Timberwolves Among Those With Interest in Lamar Stevens

    Heat, Timberwolves Among Those With Interest in Lamar Stevens

    The Heat, Timberwolves, Celtics and Rockets are among those showing interest in former Cavaliers forward Lamar Stevens, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.Lamar Stevens

    Stevens, 26, is 6-foot-6 and spent each of his first three seasons with the Cavaliers, before being traded to the Spurs this summer. The Spurs waived him shortly after the trade. He has remained an unrestricted free agent since.

    A hustling, physical player, Stevens appeared in 62 games last season, averaging 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds. He also served as a reliable perimeter defender and a guy who made plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet.

    Originally undrafted out of Penn State, he had his two-way contract converted to a standard deal in April 2021. 

    This is the second report of the Celtics’ interest, as Shams Charania of The Athletic reported back last month that Stevens had worked out for Boston.

  • Rockets Looking to Unload Kevin Porter Jr. Via Trade

    Rockets Looking to Unload Kevin Porter Jr. Via Trade

    The Rockets are looking to trade guard Kevin Porter Jr. following his arrest for assault over the weekend, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

    While odds are long that Houston will be able to pull off a deal until the case is resolved, the front office apparently is determined to at least try.

    Per Charania, the Rockets have are “keeping all options open” and have contacted multiple teams about a Porter trade and are offering draft picks as incentive. Others, however, are likely extremely hesitant to make such a deal, given the “optics” of acquiring Porter, Charania added.

    That said, some teams may be willing to take on Porter’s $15.9 million salary for the purpose of immediately waiving him and shedding salary.

    Given the accusations, Porter’s NBA career could be over, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

    “There’s no question, Kevin Porter‘s future, not just with the Rockets, but in the NBA, is very much in peril,” Wojnarowski said during an appearance on the NBA on ESPN. “These are extremely serious allegations.”

    Porter was arrested over the weekend on charges of assault and strangulation following a 911 call from a New York hotel that took place just before 7 a.m. locally.

    “Upon arrival officers were informed that a 26-year-old female sustained a laceration to the right side of her face and was complaining about pain to her neck,” a New York Police Department spokesperson said. “A preliminary investigation on scene determined that a known individual struck her multiple times upon her body and placed his hands around her neck.”

    The woman was reportedly taken to an area hospital for evaluation.

    Per Aaron Katersky of ABC 7 New York, Porter arrived at a Times Square hotel in the early hours of a night out on the town. His girlfriend, reportedly a WNBA player, wouldn’t let him into the room — but Porter was able to enter with the help of security. Police sources told Katersky the assault occurred shortly after Porter gained entrance.

    This is not Porter’s first run-in with the law, as he was arrested following a traffic incident while a member of the Cavaliers back in 2020. The Cavs traded him to the Rockets after he allegedly yelled at GM/president of basketball operations Koby Altman during a locker room incident.

    Porter, 23, appeared in 59 games last season with Houston, averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds.

     

  • Kevin Porter Jr.’s NBA Career Could Be Over

    Kevin Porter Jr.’s NBA Career Could Be Over

    Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. was arrested over the weekend in connection with a domestic dispute involving his girlfriend, and per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, it may bring an end to Porter’s NBA career.Kevin Porter Jr

    “There’s no question, Kevin Porter‘s future, not just with the Rockets, but in the NBA, is very much in peril,” Wojnarowski said during an appearance on the NBA on ESPN. “These are extremely serious allegations.”

    Porter was arrested over the weekend on charges of assault and strangulation following a 911 call from a New York hotel that took place just before 7 a.m. locally.

    “Upon arrival officers were informed that a 26-year-old female sustained a laceration to the right side of her face and was complaining about pain to her neck,” a New York Police Department spokesperson said. “A preliminary investigation on scene determined that a known individual struck her multiple times upon her body and placed his hands around her neck.”

    The woman was reportedly taken to an area hospital for evaluation.

