<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-knicks-spurs-among-5-teams-kevin-durant-has-mutual-trade-interest');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Knicks, Spurs among 5 teams Kevin Durant has ‘mutual’ trade interest with');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Knicks-Spurs-among-5-teams-Kevin-Durant-has-mutual-trade-interest-with.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Knicks, Spurs among 5 teams Kevin Durant has ‘mutual’ trade interest with</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-02T14:25:44-07:00">April 2nd, 2:25pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-02T15:20:23-07:00">April 2nd, 3:20pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Trade speculation surrounding Kevin Durant has intensified as the Phoenix Suns face an uncertain offseason.</p><p>According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Durant and the Suns are <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1907527747821301888" rel="noopener">expected to work together</a> on a potential trade this summer, with mutual interest already existing between the former MVP and five NBA teams: the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Houston Rockets.</p><p>Charania discussed the situation during Wednesday’s broadcast of NBA Today, highlighting the growing belief that Phoenix’s current core of Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker has not produced the expected results.</p><p>“Matt Ishbia, the Suns owner, has shown already in his ownership that he’s aggressive; he’s willing to make moves,” Charania said. “He’s gonna make a million swings as Suns owner, but this iteration of Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker just has not worked.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Reporting for NBA Today with <a href="https://twitter.com/malika_andrews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@malika_andrews</a> on the potential summer of change coming to the Phoenix Suns: <a href="https://t.co/73BB8aQdYP">pic.twitter.com/73BB8aQdYP</a></p><p>— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1907527747821301888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>He added that the Suns are expected to reshape their roster this offseason, and any changes are likely to begin with Durant.</p><p>“One thing to keep in mind, back at the NBA Trade Deadline in February, Minnesota, Miami, New York, San Antonio, and Houston were among the teams, I’m told, there was mutual interest between Durant and those teams,” Charania said. “I expect those teams and potentially others to be back in the fray this summer.”</p><h2><b>Kevin Durant’s injury, Suns’ playoff struggles fuel offseason uncertainty</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kevin-Durant-35-brings-the-ball-up-as-Minnesota-Timberwolves-guard-Anthony-Edwards-5.jpg"><figcaption>© Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Durant is under contract for one more season, and his status is expected to be a key storyline entering the offseason. According to Charania, the postseason will also play a factor as early exits could increase pressure on front offices to pursue high-impact moves.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-why-love-is-keeping-devin-booker-in-phoenix-despite-tumultuous-season">Suns, currently 35-41, are clinging to playoff hopes</a> but have lost four straight games. They sit 1.5 games behind the Sacramento Kings (36-39) for the final Play-In Tournament spot.</p><p>Phoenix will face tough challenges in the coming days, including matchups against the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks, before closing the season with a potentially decisive game against the Kings on April 13.</p><p>Adding to the uncertainty, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-kevin-durant-out-one-week-ankle-injury">Durant recently suffered a left ankle sprain in a loss to the Rockets</a> and is expected to miss at least a week, according to reports. With the Suns’ postseason fate hanging in the balance, there’s growing speculation that Durant may have already played his final game with the franchise.</p><p>Despite being in his 17th NBA season, the 36-year-old remains one of the league’s most potent offensive weapons. He is currently averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 52.7% from the field and 43% from three over 62 games.</p><h2><b>Multiple teams circling as Durant trade buzz grows</b></h2><p>Earlier this year, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/minnesota-timberwolves/timberwolves-rumors-minnesota-plans-to-make-another-kevin-durant-trade-pursuit">Minnesota Timberwolves had made an aggressive push to land Durant</a> at the trade deadline but refused to part with franchise stars Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.</p><p>In addition to the five teams mentioned by Charania, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/how-nba-new-208-million-second-apron-impacts-trades-free-agency-siegels-scoop">Brett Siegel recently reported that the Atlanta Hawks</a> were a “surprising” team to express interest in Durant’s availability, further underscoring the league-wide attention surrounding his future.</p><p>Another team to monitor is the Dallas Mavericks, who recently traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. However, Dallas may be a less likely landing spot for Durant following Kyrie Irving’s recent ACL tear, which casts doubt on their short-term competitiveness and potential trade ambitions.</p><p>With the Suns likely heading into the offseason without a postseason berth, all signs point to Durant’s status becoming one of the most closely watched storylines of the summer.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Knicks, Spurs among 5 teams Kevin Durant has ‘mutual’ trade interest with

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-rumors-one-assistant-longshot-texas-basketball-opening');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rockets rumors: One assistant considered ‘longshot’ for Texas basketball opening');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/The-one-assistant-considered-longshot-for-Texas-basketball-opening.jpg"></figure><h1>Rockets rumors: One assistant considered ‘longshot’ for Texas basketball opening</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-20T08:11:07-07:00">March 20th, 8:11am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-20T08:11:07-07:00">March 20th, 8:11am</time><address><a>Jaren Kawada</a>Jaren Kawada is a former full-time sports bettor and is now a NFL, College Football and Betting Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. Kawada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, after graduating from Butler University with a B.A. in sports media. Aside from football, Kawada is an avid combat sports and basketball bettor.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With a loss to Xavier in the NCAA Tournament First Four, Texas is expected to fire head basketball coach Rodney Terry after just three seasons. Now in search of their next coach, the Longhorns are expected to explore all options, including <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/rockets-news-ime-udoka-steals-former-texas-basketball-star-away-from-nets-coaching-staff">Houston Rockets assistant Royal Ivey</a>.</p><p>While not likely to accept the job, Ivey is <a href="https://www.lonestarlive.com/longhorns/mens-basketball/2025/03/texas-expected-to-fire-basketball-coach-rodney-terry-after-three-seasons.html" rel="noopener">viewed as a longshot</a> to succeed Terry, according to Lonestar Live’s Josh Newman. The Texas basketball alum recently gained steam as a potential future head coach due to his success leading South Sudan, who impressed in the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics.</p><p>“[Royal Ivey is] a longshot to land the job, but a longshot worth noting given his pedigree,” Newman wrote. “Ivey played in 133 games for Texas under Rick Barnes, starting on the 2003 Final Four squad. He has since become a respected NBA assistant, while also coaching South Sudan to a respectable showing in the country’s first Olympics last summer in Paris.”