The Freeman Dynasty.

[Soapy]

Rockets look to improve defense with Beverley signing, stretch the floor with Maker
Jack Coleman -- Houston Chronicle Sports Writer

The Houston Rockets opened free agency with the non-flashy signings of veteran guard Patrick Beverley and center Thon Maker on one-year deals worth $5.57 million and $1.73 million respectively.

Beverley, 35, spent the 2021-2022 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves before missing all of last season with a shoulder injury. A three-time All-Defense selection, Beverley should be one of Houston's better perimeter defenders next season along with Ben Simmons and Jalen Green.

A former top ten pick in 2016, Maker has spent the last two seasons in the G-League after bouncing around from Milwaukee, Detroit and Cleveland in his previous three seasons. Monk will look to reignite his career in Houston as he becomes one of the only big men on their roster with a respectable jump shot.

[Soapy]

Suns match Rockets offer for forward Cam Johnson
Jack Coleman -- Houston Chronicle Sports Writer

Cam Johnson is heading back to Phoenix after the Suns matched the Houston Rockets' three year, $50.18 million offer to the 27-year old forward.

Johnson shot just 40 percent from the field last season but is one of the better "3 and D" players in the league, averaging 11.2 points per game in the 21-22 season where he shot 44 percent from the three-point line. His numbers dipped to 9.6 points per game and 38 percent from three last season.

Houston continues to look to improve the forward position on their roster as they've showed interest in Johnson, De'Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish.

[Soapy]

Rockets continue to add veterans in Love, Curry as free agency heats up
Jack Coleman -- Houston Chronicle Sports Writer

The Houston Rockets have signed former NBA champion and All-Star Kevin Love to a one year, $15.93 million contract along with shooter Seth Curry. Curry's one-year deal is reported to be worth $2.89 million.

Love averaged 10 and 7 last season along with four assists per game but shot just 37 percent from the field, his second straight season of shooting less than 40 percent from the field. At 34, Love is bringing some much needed veteran presence to the team and specifically to a front court that includes three players under the age of 22 that were key players last season in JoJo Freeman III, Alperen Sengun and Usman Garuba.

The Rockets were interested in Kristaps Porzingis but ultimately fell out of negotiations with the seven-foot-three All-Star.

Houston continues to improve their back court shooting with the signing of Curry, joining Duncan Robinson as new additions this off-season that should improve their three-point shooting. Curry is another experienced veteran that has played clutch minutes in the playoffs.

[Soapy]

Christopher, Martin Jr. and Garuba traded to Pelicans for Lewis Jr, Lakers first round pick
Jack Coleman -- Houston Chronicle Sports Writer

The Houston Rockets have traded former first round picks Usman Garuba and Josh Christopher along with Kenyon Martin Jr. to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Kira Lewis Jr. and the Lakers 2024 first round pick.

Christopher never meshed with the Rockets new core this year as an off-ball player due to his unreliable three point shooting. The same occurred with Usman Garuba who fell out of favor with the last coaching staff who preferred to go small when JoJo Freeman III or Alperen Sengun were on the court, opting to pair them with either Ben Simmons or someone that could shoot and stretch the floor. The addition of Kevin Love likely sped up the decision to move on from Martin Jr. and Garuba.

In Kira Lewis, Houston is getting a six-foot guard that didn't play much last season after being a first round pick in 2020 out of Alabama. It's unlikely that Lewis will be able to crack the loaded rotation at guard. The real crown jewel of the trade is the Lakers 2024 first round pick which could end up being a top five pick.

[Soapy]

Bron returns to Lakers as stars stay put in loaded free agency class
After much speculation and hoopla, Nikola Jokic returned to Denver and LeBron James is going to play his next season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

In what was an anticipated free agency class, many of the top players such as Paul George and Kawhi Leonard accepted their player options and the players that did make it out onto free agency ultimately decided to go back to their respective teams.

The top free agent signing was likely Kristaps Porzingis deciding to join his fourth team in his NBA career, signing a one-year deal with Memphis to try to be the final piece for the Grizzlies championship push.

Kevin Porter Jr. also signed with Oklahoma City as Houston did not match their offer.