    Per Aaron Katersky of ABC 7 New York, Porter arrived at a Times Square hotel in the early hours of a night out on the town. His girlfriend, reportedly a WNBA player, wouldn’t let him into the room — but Porter was able to enter with the help of security. Police sources told Katersky the assault occurred shortly after Porter gained entrance.

    This is not Porter’s first run-in with the law, as he was arrested following a traffic incident while a member of the Cavaliers back in 2020. The Cavs traded him to the Rockets after he allegedly yelled at GM/president of basketball operations Koby Altman during a locker room incident.

    Porter, 23, appeared in 59 games last season with Houston, averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds.

  • Rockets’ Kevin Porter Jr Arrested in NYC for Assault, Strangulation

    Rockets’ Kevin Porter Jr Arrested in NYC for Assault, Strangulation

    Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. was arrested over the weekend in New York on charges of assault and strangulation, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.Kevin Porter Jr

    Police arrested Porter, believed to be without incident, following a 911 call from a New York hotel that took place just before 7 a.m. locally.

    “Upon arrival officers were informed that a 26-year-old female sustained a laceration to the right side of her face and was complaining about pain to her neck,” a New York Police Department spokesperson said, via Feigen. “A preliminary investigation on scene determined that a known individual struck her multiple times upon her body and placed his hands around her neck.”

    The woman was reportedly taken to an area hospital for evaluation.

    Per Aaron Katersky of ABC 7 New York, Porter arrived at a Times Square hotel in the early hours of a night out on the town. His girlfriend, reportedly a WNBA player, wouldn’t let him into the room — but Porter was able to enter with help of security. Police sources told Katersky the assault occurred shortly after Porter gained entrance.

    He now reportedly is in custody at the NYPD’s 17th precinct.

    This is not Porter’s first run-in with the law, as he was arrested following a traffic incident while a member of the Cavaliers back in 2020.The Cavs traded him to the Rockets after he allegedly yelled at GM/president of basketball operations Koby Altman during a locker room incident.

    Until the most recent report, Porter had remained trouble-free. Rockets GM Rafael Stone declined to comment on Porter’s arrest, per Feigen.

    Porter, 23, averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds in 59 games last season. 

    Hoops Wire will have more on this news as the story develops.

  • Boban Marjanovic Headed Back to Rockets

    Boban Marjanovic Headed Back to Rockets

    The Rockets are re-signing center and fan favorite Boban Marjanovic to a one-year contract, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.Boban Marjanovic

    Marjanovic is 7-foot-4 and appeared in 33 games with Houston last season, averaging 3.3 points and 1.9 rebounds. He is now entering his ninth season.

    He was waived in February at the trade deadline, before re-signing with the Rockets shortly thereafter. Until now, he had been an unrestricted free agent all summer.

    Marjanovic’s height and experience will give the Rockets extra depth in the middle behind the likes of Alperen Sengun and Jock Landale.

  • Rockets, Jermaine Samuels Agree to Two-Way Deal

    Rockets, Jermaine Samuels Agree to Two-Way Deal

    The Rockets intend to sign Jermaine Samuels to a two-way contract, per Shams Charania and Kelly Iko of The Athletic.Jermaine Samuels

    Samuels, 24, is 6-foot-7 and went undrafted out of Villanova in 2022. He spent last season with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the G League, then signed on with Houston’s team in the NBA Summer League.

    With Fort Wayne, he averaged  18.3 points and 9.2 rebounds, shooting a sizzling 67 percent from the field in 32 games as a rookie. He averaged 11.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in six appearances with the Rockets’ summer team.

    This is the first season in which teams are allowed to carry three two-way players, and Samuels will be the Rockets’ third — joining point guard Trevor Hudgins and forward Darius Days.

    It’s been a busy week in Houston, with multiple signings that you can read all about on our Rockets page right here.