</p><p>In three years with the team, Terry has led Texas to a combined 62-37 record with an NCAA Tournament appearance each season. However, he has regressed each year, going from the Elite Eight in 2022-2023 to a Round of 32 exit the following season and now a First Four loss in 2024-2025. In their first year in the SEC, the Longhorns finished 13th in the conference, barely sneaking into the March Madness bracket.</p><p>Once Terry is officially fired, Texas will seek its third head basketball coach of the last five years. Though unsuccessful, Terry managed to barely outlast his predecessor, Chris Beard, who was dishonorably released early in his second season following an assault charge.</p><h2><b>Rockets coach Royal Ivey’s career journey</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Royal-Ivey.jpg"><figcaption>John David Mercer-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Ivey played for Texas from 2001 to 2004, starting in every game he played. He ended his career averaging 9.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists as the floor general of teams that included future NBA stars James Thomas, P.J. Tucker and T.J. Ford.</p><p>After three years at Texas, Ivey spent 10 years in the NBA before transitioning to coaching. Though drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 2004, he most notably made it to the 2012 NBA Finals as a reserve with the Oklahoma City Thunder.</p><p>A decade into his coaching career, Ivey was given his first head coaching opportunity by Luol Deng and South Sudan. In their brief tenure with the team, Deng and Ivey have been unanimously praised for the work they have done to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/luol-deng-nba-all-star-running-south-sudan-basketball">admirably build the South Sudan roster</a> in an ultimate underdog story. The ‘Bright Stars’ did not advance past the regional stage of the 2024 Paris Olympics but picked up their first Olympic win in national history against Puerto Rico.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rockets rumors: One assistant considered ‘longshot’ for Texas basketball opening

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-rumors-the-young-star-houston-thinks-boasts-russell-westbrook-potential');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rockets rumors: The young star Houston thinks boasts Russell Westbrook potential');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Rockets-rumors-The-young-star-Houston-thinks-boasts-Russell-Westbrook-potential.jpg"></figure><h1>Rockets rumors: The young star Houston thinks boasts Russell Westbrook potential</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-17T12:13:27-07:00">March 17th, 12:13pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-17T12:13:27-07:00">March 17th, 12:13pm</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Rockets are having an exceptional season, and it’s been mostly because of their young guys and the development that they’ve shown. One of the players who is having a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-jalen-green-amen-thompson-flowers-superstar-take">solid season is second-year player Amen Thompson</a>, who has become a menace on defense and is starting to figure things out on offense.</p><p>There are a lot of people who think that Thompson could be a star, and could end up <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH7MqsGXNS0" rel="noopener">having the potential</a> of a future Hall of Famer.</p><p>“Then there’s Amen Thompson,” the Hoop Collective said. “Obviously, he’s going to be a star. But the big question is—can he be that offensive engine? Somebody in the organization asked me, ‘Tell me what peak Russell Westbrook could do that this kid doesn’t have a chance to do.’”</p><p>Thompson does have some of the skills that Westbrook possesses as far as athleticism, and if he can continue to develop his game, who knows what he could turn out to be in the future.</p><h2><b>Rockets are excited about Amen Thompson</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Amen-Thompson.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Taormina-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Earlier in the season, Jalen Green <a href="https://x.com/BleacherReport/status/1885459251818356805" rel="noopener">spoke highly</a> of Amen Thompson in an interview with Taylor Rooks.</p><p>“The stuff that he’s been doing lately has been crazy,” Green said. “He’s a walking double-double. If his trey-ball and middie is falling, it’s even scarier because you can’t stop him downhill. He’s gonna guard the best player every night. He’s gonna rebound, get cutbacks, and he’s just overall a great person. When you’ve got all that together in one, he’s born to be a superstar.”</p><p>Thompson has been one of the reasons for the Rockets’ success this season, and he fits in perfectly with the rest of the team. They can put him on the best offensive player on the opposing team, and he makes the right play on offense despite not having great shooting numbers.</p><p>He’s not only gotten comparisons to Russell Westbrook, but <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-amen-thompson-nba-finals-mvp-comparison-danny-green">Danny Green compared him</a> to a former NBA Finals MVP.</p><p>“I think when I look at Amen Thompson, I’m thinking for some reason, Andre Iguodala comes to mind,” Green said. “I could see that being his ceiling, he could be that type of player. Iggy came in very athletic, with long arms, wings, and defender, and became an All-Star at one point in Philly.”</p><p>Players like Thompson are what help teams go to the next level, and with him still being young, the sky is the limit to what he can turn out to be years from now.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rockets rumors: The young star Houston thinks boasts Russell Westbrook potential

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-jabari-smith-jr-rockets-injury-return-date');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Jabari Smith Jr.’s targeted Rockets injury return date comes to light');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/NBA-rumors-Jabari-Smith-Jr.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Jabari Smith Jr.’s targeted Rockets injury return date comes to light</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-02-12T10:19:42-08:00">February 12th, 10:19am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-02-12T10:19:42-08:00">February 12th, 10:19am</time><address><a>Joshua Valdez</a>Joshua Valdez started his journalism career as the Sports Editor for the Rutgers University newspaper before becoming an associate editor and Washington Wizards/Mystics reporter for ClutchPoints. He is a diehard Yankees, Jets, Knicks, Rutgers, and Tottenham Hotspur fan. When Joshua is not either watching a game or writing about one, you can find him in an art-house movie theater or working on a screenplay.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-news-houston-acquire-cody-zeller-hawks-trade">Rockets (33-20) are already</a> fifth in the Western Conference, and soon they’ll get even stronger. Forward Jabari Smith Jr. (fractured hand), who’s been out since Jan. 3, is <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1889725074225459601" rel="noopener">targeting a return date</a> of Feb. 21 vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves, via NBA insider Chris Haynes.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sources: Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (fractured hand) — who’s been out since Jan. 3 — targeting return of Feb. 21 vs. Timberwolves. His agent Wallace Prather comments on client’s impending return. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/haynesbriefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#haynesbriefs</a> </p><p>Sponsored by <a href="https://twitter.com/Nuna_USA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Nuna_USA</a> <a href="https://t.co/nG1qf8lGCB">pic.twitter.com/nG1qf8lGCB</a></p><p>— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1889725074225459601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-news-jabari-smith-jr-miss-extended-time-hand-injury">Smith’s agent Wallace Prather</a> also mentioned that he could wait until the end of the month.