Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets and No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green agreed to the terms of his rookie contract, according to the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen.

The rookie pay scale for the second overall pick starts at $7.5 million in the first year, $7.9 million in the second year and $8.2 million for the third-year option. The team then has the opportunity to exercise a fourth-year option on the player's contract at a 26.2 percent increase of his third-year salary.

The collective bargaining agreement allows teams to offer up to 120 percent of the allotted amount. Feigen reported Green will collect $9 million in his first year, the maximum allowable.

Green earned $500,000 last season playing with the NBA G League Ignite team. The first player to sign with the Ignite, Green will now have an opportunity to show how effective the developmental team is at preparing prospects for the NBA.

The Fresno, California, native averaged 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in 15 regular-season contests last year. He posted 30 points in a playoff game with seven assists and five boards.

Houston continues to rebuild after moving on from the likes of James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Green now becomes central to that effort alongside Christian Wood and Jae'Sean Tate. As the Rockets continue Green's development, he's already signed his second professional contract in as many years.

Daniel Theis and the Houston Rockets agreed to a four-year, $36 million contract Monday.

Theis' agents, Michael Tellem and Aaron Mintz of CAA Basketball, told the news to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The 29-year-old played for the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls during the 2020-21 season. He averaged 9.6 points on 54.1 percent shooting and 5.5 rebounds per game for the C's and Bulls, who acquired the 6'8", 245-pound big man via trade on March 25.

Theis played for the Celtics from 2017 to 2021, starting for the team during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns. He posted 9.2 points and 6.6 boards for the 2019-20 team, which reached the Eastern Conference Finals.

The C's did not fare as well in 2020-21, going 36-36 and losing in the first round of the playoffs. Amid its midseason struggles, Boston shook up its rotation, and that included dealing the German player in a three-team trade that also included the Washington Wizards.

Theis started 14 of his 23 games with the Bulls, averaging 25 minutes per game. But he'll be moving on to his third NBA home in Houston, which should benefit from the big man's skill set.

The Rockets are amid a massive rebuild following the sudden end to the James Harden era after the team honored the 2017-18 NBA MVP's trade request and sent him to the Brooklyn Nets.

General manager Rafael Stone and head coach Stephen Silas are looking to turn around a team that went an NBA-worst 17-55 last year. They have some intriguing young pieces in place thanks to Kevin Porter Jr., Christian Wood and No. 2 overall draft pick Jalen Green, among others.

Theis isn't a young player, but his addition fills a gap in the frontcourt alongside Wood, as Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com noted when he reported on the Rockets' apparent interest on July 27: "Sources say keep an eye on Daniel Theis to Houston this offseason. That signing could help fill a frontcourt void."

Theis should start at center with Wood moving to power forward.

Avery Bradley will be a free agent for the second straight season after the Houston Rockets declined his 2021-22 option.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Rockets have decided not to pick up the $6 million on Bradley's contract for next season. Bradley will become an unrestricted free agent, as Charania noted the two sides have decided to go their separate ways.

Bradley originally signed a two-year, $11.55 million contract with the Miami Heat in November. He won an NBA title in 2019-20 as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, though the 30-year-old didn't take part in the season restart after opting out because of family concerns related to COVID-19.

Injuries played a significant role in Bradley's performance last season. He only appeared in 10 games with the Heat due in part to a knee injury and calf strain.

Miami traded Bradley to the Rockets on March 25 as part of a package for Victor Oladipo. The 2015-16 All-Defensive First Team player appeared in 17 games after the deal, averaging 5.2 points on 31.4 percent shooting and 1.9 assists per contest.

Even though those numbers aren't an encouraging sign for the future, they are also out of line with what Bradley has done throughout his career. He is a 36.3 percent shooter from three-point range.

The Rockets aren't in a position where they are trying to win right now, so guaranteeing Bradley's salary for next season didn't seem to make a lot of sense.

It also works out well for Bradley, who is at a point in his career where he would likely want to play for a postseason contender. He gets to hit unrestricted free agency and negotiate with any team that suits what he's looking for.

The Houston Rockets signed free agent Matthew Hurt to a two-way contract on Friday after the former Duke star went undrafted on Thursday night, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. 

All-ACC forward Matthew Hurt has agreed to a two-way deal with the Houston Rockets, sources tell ESPN. Hurt was the conference’s leading scorer at Duke this season.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 31, 2021

The 21-year-old power forward will get an opportunity to develop into an NBA product alongside a rebuilding Rockets team featuring Christian Wood and Danuel House in the front court. 

Here's a look at how the roster looks with Hurt's addition. 