Top Free Agents
G Ja Morant (23, 95 ovr) ‣ RFA ‣ Memphis (3yr/$88.21m)
G Darius Garland (23, 91 ovr) ‣ RFA ‣ Cleveland (3yr/$88.21m)
G Tyler Herro (23, 88 ovr) ‣ RFA ‣ Miami (4yr/$125.45m)
G Fred VanVleet (29, 84 ovr) ‣ Toronto (4yr/$83.98m)
G Anfernee Simons (24, 84 ovr) ‣ Minnesota (3yr/$68.04m)
G Jordan Poole (24, 84 ovr) ‣ RFA ‣ Golden State (3yr/$69.31m)
G Collin Sexton (23, 83 ovr) ‣ Cleveland (3yr/$71.63m)
G Kevin Porter Jr. (23, 82 ovr) ‣ RFA ‣ Oklahoma City (3yr/$57.57m)
F LeBron James (38, 94 ovr) ‣ LA Lakers (1yr/$42.66m)
F Zion Williamson (23, 93 ovr) ‣ RFA ‣ New Orleans (4yr/$148.03m)
F R.J. Barrett (23, 87 ovr) ‣ RFA ‣ New York (3yr/$88.21m)
F Andrew Wiggins (28, 84 ovr) ‣ Golden State (3yr/$64.97m)
F Keldon Johnson (23, 84 ovr) ‣ RFA ‣ San Antonio (4yr/$95.34m)
F Kyle Kuzma (27, 83 ovr) ‣ Washington (2yr/$31.98m)
F Jerami Grant (29, 82 ovr) ‣ Sacramento (1yr/$9.25m)
F Christian Wood (27, 85 ovr) ‣ Washington (4yr/$98.59m)
F Dillon Brooks (27, 82 ovr) ‣ Los Angeles (2yr/$36.74m)
F P.J. Washington (24 ovr, 81 ovr) ‣ RFA ‣ Charlotte (1yr/$6.45m)
F Cameron Johnson (27 ovr, 81 ovr) ‣ RFA ‣ Phoenix (3yr/$50.18m)
C Nikola Jokic (28, 96 ovr) ‣ Denver (4yr/$170.86m)
C Kristaps Porzingis (27, 88 ovr) ‣ Memphis (1yr/$25.86m)
C Nikola Vucevic (32, 84 ovr) ‣ Chicago (3yr/$83.20m)
C Mitchell Robinson (25, 83 ovr) ‣ Oklahoma City (3yr/$61.63m)
C Kevin Love (34, 81 ovr) ‣ Houston (1yr/$15.93m)

[Soapy]

Houston Rockets' 2023-2024 Roster

#1 Jeremiah Freeman, 20 y/o, 1Y
#0 Jalen Green, 21 y/o, 2Y
#10 Ausar Thompson, 19 y/o, R
#25 Ben Simmons, 27 y/o, 6Y
#42 Kevin Love, 35 y/o, 15Y

Reserves:
#13 G Kira Lewis Jr, 22, 2Y
#7 G Patrick Beverley, 35, 10Y
#55 G Duncan Robinson, 29, 5Y
#18 G Cory Joseph, 32, 12Y
#30 G Seth Curry, 33, 9Y
#35 G Reggie Bullock, 32, 10Y
#00 C JoJo Freeman III, 23 y/o, 1Y
#28 C Alpenren Sengun, 21 y,o, 2Y
#14 C Thon Maker, 26 y/o, 5Y

[Soapy]

Lillard-Less Blazers Struggle in Opener to Rockets as Freeman Scores 31
Highlight Game: Oct. 25, 2023 - Moda Center, Portland, Oregon

vs.

HOU | 17 | 33 | 24 | 21 | 95
POR | 23 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 69

Starting Lineups:
Jeremiah Freeman - G - Scoot Henderson
Jalen Green - G - Benedict Mathurin
Ausar Thompson - F - Kelly Oubre Jr.
Ben Simmons - F - Kyle Anderson
Kevin Love - C - Myles Turner



Houston Rockets Top Performers:
G Jeremiah Freeman: 31 pts, 2 reb, 13 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk, 4 to, 13-24 FG, 0-2 3PT, 5-5 FT
G Jalen Green: 10 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast, 2 to, 4-13 FG, 2-6 3PT, 0-0 FT
F Ausar Thompson: 5 pts, 4 reb, stl, 2-5 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-0 FT
F Ben Simmons: 18 pts, 9 reb, 0 ast, stl, 2 to, 9-12 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT
C Kevin Love: 2 pts, 19 reb, 1-5 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT
C JoJo Freeman III: 18 pts, 8 reb, 4 blk, 8-11 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-3 FT
G Kevin Porter Jr: 11 pts, 2 reb, 10 ast, 2 stl, 2 to, 4-10 FG, 1-4 3PT, 2-2 FT

Portland Trail Blazers Top Performers:
G Scoot Henderson: 15 pts, 2 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl, 2 to, 6-21 FG, 2-7 3PT, 1-1 FT
G Benedict Mathurin: 8 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 2 to, 3-11 FG, 2-7 3PT, 0-0 FT
C Myles Turner: 6 pts, 11 reb, 2 stl, 4 blk, 3-10 FG, 0-3 3PT, 0-0 FT

--

Game Summary:

@

UTAH | 36 | 39 | 22 | 24 | 121
HOU | 25 | 38 | 24 | 32 | 119

UTAH G Donovan Mitchell: 30 pts, 3 reb, 4 ast, 2 to, 9-12 FG, 5-7 3PT, 7-7 FT
HOU G Jeremiah Freeman: 28 pts, 8 ast, 3 stl, 10-21 FG, 2-8 3PT, 6-6 FT
HOU C JoJo Freeman III: 6 pts, 7 reb, 3-9 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT


--

Game Summary:

@

BKN | 17 | 35 | 24 | 31 | 107
HOU | 22 | 34 | 38 | 25 | 119

BKN F Kevin Durant: 27 pts, 3 reb, 4 ast, stl, blk, 10-15 FG, 4-6 3PT, 3-3 FT
HOU G Jeremiah Freeman: 39 pts, 9 ast, 4 stl, 15-27 FG, 5-12 3PT, 4-4 FT
HOU C JoJo Freeman III: 17 pts, 13 reb, 5-9 FG, 0-0 3PT, 7-8 FT

--

Game Summary:

@

HOU | 25 | 23 | 41 | 28 | 117
MEM | 29 | 37 | 34 | 13 | 113

HOU G Jeremiah Freeman: 17 pts, 7 ast, 2 stl, 3 to, 7-17 FG, 2-4 3PT, 1-2 FT
HOU C JoJo Freeman III: 14 pts, 12 reb, 2 blk, 7-11 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT
MEM G Ja Morant: 24 pts, 4 reb, 10 ast, stl, 8-13 FG, 4-8 3PT, 4-4 FT

--

Game Summary:

@

DEN | 21 | 24 | 26 | 19 | 91
HOU | 19 | 34 | 25 | 28 | 106

DEN C Nikola Jokic: 15 pts, 13 reb, 7 ast, stl, blk, 3 to, 7-17 FG, 1-3 3PT, 0-2 FT
HOU G Jeremiah Freeman: 14 pts, 5 ast, stl, 2 to, 6-15 FG, 2-6 3PT, 0-0 FT
HOU C JoJo Freeman III: 7 pts, 5 reb, 2 stl, 4 blk, 5 to, 2-8 FG, 0-0 3PT, 3-3 FT
--

Game Summary:

@

HOU | 19 | 29 | 34 | 19 | 101
SAC | 29 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 113

HOU G Jeremiah Freeman: 26 pts, reb, ast, 2 stl, 2 to, 9-20 FG, 4-10 3PT, 4-5 FT
HOU C JoJo Freeman III: 7 pts, 12 reb, 3 ast, stl, 4 blk, 2 to, 3-12 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT
SAC G De'Aaron Fox: 23 pts, 6 reb, 7 ast, stl, 7 to, 7-14 FG, 2-5 3PT, 7-7 FT
--

Game Summary:

@

HOU | 27 | 30 | 34 | 34 | 125
SAC | 28 | 33 | 30 | 21 | 112

HOU G Jeremiah Freeman: 19 pts, 7 ast, blk, to, 6-13 FG, 1-3 3PT, 6-6 FT
HOU C JoJo Freeman III: 14 pts, 10 reb, blk, 4-10 FG, 0-0 3PT, 6-7 FT
SAC F Marvin Bagley III: 18 pts, 13 reb, stl, blk, to, 8-15 FG, 1-5 3PT, 1-1 FT

--

Rockets Current Record:
5-2, T-1st in West

Upcoming Schedule:
at Los Angeles Lakers
at Minnesota
at Phoenix
vs. Indiana
vs. Oklahoma City
vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Season Averages
G Jeremiah Freeman: 24.9 PPG, 0.6 RPG, 7.1 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 1.9 TOPG, 48 FG%, 35 3PT%, 92 FT%
C JoJo Freeman III: 11.9 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.6 SPG, 2.1 BPG, 1.3 TOPG, 45 FG%, 0 3PT%, 83 FT%

[Captain Canada]

Quite surprised you're rocking with Kevin Love in the starting rotation. Hopefully, he winds back the clock for you a bit.

[Soapy]

Lakers Rally Back to Force Overtime But Fall in Extra Time to Rockets
Highlight Game: Nov. 9, 2023 - Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California

vs.