</p><p>“The Rockets are one of the top teams in the Western Conference standings, and with Jabari Smith on the verge of being back in the mix, this only bodes well for their second-half stretch run,” Haynes said in his update video.</p><p>Smith is averaging 11.9 points on 43.5% shooting with 6.5 rebounds and one assist across 30.9 minutes per game this season. The 21-year-old started in all 33 of his appearances.</p><h2><b>The Rockets need Jabari Smith Jr.</b></h2><p>Houston is still within striking distance of the West’s top teams despite losing six of its last seven games. The Rockets are nearly tied with the Los Angeles Lakers (32-19), while they’re only 1.5 games behind the Denver Nuggets (35-19) and three behind the Memphis Grizzlies (36-17). However, they need Smith for <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2024-25-week-17" rel="noopener">defense and rebounding</a>, via NBA.com’s John Schumann.</p><p>“The losing streak was the Rockets’ worst stretch of defense this season (121 points allowed per 100 possessions). Their opponents shot relatively well, but the Rockets also struggled to force turnovers and secure the defensive glass,” Schumann said.</p><p>“The rebounding issue goes back to the absence of Jabari Smith Jr. for the last 20 games,” he continued. “Amen Thompson has shined as Smith’s replacement in the starting lineup, but the Rockets have grabbed just 67.7% of available defensive rebounds with Smith off the floor, compared to 74.4% with him on the floor.”</p><p>“They’ve ranked 28th in defensive rebounding percentage over his absence, down from 11th prior,” he concluded.</p><p>It’s not surprising that Houston has suffered on the glass sans Smith, as he’s third on the team in rebounds per game. The team could also use his length inside, as he’s 6-foot-10.</p><p>Smith can now point to this recent stretch as evidence of how much the Rockets need him when he hits restricted free agency and negotiates a new contract in 2026.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Jabari Smith Jr.’s targeted Rockets injury return date comes to light

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-mavericks-rockets-viewed-as-kevin-durant-offseason-trade-suitors');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Mavericks, Rockets viewed as early Kevin Durant offseason trade suitors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Mavericks-Rockets-viewed-as-early-Kevin-Durant-offseason-trade-suitors.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Mavericks, Rockets viewed as early Kevin Durant offseason trade suitors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-02-07T12:49:25-08:00">February 7th, 12:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-02-07T12:49:25-08:00">February 7th, 12:49pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Dallas Mavericks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/kevin-durant-trae-young-futures-after-trade-deadline-siegels-scoop">Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets have emerged as potential trade suitors for Kevin Durant</a> this offseason, according to NBA insider Brett Siegel. In a recent report, Siegel cited league sources who stated that both teams had inquired about Durant in the week leading up to the trade deadline and are expected to remain interested if he becomes available this summer.</p><p>Durant, 36, is in his 17th NBA season and remains one of the league’s premier scorers. He is currently <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3202/kevin-durant" rel="noopener">averaging</a> 26.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 52.4% from the field and 39.4% from three-point range across 39 games. However, despite his strong individual performance, the Phoenix Suns have struggled to find consistency in the Western Conference. The team currently holds a 25-25 record, placing them ninth in the standings.</p><p>Siegel’s report indicated that Durant grew frustrated with his name appearing in trade rumors leading up to Thursday’s deadline. League sources believe <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-kevin-durant-time-coming-to-end-brian-windhorst">teams are starting to sense his time with the Suns may be coming to an end</a>.</p><h2><b>Mavericks, Rockets positioned as potential landing spots if Kevin Durant seeks trade</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Kevin-Durant-35-stands-on-the-court-before-the-start-of-the-game.jpg"><figcaption>© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>If Durant were to request a trade this offseason, the Mavericks and Rockets would be among the most intriguing landing spots. In Dallas, Durant would reunite with Kyrie Irving, one of his closest friends, after their brief stint together with the Brooklyn Nets. Additionally, Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, who made a significant “win-now” move by <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-mavericks-luka-doncic-anthony-davis-trade">trading Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis</a>, would likely pursue another high-profile acquisition to solidify the team’s championship aspirations.</p><p>The Rockets, on the other hand, present a compelling case as a rising contender in the Western Conference. Houston currently holds a 32-19 record and sits in fourth place, a significant improvement from last season’s 41-41 finish. With Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, and the emergence of Amen Thompson, the Rockets have built a young, dynamic core that could benefit from Durant’s veteran presence and championship experience.</p><p>Houston also possesses a wealth of draft capital and young assets, making them a strong candidate to present Phoenix with a competitive trade package. With the Suns in need of long-term stability, a potential deal with the Rockets could offer a mix of promising talent and future flexibility.</p><p>With the season ongoing, speculation around Durant’s future in Phoenix continues to grow. The Mavericks and Rockets are closely monitoring the situation and could aggressively pursue the former MVP if he becomes available this offseason.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Mavericks, Rockets viewed as early Kevin Durant offseason trade suitors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-mavericks-rockets-not-expected-pull-off-kevin-durant-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Mavericks, Rockets not expected to pull off Kevin Durant trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/NBA-rumors-Mavericks-Rockets-not-expected-to-pull-off-Kevin-Durant-trade.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Mavericks, Rockets not expected to pull off Kevin Durant trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-02-05T06:51:22-08:00">February 5th, 6:51am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-02-05T06:54:15-08:00">February 5th, 6:54am</time><address><a>Owen Crisafulli</a>Owen Crisafulli is a Senior Editor and NFL Lead at ClutchPoints. He recently received his Masters in Business Administration from Nichols College. Previously, he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Sport Management and for a while ran his own sports website. Sports are his passion, and he thoroughly enjoys writing about thoughts and opinions that are related to the game. He has been a lifelong fan of the major professional teams in Boston and loves discussing all topics surrounding those teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Dallas Mavericks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>We’ve already seen one massive <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-mavericks-luka-doncic-anthony-davis-trade">blockbuster trade involving two of the NBA’s top players, Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis</a>, take place, and now rumors are suggesting that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-suns-kevin-durant-trade-jimmy-butler-warriors-heat">Phoenix Suns superstar forward Kevin Durant could be on the move</a> next. However, it doesn’t look like the Dallas Mavericks or Houston Rockets will be the ones acquiring him.