The Freeman Dynasty.

[Soapy]

With their core stabilized, Houston looking to add final piece for playoff push
Jack Coleman -- Houston Chronicle Sports Writer

The Houston Rockets enter this summer with $74.17 million in cap space and have already done the heavy lifting, drafting and landing a formidable Big 3 of Ben Simmons, Jalen Green and Jeremiah Freeman.

Kevin Porter Jr, JoJo Freeman III and Alperen Sengun round out a very talented core of players that ultimately wasn't enough to make the play-in game last season due to how big of a hole the team had dug itself into during their early season struggles.

Resigning Porter Jr. will be a priority for the team but not the biggest one as the rumors have already started that the Rockets will be big game hunting this season.

Names to watch include free agents Kawhi Leonard, Devin Booker, Paul George and DeMar Derozan as the Rockets look to improve the small forward position where Kenyon Martin Jr. and Josh Christopher started at least season. The only question is if any of those players would be interested in leaving their current situations on playoff teams to come to the 12th place Houston Rockets.

There's also concerns of how adding a max player to the current roster would impact the development of Green and Freeman as max players in their own right. The addition of Simmons aided in their development as Simmons took some of the perimeter defending load off of both players. With the addition of either Leonard, Booker, George or DeRozan, those are now offensive touches that are no longer going to Freeman and Green.

Either way, it's a good problem to have as any of those additions are likely enough to give Houston another dozen or so wins in order for them to be a playoff team, something they haven't done since blowing up the James Harden team in 2020. The front office should also be given leeway and the benefit of the doubt after their much criticized drafting of the Freeman brothers landed them two All-Rookie First-Team selections.

[Soapy]

Off-Season Report

Notable Retirements
F LaMarcus Aldridge
C Al Horford
F Jeff Green
G Louis Williams
F Thadeeus Young
G Goran Dragic
G Wesley Matthews

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NBA Lottery Results
1. Washington
2. San Antonio (via TOR)
3. Atlanta (via CHA)
4. Portland
5. New Orleans (via LAL)
6. New York
7. Orlando
8. Sacramento
9. Atlanta
10. Houston
11. Golden State
12. Phoenix
13. Orlando (via CHI)
14. Oklahoma City
15. New York (via DAL)
16. Utah
17. Indiana
18. Philadelphia
19. Minnesota (via MIL)
20. LA Clippers
21. Oklahoma City
22. Brooklyn
23. Houston (via DET)
24. Oklahoma City (via DEN)
25. Cleveland
26. Minnesota
27. Memphis
28. Boston
29. LA Lakers (via NO)
30. San Antonio

[Captain Canada]

Toronto, come on boys

[Soapy]

Toronto, come on boys

them boys fell off hard

[Soapy]

Houston, Donovan agree on deal to become next Rockets' head coach
Jack Coleman -- Houston Chronicle Sports Writer

The Houston Rockets and veteran head coach Billy Donovan have agreed on a four year, $4.09 million contract for Donovan to replace Stephen Silas as the Rockets head coach.

Silas' contract expired this summer and it was not renewed as both parties agreed to go their separate ways as Silas accepted the opening in Los Angeles following the firing of Frank Vogel. Houston was rumored to be targeting Steve Nash, Mike Brown, Jason Kidd and Donovan as potential replacements.

He had served as head coach of the Bulls since September 2020 after previously coaching the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015 to 2020. Before moving to the NBA, he served as the head basketball coach at the University of Florida from 1996 to 2015, and led his Florida Gator teams to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007, as well as an NCAA championship appearance in 2000.

NBA Head Coach Hiring
Chicago Bulls hire Steve Nash
Orlando Magic hire Frank Vogel
Los Angeles Lakers hire Stephen Silas
Dallas Mavericks re-sign Jason Kidd
Brooklyn Nets hire Oliver Gordon

[Soapy]

What does Houston do with the No. 10 pick in the draft?
Jack Coleman -- Houston Chronicle Sports Writer

A year ago, Houston had the number two overall pick in the draft before a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder on draft day saw them select at No. 4 Jeremiah Freeman and JoJo Freeman III at No. 8, a move that was widely criticized at the time but has turned out to be a great move for Houston.

Houston isn't short of options at No. 10, the top of which is trading the pick for an instant impact player. Houston's defense improved with the addition of JoJo Freeman III in the draft and again during the season when they acquired Ben Simmons but they still finished bottom ten in scoring defense and middle of the pack in defensive rating.

Josh Christopher and Kenyon Martin Jr. are capable defenders but improving at that position is the likely next step for Houston as the rest of their starting lineup is likely set for the next two to three years. There are no shortages of elite "3 and D" players in the NBA, especially on the wing. The No. 10 and No. 23 pick might be enough to reel in the likes of Otto Porter of the Clippers or Orlando's Jonathan Isaac. Such a player would fit in nicely with the team and alleviate some of the defensive pressure off of Ben Simmons and Jalen Green who also carry a load on offense.

The other option is to trade the pick but to move up where there's a chance the Rockets could land another franchise player in what is a very top heavy draft. A few of the top wings players include Dariq Whitehead, the Duke small forward that averaged 17 points per game last season for the Blue Devils and shot 46 percent from the field and 36 percent from three.

Whitehead will likely be gone within the first three picks but if Houston doesn't want to move up, there are other options such as Arkansas' Anthony Black and Jordan Walsh, UCLA's Amari Bailey and Ausar Thompson who might be available at ten.