HOU | 33 | 19 | 29 | 23 | 12 | 116
LAL | 27 | 20 | 25 | 32 | 5 | 109

Starting Lineups:
Jeremiah Freeman - G - Kendrick Nunn
Jalen Green - G - Jalen Warley
Ben Simmons - F - Dillon Brooks
Kevin Love - F - Roko Prkacin
JoJo Freeman III - C - Anthony Davis



Houston Rockets Top Performers:
G Jeremiah Freeman: 26 pts, 5 reb, 14 ast, 4 stl, 2 blk, 7 to, 11-26 FG, 2-11 3PT, 2-2 FT
G Jalen Green: 24 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast, 9-19 FG, 4-8 3PT, 2-2 FT
F Ben Simmons: 8 pts, 11 reb, 4 ast, 6 stl, blk, to, 3-5 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT
F Kevin Love: 7 pts, 3 reb, 2 to, 3-10 FG, 1-3 3PT, 0-0 FT
C JoJo Freeman III: 27 pts, 19 reb, 3 ast, stl, 9 blk, 3 to, 10-13 FG, 0-0 3PT, 7-8 FT

Los Angeles Lakers Top Performers:
G Kendrick Nunn: 12 pts, 3 reb, 8 ast, 4 stl, 4 to, 5-14 FG, 2-3 3PT, 0-0 FT
F Dillon Brooks: 20 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 2 to, 8-18 FG, 4-7 3PT, 0-0 FT
F LeBron James: 24 pts, 11 reb, 6 ast, 5 stl, 4 to, 11-19 FG, 1-2 3PT, 1-1 FT
C Anthony Davis: 23 pts, 13 reb, 3 stl, blk, 2 to, 11-24 FG, 1-3 3PT, 0-0 FT

--

Game Summary:

@

HOU | 33 | 42 | 30 | 27 | 132
MIN | 32 | 45 | 26 | 43 | 146

HOU G Jeremiah Freeman: 26 pts, 4 ast, stl, 2 to, 11-27 FG, 2-12 3PT, 2-3 FT
HOU C JoJo Freeman III: 8 pts, 4 reb, blk, 2-3 FG, 0-0 3PT, 4-5 FT
MIN G Anthony Edwards: 41 pts, 2 reb, 6 ast, stl, 2 to, 14-21 FG, 9-12 3PT, 4-4 FT


--

Game Summary:

@

HOU | 28 | 29 | 26 | 37 | 120
PHX | 21 | 36 | 19 | 32 | 108

HOU G Jeremiah Freeman: 31 pts, 4 ast, stl, 13-18 FG, 5-9 3PT, 0-0 FT
HOU C JoJo Freeman III: 7 pts, 13 reb, 4 blk, 4 to, 3-5 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT
PHX C DeAndre Ayton: 32 pts, 17 reb, blk, 13-26 FG, 0-2 3PT, 6-8 FT

--

Game Summary:

@

IND | 31 | 28 | 28 | 36 | 123
HOU | 26 | 17 | 30 | 36 | 109

IND G Tyrese Haliburton: 25 pts, 5 reb, 9 ast, stl, to, 8-20 FG, 4-11 3PT, 5-6 FT
HOU G Jeremiah Freeman: 18 pts, 3 ast, stl, to, 7-15 FG, 1-2 3PT, 3-4 FT
HOU C JoJo Freeman III: 16 pts, 9 reb, 3 blk, to, 7-11 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT

--

Game Summary:

@

OKC | 30 | 31 | 33 | 27 | 121
HOU | 37 | 32 | 22 | 15 | 106

OKC G Kevin Porter Jr: 28 pts, 4 ast, to, 6-13 FG, 4-10 3PT, 12-16 FT
HOU G Jeremiah Freeman: 25 pts, 4 ast, stl, 6 to, 8-17 FG, 4-9 3PT, 5-7 FT
HOU C JoJo Freeman III: 6 pts, 13 reb, 1-3 FG, 0-0 3PT, 4-4 FT
--

Game Summary:

@

LAL | 18 | 26 | 19 | 25 | 88
HOU | 36 | 26 | 26 | 37 | 125

LAL F LeBron James: 29 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast, stl, blk, 2 to, 12-28 FG, 2-7 3PT, 3-3 FT
HOU G Jeremiah Freeman: 31 pts, 7 ast, 3 to, 11-25 FG, 6-14 3PT, 3-3 FT
HOU C JoJo Freeman III: 19 pts, 11 reb, 2 blk, 6-14 FG, 0-0 3PT, 7-7 FT

--

Rockets Current Record:
8-5, T-3rd in West

Upcoming Schedule:
at New Orleans
at Utah
at Philadelphia
at Brooklyn
vs. Detroit

Season Averages
G Jeremiah Freeman: 25.5 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 2.5 TOPG, 48 FG%, 35 3PT%, 87 FT%
C JoJo Freeman III: 12.8 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.5 SPG, 2.6 BPG, 1.4 TOPG, 51 FG%, 0 3PT%, 86 FT%

[Soapy]

Quite surprised you're rocking with Kevin Love in the starting rotation. Hopefully, he winds back the clock for you a bit.

yeah allows me to stay big while still stretching the floor. We just need someone to run that second unit (for some reason KPJ lost his bird rights and i couldn't resign him) and we're cooking