</p><p>The Mavs obviously just stunned the world with their Doncic-Davis trade, while the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-rockets-remain-connected-to-suns-stars-before-trade-deadline">Rockets have reportedly shown a level of interest in Durant</a> as they look to take the next step forward in the Western Conference. With the trade deadline just over a day away, though, <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-kevin-durant-trade-latest?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=156464612&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">both of these squads aren’t expected</a> to be the team that lands Durant if he gets dealt.</p><p>“It is strongly believed that Houston remains uninterested in considering a significant in-season change to its roster — even for someone as accomplished as Durant,” Marc Stein reported. “As for the notion that Dallas could be a possible landing spot for Durant in the wake of the seismic Luka Dončić/Anthony Davis blockbuster … The Mavericks do not appear, realistically, to be in position to make another significant move before this deadline.”</p><h2><b>Mavericks, Rockets looking elsewhere as Kevin Durant rumors swirl</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Suns-forward-Kevin-Durant.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Mavericks and Rockets both have their own respective reasons for not wanting to trade for Durant. In Dallas, there isn’t really a feasible way for them to acquire Durant after their aforementioned blockbuster trade. Houston certainly has the assets to be able to create a trade package that could entice Phoenix, but they seem intent on sticking it out with their young core and not breaking the bank on Durant.</p><p>Where the Suns superstar goes from here remains to be seen, with a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sources-warriors-extensive-conversations-kevin-durant-suns-trade">Golden State Warriors reunion</a> remaining the most discussed possibility to this point. As we have seen already, though, anything can happen, which makes the Durant sweepstakes well worth watching over the next 24 hours or so.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Mavericks, Rockets not expected to pull off Kevin Durant trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-rockets-remain-connected-to-suns-stars-before-trade-deadline');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Rockets remain connected to Suns stars before trade deadline');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Rockets-remain-connected-to-Suns-stars-before-trade-deadline.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Rockets remain connected to Suns stars before trade deadline</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-02-04T18:29:42-08:00">February 4th, 6:29pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-02-04T18:48:07-08:00">February 4th, 6:48pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Rockets have ascended into the contending tier of the NBA, and it’s thanks in large part to the incredible development from their young core led by Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jalen Green, just to name a few. But the Rockets could very well cement themselves as a contender for the Larry O’Brien trophy in 2025 if they manage to swing a trade for a star, and dating back to the offseason, they have been <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-rockets-are-devin-booker-fans-but-theres-a-suns-trade-catch">setting their sights on one of the Phoenix Suns’ stars in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker</a>.</p><p>The Suns mortgaged their future in recent years to bring Durant (and Bradley Beal) in to try and contend for a title and yet they have fallen way short of expectations. Now, it’s unclear whether or not they’d be willing to just give up on their contending dreams, especially with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-jimmy-butlers-message-heat-trade-deadline">Jimmy Butler doing everything short of begging just to be sent away by the Miami Heat</a>, but the Rockets could be a team to swoop in for Durant or Booker if push comes to shove.</p><p>As reiterated by The Athletic, the Rockets are <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6113665/2025/02/04/kevin-durant-trade-rumors-suns-warriors-nba/" rel="noopener">“likely to revisit” their interest</a> in Booker prior to this year’s trade deadline and they are “contemplating a pursuit of Durant as well”.</p><p>The Rockets have plenty of trade assets at their disposal, and they have been ripe for a consolidation trade for quite some time now. Adding someone like Booker or Durant could be the final piece of the championship puzzle for them, although it will be up to the Suns if they will decide to cut their losses and start anew.</p><h2><b>Will the Rockets’ involvement in Mikal Bridges trade pay off?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Rafael-Stone.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>While the Rockets themselves did not make any blockbuster moves in the offseason, they managed to insert themselves in the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks’ trade involving Mikal Bridges. The Rockets greased the wheels of that trade, as they decided to give the Nets back the first-round picks they relinquished in the James Harden trade of 2021 in exchange for the unprotected picks the Suns surrendered in the Kevin Durant trade of 2023.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-kevin-durant-rockets-mikal-bridges">Rockets made this trade with the intention of enticing the Suns</a> to give them one of their star players so they could get their first-round picks back and hit the reset button without worry of surrendering a valuable draft asset. Only time will tell, however, if this will pay off for them.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Rockets remain connected to Suns stars before trade deadline

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-fred-vanvleet-rockets-mutual-interest-new-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Fred VanVleet, Rockets hold ‘mutual interest’ in new contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Fred-VanVleet-Rockets-hold-mutual-interest-in-new-contract.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Fred VanVleet, Rockets hold ‘mutual interest’ in new contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-30T18:48:12-08:00">January 30th, 6:48pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-30T18:48:12-08:00">January 30th, 6:48pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-news-fans-explode-after-wild-ending-celtics-upset">Houston Rockets have been one of the surprise teams</a> of the 2024-25 NBA season as they are currently 32-14 and in second place in the Western Conference standings. A big reason for the Rockets’ surge this season has been the steady presence of veteran leader Fred VanVleet, who could be in line <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/jake-fischer-latest-trading-deaaron?utm_campaign=email-post&amp;r=39f60&amp;utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">for a new contract</a>, as per NBA insider Jake Fischer.</p><p>The Rockets hold a team option on Fred VanVleet this offseason, and could decline that option to re-sign him to a long-term contract. VanVleet and the Rockets both are amenable to getting a longer deal done that would keep him as the team’s starting point guard.</p><p>With a strong young core that the Rockets have built that includes Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun and Tari Eason, VanVleet has emerged as a steady veteran influence to help steer the ship.</p><p>The Rockets originally acquired VanVleet in the 2023 offseason after signing as a free agent. He began his career with the Toronto Raptors after going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft.</p><p>This season, VanVleet has appeared in 43 games, at a little over 35 minutes per game. He’s been averaging 14.