[Soapy]

Rockets select Thompson with tenth pick, acquire Robinson from Miami
The Houston Rockets selected Overtime Elite prospect Ausar Thompson with their 10th pick of the draft and traded the 23rd overall pick in the draft to the Miami Heat for Duncan Robinson and a 2026 second round pick.

Thompson is a six-foot-seven prospect with a nice shooting form that can hit three-point shots regularly. At only nineteen years old, Thompson has one of the higher upsides in the draft and could potentially develop into an all-star caliber player due to his shooting and defensive prowess. There are concerns with his size for when he goes up against stronger opponents as he weighed in at the draft combine at only 196 pounds.

Thompson's brother, Amen, was also selected in the first round by Philadelphia eight picks later.

In Robinson, Houston managed to land one of the league's top three point shooters but at a cost as Robinson is due to make $19.41 million next year and has a player option for $19.89 million in 2025.

However, Robinson is sort of the role player and specialist that Houston will need to fill the roster out with this free agency as they continue to build around Jalen Green, Jeremiah and JoJo Freeman along with Ben Simmons.

2024 NBA Draft Selections
1. Washington ‣ C Victor Wembanyama, France
2. San Antonio (via TOR) ‣ F Dariq Whitehead, Duke
3. Atlanta (via CHA) ‣ G Nick Smith, Arkansas
4. Portland ‣ G Scoot Henderson, High School
5. New Orleans (via LAL) ‣ C Derek Lively, Duke
6. New York ‣ F Anthony Black, Arkansas
7. Orlando ‣ G Amari Bailey, UCLA
8. Sacramento ‣ G Chris Livingston, Kentucky
9. Atlanta ‣ F Jordan Walsh, Arkansas
10. Houston ‣ F Ausar Thompson, High School
11. Golden State ‣ G Cason Wallace, Kentucky
12. Phoenix ‣ F Daimion Collins, Kentucky
13. Orlando (via CHI) ‣ C Kel'el Ware, Oregon
14. Oklahoma City ‣ F Peyton Watson, UCLA
15. New York (via DAL) ‣ C Mouhamed Gueye, Washington State
16. Utah ‣ F Kyle Filipowski, Duke
17. Indiana ‣ F Jarace Walker, Houston
18. Philadelphia ‣ F Amen Thompson, High School
19. Minnesota (via MIL) ‣ C James Nnaji, Nigeria
20. LA Clippers ‣ C Christian Koloko, Arizona
21. Oklahoma City ‣ F Dillon Mitchell, Texas
22. Brooklyn ‣ F Nikola Djurisic, Serbia
23. Miami (via DET) ‣ G Jaden Bradley, Alabama
24. Oklahoma City (via DEN) ‣ C Yohan Traore, Auburn
25. Cleveland ‣ F Dalen Terry, Arizona
26. Minnesota ‣ G Keyonte George, Baylor
27. Memphis ‣ F M.J. Rice, Kansas
28. Boston ‣ G Eric Gaines, LSU
29. LA Lakers (via NO) ‣ F Roko Prkacin, Croatia
30. San Antonio ‣ F Julian Phillips, Auburn

[Captain Canada]

Idk why but I love the Duncan Robinson acquisition. Good draft for you.

[Soapy]

What's next for LeBron following Lakers debacle?
It wasn't that long ago that LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers were hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Six years removed from when he first signed with the Lakers, James and the Lakers have made the playoffs only twice.

James will be among the most sought after free agents this cycle at 38 in what is a loaded free agency class with former MVP Nikola Jokic and former NBA All-Star Kristaps Porzingis.

Despite Los Angeles finishing last in the West, they are the favorites to land The King once more with Golden State and Atlanta also expected to make a push for the four-time MVP's services.

Top Available Free Agents
G Ja Morant (23, 95 ovr) ‣ RFA
G Darius Garland (23, 91 ovr) ‣ RFA
G Tyler Herro (23, 88 ovr) ‣ RFA
G Fred VanVleet (29, 84 ovr)
G Anfernee Simons (24, 84 ovr)
G Jordan Poole (24, 84 ovr) ‣ RFA
G Collin Sexton (23, 83 ovr)
G Mike Conley (35, 82 ovr)
G Kevin Porter Jr. (23, 82 ovr) ‣ RFA
G Derrick Rose (34, 81 ovr)
F LeBron James (38, 94 ovr)
F Zion Williamson (23, 93 ovr) ‣ RFA
F R.J. Barrett (23, 87 ovr) ‣ RFA
F Andrew Wiggins (28, 84 ovr)
F Keldon Johnson (23, 84 ovr) ‣ RFA
F Kyle Kuzman (27, 83 ovr)
F Jerami Grant (29, 82 ovr)
F Christian Wood (27, 85 ovr)
F Dillon Brooks (27, 82 ovr)
F P.J. Washington (24 ovr, 81 ovr) ‣ RFA
F Cameron Johnson (27 ovr, 81 ovr) ‣ RFA
F Marvin Bagley III (24, 81 ovr) ‣ RFA
F De'Andre Hunter (25, 80 ovr) ‣ RFA
C Nikola Jokic (28, 96 ovr)
C Kristaps Porzingis (27, 88 ovr)
C Nikola Vucevic (32, 84 ovr)
C Myles Turner (27, 83 ovr)
C Mitchell Robinson (25, 83 ovr)
C Jonas Valanciunas (31, 82 ovr)
C Kevin Love (34, 81 ovr)
C Andre Drummond (29, 81 ovr)

[Soapy]

Idk why but I love the Duncan Robinson acquisition. Good draft for you.

we got shooters!