      

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Matthew Hurt

Position: PF

Height: 6'9"

Pro Comparison: T.J. Leaf

Scouting Report: Though Hurt lacks quickness and strength, he's a terrific shot-maker and shooter with a release point that's difficult to contest.

     

Rockets Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

John Wall, PG: $42.8M (2023)

Eric Gordon, SG: $18.9M (2024)

Christian Wood, PF: $13.7M (2023)

Jalen Green, SG: $7.5M (projected first-year salary, per RealGM)

D.J. Augustin, PG: $7M (2023)

Avery Bradley, PG: $5.9M (Team option)

Danuel House, SF: $3.7M (2022)

Alperen Sengun, C: $2.7M (projected first-year sa)

Usman Garuba, PF/C: 

Kevin Porter Jr., SG: $1.6M (2023)

Jae'Sean Tate, SF: $1.5M (2023)

Kenyon Martin Jr., SF: $1.4M (2024)

Khyri Thomas, SG: $1.3M (2024)

Matthew Hurt, PF:       

    

Free Agents

Kelly Olynyk, PF: UFA

Dante Exum, PG: UFA

DJ Wilson, PF: RFA

Sterling Brown, SG: UFA

David Nwaba, SG: UFA

Cam Reynolds, F: RFA

Cameron Oliver, PF: RFA

Anthony Lamb, SF: RFA

Armoni Brooks, SG: RFA

     

Hurt had a nondescript freshman season upon joining the Blue Devils in 2019. But, with Vernon Carey Jr., Tre Jones and Cassius Stanley moving on to the NBA, the Minnesota native had to pick up more of the slack offensively and became the team's leading scorer in 2020-21.

Duke as a whole had a year to forget as it finished 13-11 and missed the NCAA tournament. That poor record wasn't through any fault of Hurt, though.

The 6'9" forward averaged 18.3 points and 6.2 rebounds. He also shot 55.6 percent from the floor and 44.4 percent from beyond the arc.

The 21-year-old capped off his sophomore campaign by being named the ACC's Most Improved Player and getting first-team all-conference honors.

The Houston Rockets selected Arizona State guard Josh Christopher with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft Thursday at Barclays Center in New York City.

The 19-year-old averaged 14.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 assists across 15 appearances for the Sun Devils during his only college season.

            

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Josh Christopher

Position: SG

Height: 6'4"

Pro Comparison: Jordan Clarkson

Scouting Report: Christopher has the look of an NBA scorer with quickness, strength, skills to create and tough shot-making ability. Improving his shooting consistency and decision-making will be key to his success and efficiency.

                        

Rockets Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

John Wall, PG: $42.8M (2023)

Eric Gordon, SG: $18.9M (2024)

Christian Wood, PF: $13.7M (2023)

Jalen Green, SG: $7.5M (projected first-year salary, per RealGM)

D.J. Augustin, PG: $7M (2023)

Avery Bradley, PG: $5.9M (Team option)

Danuel House, SF: $3.7M (2022)

Alperen Sengun, C: $2.7M (projected first-year salary, per RealGM)

Usman Garuba, PF/C: $2M (projected first-year salary, per RealGM)

Josh Christopher, SG: $1.9M (projected first-year salary, per RealGM)

Kevin Porter Jr., SG: $1.6M (2023)

Jae'Sean Tate, SF: $1.5M (2023)

Kenyon Martin Jr., SF: $1.4M (2024)

Khyri Thomas, SG: $1.3M (2024)

       

Free Agents

Kelly Olynyk, PF: UFA

Dante Exum, PG: UFA

DJ Wilson, PF: RFA

Sterling Brown, SG: UFA

David Nwaba, SG: UFA

Cam Reynolds, F: RFA

Cameron Oliver, PF: RFA

Anthony Lamb, SF: RFA

Armoni Brooks, SG: RFA

           

Christopher, a former consensus 5-star prospect coming out of Mayfair High School in California, showcased a developing offensive arsenal at Arizona State and may have an opportunity to make an instant impact for the Rockets as a rookie.

At minimum, he can provide a spark off the bench as he works to improve his outside shooting efficiency after making just 30.5 percent of his three-point shots as a freshman at ASU.

Christopher is the Rockets' fourth first-round selection. Houston also added Jalen Green of the NBA G League Ignite at No. 2 overall, Besiktas center Alperen Sengun at No. 16 and Real Madrid big man Usman Garuba at No. 23 on Thursday.

Usman Garuba turned a breakout EuroLeague season into the No. 23 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft. 