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.7 steals with splits of 38.9 percent shooting from the field, 34.7 percent shooting from the three-point line and 81.8 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>Prior to joining the Rockets, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-news-fred-vanvleet-eye-opening-take-raptors-fans-toronto-return">VanVleet emerged as a fan favorite with the Raptors</a>, playing a major role in the team’s 2019 championship run. He’s brought his style of play to the Rockets, and it’s helped elevate the team to becoming a playoff threat in the East.</p><p>During the 2023 offseason, VanVleet wasn’t the only veteran player the Rockets added to help stabilize their young group. They also added Dillon Brooks and Jeff Green, both of whom have had an impact in their own way. The Rockets seem like a lock for the playoffs, and it will be interesting to see what this group can do in the postseason.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Fred VanVleet, Rockets hold ‘mutual interest’ in new contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-the-knicks-trade-likely-happen-rockets-option');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: The Knicks trade ‘likely’ to happen, with Rockets an option');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/The-Knicks-trade-likely-to-happen-with-Rockets-an-option.png"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: The Knicks trade ‘likely’ to happen, with Rockets an option</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-30T17:45:01-08:00">January 30th, 5:45pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-30T17:45:30-08:00">January 30th, 5:45pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Knicks (32-16) are one of the hottest teams in the league, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/how-knicks-are-dominating-elite-competition-amid-5-game-win-streak">winning five straight games</a> to pull within one game of the Boston Celtics for second place in the Eastern Conference. Obtaining home-court advantage for a potential second-round playoffs matchup with the defending champions could prove instrumental in the franchise potentially seizing its first championship since 1973.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/knicks-nightmare-scenario-for-2025-nba-trade-deadline">The NBA trade deadline</a> is normally perceived as a last-minute attempt to solidify a title contender. But the Knicks made their significant transactions during the offseason, investing substantial resources to land Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. Their core is already set. Though, team president Leon Rose could still make a smaller deal by Feb. 6.</p><p>Actually, <a href="https://x.com/NBA_NewYork/status/1885052546592501942" rel="noopener">one insider is banking on it</a>. “I do think Jericho Sims gets moved,” SNY’s Ian Begley said, per the New York Basketball X account. “I don’t know what his market is. I am not sure which teams have had interest, although we noted a few weeks back that some people with the Rockets like Sims. So maybe there’s something there, but I do think that’s a move that’s really likely to happen.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ian Begley: “I do think Jericho Sims gets moved…by the deadline”</p><p>More Mailbag including Mitchell Robinson ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/qoznHSQPep">https://t.co/qoznHSQPep</a> <a href="https://t.co/zRatXXT275">pic.twitter.com/zRatXXT275</a></p><p>— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA_NewYork/status/1885052546592501942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>What should the Knicks do about Jericho Sims?</b></h2><p>Considering the 26-year-old center is averaging 1.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in only 11.6 minutes per game, it is understandable why the Knicks would consider moving on from him. Precious Achiuwa is finding success in the backup role and Mitchell Robinson will eventually return to action, leaving the squad’s big-man depth in decent standing at this time. Since Sims is in the midst of his fourth NBA campaign and is not earning many opportunities in New York, a split can benefit both parties.</p><p>The Rockets are an intriguing destination, as they have committed to developing their younger players. Steven Adams is unlikely to lose his grip on backup center duties, but Jericho Sims could still impress management. A promising couple of months in Houston can lead to an offseason contract, and perhaps a bigger role during the 2025-26 campaign.</p><p>Leon Rose might as well gauge the Texas alum’s league-wide appeal and see if he can net anything of value in return. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/knicks-news-mitchell-robinson-return-ankle-surgery">Robinson still has many injury roadblocks</a> to clear after undergoing ankle surgery last May, which forces the Knicks to exercise a little caution ahead of next Thursday’s trade deadline.</p><p>If there is any worthwhile offer, however, it seems like Sims’ time in New York will come to an end. While a blockbuster move is not feasible under the squad’s current financial circumstances, smart decision-making is still vitally important.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: The Knicks trade ‘likely’ to happen, with Rockets an option

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-rockets-trade-deaaron-fox-kings');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Rockets’ trade plans ‘unchanged’ as De’Aaron Fox becomes available');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Rockets-trade-plans-unchanged-as-DeAaron-Fox-becomes-available.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Rockets’ trade plans ‘unchanged’ as De’Aaron Fox becomes available</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-28T14:58:08-08:00">January 28th, 2:58pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-28T14:58:08-08:00">January 28th, 2:58pm</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Rockets were immediately mentioned as a possible suitor for De’Aaron Fox on Tuesday after a report suggested that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/kings-news-open-deaaron-fox-trade-talks">Sacramento Kings may be open to trading the guard</a>. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, though, <a href="https://x.com/TheSteinLine/status/1884348601222279471" rel="noopener">sources have said</a> that the Rockets want to proceed with their current group of players.</p><p>“There will be inevitable trade connections made between the Rockets and De’Aaron Fox, but league sources tell @TheSteinLine that Houston’s in-season intentions remain unchanged: Let this current group see how far it can go,” Stein wrote on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>The Rockets feature an intriguing core of players. Jalen Green features superstar potential, while Amen Thompson has made a significant impact. Alperen Sengun is also establishing himself as a star. Fred VanVleet is a reliable veteran, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-news-dillon-brooks-takes-subtle-shot-at-kristaps-porzingis-after-36-point-outburst">Dillon Brooks is capable of helping the Rockets win</a> on any given night.</p><p>Could a star such as De’Aaron Fox help the Rockets take a step forward? It is possible, but Stein’s report is understandable.</p><p>One of the important ingredients for winning in any team sport is allowing a core of players to develop. Sure, a team can have plenty of talented players on the roster. If those players don’t know how to play alongside one another, however, then problems can emerge.</p><p>The Rockets’ success this season has been a product of a number of guys improving from an individual standpoint as well as the core developing together. Houston’s enhanced chemistry has played a pivotal role in their winning season. The Rockets hold a 31-14 record as of this story’s writing, which is good for second place in the competitive Western Conference.</p><p>Trading for Fox would make more sense in a year or two once the core has fully developed. At that point, it is much easier to determine exactly what a team needs to reach the next level. And perhaps, as evidenced by dynasties in the past, the Rockets will be able to win championships with their current core of players.</p><p>With all of that being said, acquiring De’Aaron Fox would not be a bad move by any means. It seems as if Houston is content with their current roster for now, though.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Rockets’ trade plans ‘unchanged’ as De’Aaron Fox becomes available

