West Notes: Rockets, Amen Thompson, Mavs, Nuggets

Rockets

Second-year Rockets wing Amen Thompson may have a case to start over small forward Dillon Brooks, according to piece from Jed Katz of SI.com.

“If the Rockets start Thompson, they would get more of a Swiss Army Knife than they would with Brooks,” Katz wrote. “Thompson is slightly less of a scorer, but he is more of a playmaker and rebounder than the former Memphis Grizzly.”

• Despite rival interest in big man Alperen Sengun, the Rockets have no intention of trading him, as we relayed here.

Mavericks

Newcomers Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, and Quentin Grimes should all bring plenty of what the Mavericks lacked in the Finals, wrote Keenan Womack of SI.com. Namely, all three do a nice job in the catch-and-shoot department.

“Considering the Mavericks shot below league average from three last season anyway, these three additions make a lot of sense from an offensive standpoint,” Womack wrote. “Throw in the defensive pluses these players bring, and these roster moves, though maybe not appealing to the national media, make a ton of sense.”

Nuggets

The Nuggets could potentially trade for Hornets guard Vasilije Micic “down the road,” per Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Micic, of course, played with Nuggets star Nikola Jokic on the Serbian national team at the Paris Olympics.

“With a salary of $7.7 million this season and an $8.1million team option in 2025-26, Vasilije Micić continues to be mentioned as a potential down-the-road trade target for Denver given Micic’s close relationship with Nuggets star Nikola Jokić,” Stein wrote. “Bear in mind, though, Denver is just $5 million or so shy of the second luxury tax apron and thus couldn’t absorb Micić’s contract without dreaded second-apron complications.”

Micic is under contract in Charlotte and has a $8.1M team option for the 2025-26 season.