The 19-year-old from Spain has spent the past three years playing for Real Madrid. He appeared in all 74 games for the club between Liga ACB and EuroLeague during the 2020-21 season. 

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Usman Garuba

Position: PF/C

Height: 6'8"

Pro Comparison: Serge Ibaka

Scouting Report: Defense and effort have helped Garuba earn minutes in Euroleague since he was 17 years old. He's limited offensively, but he can still add value as a finisher and passer while making the right rotations, playing physical and sliding with guards around the perimeter.

 

Rockets Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

John Wall, PG: $42.8M (2023)

Eric Gordon, SG: $18.9M (2024)

Christian Wood, PF: $13.7M (2023)

Jalen Green, SG: $7.5M (projected first-year salary, per RealGM)

D.J. Augustin, PG: $7M (2023)

Avery Bradley, PG: $5.9M (Team option)

Danuel House, SF: $3.7M (2022)

Alperen Sengun, C: $2.7M (projected first-year salary, per RealGM)

Usman Garuba, PF/C: $2M (projected first-year salary, per RealGM)

Josh Christopher, SG: $1.9M (projected first-year salary, per RealGM)

Kevin Porter Jr., SG: $1.6M (2023)

Jae'Sean Tate, SF: $1.5M (2023)

Kenyon Martin Jr., SF: $1.4M (2024)

Khyri Thomas, SG: $1.3M (2024)

       

Free Agents

Kelly Olynyk, PF: UFA

Dante Exum, PG: UFA

DJ Wilson, PF: RFA

Sterling Brown, SG: UFA

David Nwaba, SG: UFA

Cam Reynolds, F: RFA

Cameron Oliver, PF: RFA

Anthony Lamb, SF: RFA

Armoni Brooks, SG: RFA

Garuba was named the EuroLeague's Rising Star and Liga ACB Best Young Player last season. He averaged 5.6 points on 46.1 percent shooting and 5.3 rebounds per game in the ACB. 

While still developing his offensive game, Garuba has the potential to be an impact player early in his career because of his size and length on defense. He has to become a more refined scorer to reach his full potential, but the upside is off the charts for the Rockets.

Houston also added Jalen Green of the NBA G League Ignite at No. 2 overall, Besiktas center Alperen Sengun at No. 16 and Arizona State guard Josh Christopher at No. 24 on Thursday.

Unlike many prospects in the 2021 NBA draft, Jalen Green has already signed a contract to play basketball professionally after lacing it up in the G League.

But he is in line for a more notable one after the Houston Rockets selected him with the No. 2 overall pick on Thursday.

As for the new deal Green is lined up to receive, RealGM provided an NBA rookie contract scale for the 2021-22 season. Green will receive approximately $7,493,500 in first-year salary, $7,868,100 in second-year salary and $8,243,000 in third-year salary as the No. 2 overall pick, although first-round picks can sign for as much as 120 percent of the rookie scale or as little as 80 percent of it.

What's more, his fourth-year option will be approximately 26.2 percent higher than his third-year salary, and his qualifying option will be 30.5 percent higher than his fourth-year salary.

Green appeared well on his way to an NBA contract when he was a 5-star prospect and the No. 2 overall player in the recruiting class of 2020, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

However, rather than going the traditional path of choosing a marquee college basketball program and playing there for at least a season, he chose to play in the G League.

"I wanted to get better overall and prepare myself for the NBA because that's my ultimate goal," Green told Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. "Everything was planned out right and set up for me to succeed. I think this was a good decision at the end of the day. I'm still going to be able to go back to college and finish school. So, it's not really that I'm missing out on college because I can go back and finish whenever I need to. School is a big thing in my family."

Green played one season for the G League Ignite and averaged 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from three-point range.

His ability to shoot from the outside, attack the basket off the bounce or as a slasher, get out in transition and defend multiple positions as a versatile playmaker stands out.

That should help him earn significant playing time for Houston during his rookie season. 

ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported before the draft that "the Rockets have been stonewalled in their attempts to bring in Evan Mobley and Jalen Suggs for private workouts." Perhaps that contributed to their decision to take Green, but they are also getting a potential star who could help them usher in the post-James Harden era of the franchise.

Jalen Green's path from a top high school prospect to the NBA is complete. 

The Houston Rockets selected the combo guard who chose to play in the G League with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft on Thursday.

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Jalen Green

Position: SG

Height: 6'5"

Pro Comparison: Zach LaVine

Scouting Report: Green's quickness and explosiveness are unmatched, but it's his improved ball-handling for creation and advanced shot-making that fuels All-Star scoring potential.