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-zero-buzz-around-rockets-making-major-trade-deadline-deal');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Zero buzz around Rockets making major trade deadline deal');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NBA-rumors-Zero-buzz-around-Rockets-making-major-trade-deadline-deal.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Zero buzz around Rockets making major trade deadline deal</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-27T17:54:34-08:00">January 27th, 5:54pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-27T17:54:34-08:00">January 27th, 5:54pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Rockets have played well above expectations throughout the 2024-25 season thus far. While many expected them to take another leap after putting up a 41-win 2023-24 campaign, not too many foresaw that they would end up being one of the best teams in the association. Entering their Monday night clash against the reigning champion Boston Celtics on the road, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cavs-news-no-excuses-after-loss-rockets">Rockets are boasting a 30-14 record</a> — the third-best in the league at present.</p><p>This makes the Rockets a legitimate contender for the 2025 NBA championship, although it must be said that the road ahead of them in that regard will be difficult to navigate. After all, while Houston may have one of the best defenses in the league at the moment, there are moments when their offense sputters, and there is a general sense around the team that they may be one major piece away from being a championship favorite.</p><p>Regardless, <a href="https://hoopshype.com/rumor/brian-windhorst-on-houston-making-a-trade-the-rockets-have-all-these-expiring-contracts-and-draft-assets-but-i-have-heard-nothing/" rel="noopener">it doesn’t seem as though</a> the Rockets will be making a blockbuster trade to boost their championship odds this season, preferring instead to let their young core develop in its current trajectory. But there have been some rumblings, as per Brian Windhorst of ESPN, that the Rockets may have something in the works.</p><p>“Houston has all of these… They’ve got a bunch of expiring contracts, they got a bunch of draft assets but I have not heard, and I don’t have all the information, but I have not heard nothing,” Windhorst said on ESPN’s The Hoop Collective, via HoopsHype.</p><p>This sentiment was echoed by Tim MacMahon, who said that the Rockets have indeed been operating as though they’re not going to make any “significant trade”. If something isn’t broken, then there is no need at all to fix things, and Houston appears to be subscribing to this line of thinking by heart.</p><h2><b>Rockets look to bolster frontcourt depth via trade?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Robert-Williams-III-shooting.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Per ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sources-rockets-robert-williams-iii-trade-buzz-surges-ime-udoka-exchange">Rockets have reportedly been looking into the possibility</a> of trading for Portland Trail Blazers big man Robert Williams III — an athletic rim protector who has thrived under current Houston head coach Ime Udoka back when they were on the Celtics.</p><p>Williams will slot in on the Rockets’ rotation as the primary backup center; having an athletic force like him solidify an already-incredible defense would be such a luxury for them, especially in matchups that target Alperen Sengun in pick and rolls. A backup role, however, will be all Williams gets on the Rockets considering his past availability issues.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Zero buzz around Rockets making major trade deadline deal

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-rockets-are-devin-booker-fans-but-theres-a-suns-trade-catch');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Rockets are Devin Booker ‘fans,’ but there’s a Suns trade catch');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/0Rockets-are-Devin-Booker-fans-but-theres-a-Suns-trade-catch0-1.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Rockets are Devin Booker ‘fans,’ but there’s a Suns trade catch</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-16T09:39:21-08:00">January 16th, 9:39am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-16T09:39:21-08:00">January 16th, 9:39am</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Rockets are one of the league’s most surprising teams this season, and they’re looking to make their team better. On the other hand, the Phoenix Suns haven’t been the team that many expected, and they also want to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sources-inside-suns-nick-richards-trade-pursuit-jusuf-nurkic-drama">make moves to improve their roster</a>. In the middle of all of this is Devin Booker, who the Rockets <a href="https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/01/suns-notes-booker-road-trip-allen-trades.html" rel="noopener">may have an interest in</a>, according to Hoopsrumors.</p><p>“Within a discussion about Houston’s future trade options on the latest Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon points out that the Rockets control ‘a lot of Suns draft capital’ and have ‘let it be known they are Devin Booker fans,'” Hoopsrumors wrote.</p><p>“However, while Booker might be the sort of player the Rockets would be willing to go all-in for on the trade market, MacMahon quickly added that there’s no indication the Suns would be interested in making that sort of deal, despite having underachieved this season at 19-20 with the league’s most expensive roster. His ESPN colleague Brian Windhorst interjected to drive that point home,” Hoopsrumors continued.</p><p>There doesn’t seem to be a scenario at this time where the Suns would even consider trying to trade Booker. If anything, they want to keep Booker and Durant together and add another piece to the fold. That <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-everybody-knows-jimmy-butler-wants-suns-trade">player has been rumored to be Jimmy Butler</a>, but it looks like they’re having a hard time trying to get him to the team in a trade.</p><h2>Could the Suns consider trading Devin Booker?</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/0Rockets-are-Devin-Booker-fans-but-theres-a-Suns-trade-catch0.jpg"><figcaption>Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Unless the Suns decide that they want to blow up the entire roster and start from scratch, there’s no way they consider trading Devin Booker. He’s been a part of the team for a while now, and he seems to be involved in their future plans. You can go even as far as saying he could retire as a Suns player.</p><p>The Rockets are still a young team that has found success with the development of several players, and they may need one more piece to get them over the hump. There will be stars who may ask out of their current situations that the Rockets could pursue in the future, but as of now, they may have to stick with what they have.</p><p>In the slight chance that the Suns decide to trade Booker and it’s to the Rockets, that would be the exact piece that they need to put them over the top and be real contenders in the league.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Rockets are Devin Booker ‘fans,’ but there’s a Suns trade catch