  • Rockets to Sign Nate Hinton, Matthew Mayer to Camp Deals

    Rockets to Sign Nate Hinton, Matthew Mayer to Camp Deals

    The Rockets intend to sign guard/forwards Nate Hinton and Matthew Mayer to training camp contracts, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.Nate Hinton

    This has been a busy week for the Rockets when it comes to filling out their 21-man camp roster — as they reportedly also have signed German wing Joshua Obiesie (full post) and shooting guard Jeenathan Williams (full post) to camp deals, and forward Jermaine Samuels to a two-way contract.

    Hinton, 24, is 6-foot-5 and has appeared in 23 games since entering the NBA in 2020, most of which came with the Mavericks as a rookie. He played two of those games for the Pacers.

    He spent last season with the Cleveland Charge of the G League, averaging 12.0 points and 6.3 rebounds in 27 games.

    Mayer is 6-9 and went undrafted out of Illinois after spending his first four college seasons at Baylor. Like Hinton, Mayer looked good playing for the Rockets last month in the NBA Summer League.

    As an aside, Feigen noted that Obiesie will not be in camp, but the Rockets will control his G League rights. With the exception of Samuels, the same is expected to be true of most of the players signed to camp deals.

  • Rockets Signing Jeenathan Williams to Camp Contract

    Rockets Signing Jeenathan Williams to Camp Contract

    The Rockets are signing shooting guard Jeenathan Williams to an Exhibit 10 training camp contract, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.Jeenathan Williams

    Williams, 24, is 6-foot-5 and was waived by the Trail Blazers last week, before his $1.7 million salary was to become guaranteed.

    The Williams agreement was the second such camp deal reportedly reached by the Rockets on Tuesday. As we relayed here, they also intend to sign German guard/forward Joshua Obiesie.

    Williams has spent most of his pro career with the Salt Lake City Stars of the G League. In 32 games, he averaged 14.4 points and 4.5 rebounds, earning a call-up to the Blazers on April 1.

    Exhibit 10 deals count toward a team’s training camp roster of 20, but not toward the regular season roster unless the player is signed to a standard contract.

    Houston now has 17 players under contract.

     

  • Rockets to Sign German Wing Joshua Obiesie

    Rockets to Sign German Wing Joshua Obiesie

    The Rockets are signing small forward Joshua Obiesie to an Exhibit 10 training camp contract, per Keith Smith of Spotrac.Josh Obiesie

    Obiesie, 23, is a native of Germany and went undrafted when first eligible in 2019. He spent the past season with German club Skyliners Frankfurt after a year with Bayern Munich.

    He also was a member of the German national team for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, though never appeared in a game. He averaged 12.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists with Frankfurt last season.

    An Exhibit 10 contract counts toward the camp roster of 20, but not toward the regular-season roster unless the player is signed to a standard deal.

    So at the very least, Obiesie should get an opportunity with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets’ affiliate in the G League.

  • Patty Mills Officially Traded From Nets to Rockets, Headed to Thunder

    Patty Mills Officially Traded From Nets to Rockets, Headed to Thunder

    The Nets and Rockets have officially announced the trade that will send Brooklyn guard Patty Mills to Houston.Patty Mills

    But Mills won’t be with the Rockets for long — or at all, actually. Instead, he is headed to the Thunder, as relayed first by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

    Along with Mills, the Thunder will receive draft picks to take on Mills’ $6.8 million expiring contract, Wojnarowski added.

    The Rockets will receive the Bucks’ 2028 second-rounder and trade a future second-rounder to the Nets as part of the deal.

    Mills, 34, has long been one of the league’s most-reliable players off the bench. He averaged 6.1 points on 41 percent shooting in 40 games last season. That included 37 percent on 3-pointers.

    “Patty was an exemplary representative of the Nets during his two years in Brooklyn, both for his contributions on the court and his impact in the community,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement. “We thank Patty for all he has brought to our organization and wish him and Alyssa nothing but the best in their next chapter.”

    Mills has also spent time with the Trail Blazers and Spurs.