Rockets Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

John Wall, PG: $42.8M (2023)

Eric Gordon, SG: $18.9M (2024)

Christian Wood, PF: $13.7M (2023)

Jalen Green, SG: $7.275M (2025)

D.J. Augustin, PG: $7M (2023)

Avery Bradley, PG: $5.9M (Team option)

Danuel House, SF: $3.7M (2022)

Kevin Porter Jr., SG: $1.6M (2023)

Jae'Sean Tate, SF: $1.5M (2023)

Kenyon Martin Jr., SF: $1.4M (2024)

Khyri Thomas, SG: $1.3M (2024)

       

Free Agents

Kelly Olynyk, PF: UFA

Dante Exum, PG: UFA

DJ Wilson, PF: RFA

Sterling Brown, SG: UFA

David Nwaba, SG: UFA

Cam Reynolds, F: RFA

Cameron Oliver, PF: RFA

Anthony Lamb, SF: RFA

Armoni Brooks, SG: RFA

Green first turned heads as a 5-star prospect and the No. 2 overall player in the 2020 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. While a profile like that was sure to generate plenty of interest at the collegiate level, he instead chose to play for the G League Ignite in 2020-21.

He averaged 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game as someone who could attack the basket, battle for boards from the wing and hit from the outside (36.5 percent from three-point range).

He will now look to use that skill set to play his way into Houston's rotation during his rookie season, which should happen fairly quickly.

The Rockets were an NBA-worst 17-55 during the 2020-21 campaign and are lacking star power now that James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul are all playing elsewhere. Green is someone who can develop into the team's next star if he lives up to his potential.

Avery Bradley is reportedly expected to receive interest from contenders if the Houston Rockets decline his $5.9 million team option for the 2021-22 season.

Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported "several" top teams are expected to reach out to Bradley if he becomes a free agent. 

While Bradley does not figure into the rebuilding Rockets' plans, the team could view him as potential salary filler for trades or seek to move him for a second-round pick rather than allowing him to hit free agency.

Bradley is coming off a dismal 2020-21 campaign split between Houston and Miami. He averaged 6.4 points on 37.4 percent shooting, both of which were his worst marks since his rookie season.

A midseason trade to Houston proved disastrous, with Bradley shooting only 31.4 percent in 17 games with the Rockets.

The massive drop-off in play seems more like a one-year blip than something to be expected moving forward. Bradley is a year removed from being a solid role player for the Lakers, and he's been a consistently solid three-and-D fixture throughout his career. 

It's unlikely Bradley would get $5.9 million on the free-agent market coming off his dismal 2020-21 campaign, so the Rockets exercising their team option and then trading him may be his best-case scenario. 

The Houston Rockets have numerous options at No. 2 overall in the NBA draft, assuming that Oklahoma State point guard and presumptive No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham goes first to the Detroit Pistons.

One of those potential choices is USC big man Evan Mobley, but Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated reported that the ex-Trojan's camp may be disinterested in seeing the Pac-12 Player of the Year go to Houston.

League sources have indicated there is a level of disinterest within Evan Mobley’s camp regarding Houston as a destination, raising questions as to whether that potential marriage would be ideal for either side. Rival teams do not expect Mobley, Jalen Suggs or Cade Cunningham to work out for Houston before draft night.

Mobley averaged 16.4 points on 57.8 percent shooting, 8.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game for the Trojans in his lone year at USC. He was also named a consensus second-team All-American en route to leading the Trojans to the Elite Eight.

Woo's report delivers a similar message as one from ESPN's Jonathan Givony (h/t Ben DuBose of Rockets Wire), who wrote the Rockets have been "stonewalled" in their attempts to bring in Mobley for a private workout. Givony also wrote that Houston hasn't been able to bring in Gonzaga point guard Jalen Suggs either.

Mobley and Suggs are two of the three prime candidates for the Rockets at No. 2 if Cunningham goes first. The other is shooting guard Jalen Green of the NBA G League Ignite, and Kelly Iko of the Athletic reported that may be where Houston is leaning.

The name I keep hearing attached to Houston is Green. USC’s Evan Mobley has been discussed in some circles, as well as Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs, but smart money would be on the Rockets taking the 19-year old out of the G League’s Ignite on draft night. It’s well known that head coach Stephen Silas has an affinity for versatile guards, and Green has been said to have the highest upside in his class, from a scoring, explosive and star standpoint.

Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer also pegged Green to the Rockets in his latest mock draft, writing that the selection "appears to be the preference here." However, he also noted that Mobley is still in the mix.

We'll soon find out what the Rockets do with the NBA draft set to go down on Thursday evening from Brooklyn, New York's Barclays Center.