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-deaaron-fox-linked-to-4-teams-by-nba-insider-as-trade-buzz-intensifies');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: De’Aaron Fox linked to 4 teams by NBA Insider as trade buzz intensifies');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NBA-rumors-DeAaron-Fox-linked-to-4-teams-by-NBA-Insider-as-trade-buzz-intensifies.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: De’Aaron Fox linked to 4 teams by NBA Insider as trade buzz intensifies</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-28T10:33:29-08:00">December 28th, 10:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-28T10:33:29-08:00">December 28th, 10:33am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>There is no doubt that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-deaaron-fox-agent-meets-with-kings">Sacramento Kings star De’Aaron Fox has been in trade rumors</a> as the deadline approaches on Feb. 6 and the struggles continue for the team. This was amplified when the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/kings-news-mike-brown-fired-amid-disappointing-season">Kings surprisingly fired head coach Mike Brown</a> as when talking about Fox, ESPN insider Tim MacMahon discussed the teams linked to the star point guard.</p><p>The four teams mentioned in connection to Fox are the San Antonio Spurs, the Houston Rockets, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Miami Heat on the podcast “The Hoop Collective” along with Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps. He would mention to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtE6fBowchc&amp;t=2667s" rel="noopener">“keep an eye”</a> on the first two, questioned the Lakers link, and mentioned he “heard Miami” since Fox and star Bam Adebayo both went to the University of Kentucky and were teammates.</p><p>“If he does ask out, San Antonio, Houston, keep an eye on those two,” MacMahon said. “I’ve heard Lakers but it’s hard for me to tell how much of that is just people jumping to conclusions because he’s a Klutch client. And I’ve heard Miami with the Bam connection there.”</p><p>MacMahon would focus more so on the Rockets and Spurs and he spoke about the two teams needing offensive engines which Fox has been. Especially San Antonio as he spoke about the possible duo of Fox and Victor Wembanyama.</p><p>“I think Fox is a hell of a player, I think you put him in Houston or San Antonio I think they’d be pretty scary,” MacMahon said.</p><h2><b>Kings reportedly hold “zero interest” in trading De’Aaron Fox </b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DeAaron-Fox-on-Dec.-26-2024.jpg"><figcaption>Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Speaking about the speculation, ClutchPoints NBA Insider Brett Sigel reported that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-trade-market-west-contenders-buying-east-sellers-siegels-scoop">Kings are not looking to trade Fox</a> and that “they intend to give him the supermax extension he wants.” He would also say that if Fox were to ask for a trade, there would no double be “numerous suitors.”</p><p>“Despite the fact that he has one more year left on his contract and the Kings’ struggles are mounting, this organization holds zero interest in trading Fox before the trade deadline this season, multiple league sources told ClutchPoints,” Siegel wrote. “Fox is the face of the Kings’ franchise, and they intend to give him the supermax extension he wants. While this will be a hot topic in league circles over the next several months and heading into the offseason, Sacramento and Fox are not looking to part ways at this moment.”</p><p>“If things change and Fox eventually asks for a trade after this season, he will have numerous suitors,” Siegel continued. “Right now, it is pointless to speculate about who could target Fox in a trade or free agency simply due to the fact that he is committed to the Kings this season and the organization holds no interest in seeing him leave.”</p><p>At any rate, the team is currently 13-18 which puts them 12th in the Western Conference as the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/kings-vs-lakers-prediction-odds-pick-12-28-2024">Kings next face the Lakers</a> on Saturday night.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: De’Aaron Fox linked to 4 teams by NBA Insider as trade buzz intensifies

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mavericks-news-dallas-jimmy-butler-trade-rumors-claim-ex-player');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jimmy Butler Mavericks trade rumors draw eye-opening claim from ex-player');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Mavericks-news-Dallas-Jimmy-Butler-trade-rumors-draw-eye-opening-claim-from-ex-player.jpg"></figure><h1>Jimmy Butler Mavericks trade rumors draw eye-opening claim from ex-player</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-12T11:13:51-08:00">December 12th, 11:13am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-12T11:13:51-08:00">December 12th, 11:13am</time><address><a>Preston Byers</a>Preston Byers is an experienced writer and journalist who currently serves as an associate editor for ClutchPoints and as a staff writer at The Vindicator and Tribune Chronicle, where he covers sports in the Mahoning Valley. Previously, Preston worked as an associate editor for Dot Esports and a site expert for FanSided's Union and Blue.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Dallas Mavericks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Jimmy Butler is reportedly available to be traded, and the Miami Heat star may <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-jimmy-butlers-preferred-trade-destinations-with-heat-open-to-offers">manage to return to his home state of Texas</a>. But one former player says it would be better for Butler to land with the Dallas Mavericks instead of the Houston Rockets if he were to be traded.</p><p>Chandler Parsons, who played 10 seasons in the NBA, including two with the Mavericks, said Dallas <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1867274421351637151" rel="noopener">would be a better spot</a> for 35-year-old Butler even with the Rockets’ impressive play this year.</p><p>“I love the Rockets move, but they have something good going. I don’t like to shake it up when something’s good going,” Parsons said on FanDuel TV’s ‘Run It Back’. “And when you look at a team like this, [if] Jimmy Butler goes to the Rockets, I think he thinks he’s the number one option. And I think that’s not the best situation for Jimmy Butler right now. To me, it’s Dallas. You go there, and there’s a pecking order. It’s known; this is Luka’s team and then there’s Kyrie, and then there’s Jimmy Butler. And weaknesses for their team is defense, so I think he can provide them a lot of things, fill a lot of holes that they don’t have quite yet.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Jimmy Butler goes to the Rockets, I think he thinks he's the number one option, that's not the best situation… To me, it's Dallas, he would give [Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving] exactly what they need."</p><p>– Chandler Parsons 👀</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/RunItBackFDTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RunItBackFDTV</a>)<a href="https://t.co/TBIVvTTIjA">pic.twitter.com/TBIVvTTIjA</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1867274421351637151?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Is a Mavericks trade for Heat star Jimmy Butler even possible?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Jimmy_Butler_trying_to_get_past_Mavericks_guard_Kyrie_Irving.jpeg"><figcaption>Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mavericks-jimmy-butler-trade-heat-almost-impossible"> problem with a potential Mavericks trade</a> for Butler, as Parsons went on to mention, is that Dallas would have to part with one or multiple key pieces in exchange for Butler.</p><p>Thanks to the signing of Klay Thompson over the offseason, Dallas is hard-capped at the $178.1 million first apron, meaning it cannot exceed that cap figure for the entirety of the season. Currently, the Mavericks sit about $526,000 below the first apron, meaning any trade for Butler would effectively have to match outgoing salaries with the $48.8 million Butler is making this season.</p><p>To reach that figure would involve packaging multiple players, including possibly Klay Thompson ($15.9 million), PJ Washington (15.5 million), Daniel Gafford ($13.4 million), Maxi Kleber ($11 million), or Naji Marshall ($8.6 million). Neither Marshall nor Thompson can be traded until Dec. 15 since they each signed deals with Dallas in the offseason.</p><p>Whether Dallas is a realistic destination or not, it would appear Butler’s time in Miami is coming to an end. While he can pick up a $52.4 million player option during the summer, the relationship between the Heat and Butler seems more strained than ever despite two NBA Finals appearances since Butler arrived in 2019.</p><p>After the Heat’s first-round playoff loss to the Boston Celtics, Butler, who missed the series due to a sprained MCL, said the Celtics “would be at home” had he played. Shortly thereafter, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-pat-riley-warns-jimmy-butler-to-keep-mouth-shut-after-viral-celtics-comments">Pat Riley, the Heat’s chief decisionmaker</a> and former head coach, did not hold back in his criticism of Butler’s comments.</p><p>“I thought, ‘Is that Jimmy trolling or is that Jimmy serious?’ If you’re not on the court playing against Boston or on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut on the criticism of those teams,” Riley said after the season.</p><p>At that time, Riley also seemed to place an emphasis on night-to-night availability for the Heat’s players. Since joining the Heat, he has never played 65 games in a single season. Butler has played in 17 of Miami’s 22 games so far this season, putting him on pace for 63 games, three more than he played last season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jimmy Butler Mavericks trade rumors draw eye-opening claim from ex-player

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/rockets-perfect-jimmy-butler-trade-offer-amid-heat-rumors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rockets’ perfect Jimmy Butler trade offer amid Heat rumors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Rockets-perfect-Jimmy-Butler-trade-offer-amid-Heat-rumors.jpg"></figure><h1>Rockets’ perfect Jimmy Butler trade offer amid Heat rumors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-11T08:46:30-08:00">December 11th, 8:46am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-11T08:46:30-08:00">December 11th, 8:46am</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>On Tuesday morning, a report came out from Shams Charania of ESPN that the Miami Heat are finally listening to trade overtures for Jimmy Butler, their franchise cornerstone and best player for five whole seasons and counting. Butler, however, has a list of teams that he’d prefer to go to in the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-jimmy-butlers-preferred-trade-destinations-with-heat-open-to-offers">event of a trade</a>, as he would like to play for the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, or Golden State Warriors.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-news-gm-pours-cold-water-on-jimmy-butler-trade-rumors">Rockets stand out</a> as an interesting potential destination for the 35-year-old forward. They are crying out for a reliable go-to-guy who can create his own shot from the perimeter, and at this point, Jalen Green isn’t quite at the level yet that’s needed for Houston to become a legitimate contending team in the loaded Western Conference, strong start to the 2024-25 season notwithstanding.</p><p>Their moves this past offseason also show that they are angling for a move for the league’s next available star, and Butler could be the one to fit the bill. He is from Houston as well, so the Rockets will gain the additional fanfare that comes with bringing in a hometown hero.</p><p>The only question now is just how much the Rockets will be willing to give the Heat in a potential Butler trade. Butler is 35, is injury-prone, and has been showing signs of decline. Moreover, he is in the final year of his contract (he has a player option worth $52 million for next season that he is likely to decline in search of a longer-term deal) and he’s <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/8081/jimmy-butler" rel="noopener">making $48.8 million</a> — making salary-matching quite the chore.</p><p>It may take talent to receive talent in return, but the Rockets have to be very cautious when it comes to giving up too much for a star whose best days might be in the rearview mirror.</p><h2><b>Rockets go all-in on Jimmy Butler</b></h2><p><b>Rockets trade: Jabari Smith Jr., Steven Adams, Jae’Sean Tate, Jeff Green, Aaron Holiday, 2027 HOU first-round pick, two second-round picks</b></p><p><b>Heat trade: Jimmy Butler</b></p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jimmy-Butler-during-Cavs-Heat-game.jpg"><figcaption>Rhona Wise-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Any team would want to have Jimmy Butler on their corner by the time the playoffs roll around. The Rockets most certainly would; he fits their defense-first identity to a T, and if there’s anyone best-suited to lead the team on both ends of the court, even in an offensive environment that doesn’t have the best spacing, it’s the 35-year-old forward out of Marquette.</p><p>But the Rockets will have to part ways with a prized member of their young core to do so. Jalen Green is a logical candidate, but his contract extension makes trading him away this season very difficult. Moreover, Green, despite his inefficiencies, remains very much beloved within the organization, with the team having high hopes for the 22-year-old’s development.</p><p>Alperen Sengun, of course, is a non-starter and the Heat will have to offer Bam Adebayo just to make the Rockets think about parting ways with the 22-year-old center. Amen Thompson has been turning heads all season long with his incredible defense, and his offense has been coming a long way.</p><p>This makes Jabari Smith Jr. the most obvious trade chip for the Rockets; the third overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft is being de-prioritized in the rotation, as he is posting the lowest usage rate of his career this season. Moreover, the Rockets have a few obvious candidates to take his spot in the starting lineup in the event of a departure, with Tari Eason and even Thompson being very capable of emerging as the team’s starter at the four.</p><p>Smith’s shooting and defense at the four makes him a hand-and-glove fit in the Heat organization, and perhaps he could improve his play with a more featured role in Miami.</p><p>The Heat could ask the Rockets for Dillon Brooks in any trade, but Brooks has been instrumental in turning the team’s culture around. Brooks is also a playoff-viable weapon and would spare Butler from the responsibility of guarding the team’s opposing player (Thompson could do this as well), and having as many wings who are capable of logging a heavy workload in the playoffs is a recipe for success — just ask the most recent NBA champion Boston Celtics.</p><p>In turn, the Rockets will give the Heat two second-round picks in addition to their 2027 first-rounder, with Miami perhaps haggling to turn those second-rounders into another first-round asset.</p><p>The Heat may also ask for Cam Whitmore, but Smith is a good enough prize on his own, and it’s not like they have too much leverage in this situation. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-jimmy-butlers-preferred-trade-destinations-with-heat-open-to-offers">Rockets can afford to be patient</a>, however, and wait for Butler to fall into their laps — especially when a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mavericks-jimmy-butler-trade-heat-almost-impossible">Mavericks trade is very unlikely</a> and any Warriors deal may have to include a prized youngster such as Jonathan Kuminga or Brandin Podziemski.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rockets’ perfect Jimmy Butler trade offer amid Heat rumors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/rockets-news-gm-pours-cold-water-on-jimmy-butler-trade-rumors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rockets GM pours cold water on Jimmy Butler trade rumors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Rockets-news-GM-pours-cold-water-on-Jimmy-Butler-trade-rumors.jpg"></figure><h1>Rockets GM pours cold water on Jimmy Butler trade rumors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-10T14:32:42-08:00">December 10th, 2:32pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-10T15:02:01-08:00">December 10th, 3:02pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Talking about the rumors that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-jimmy-butlers-preferred-trade-destinations-with-heat-open-to-offers">Houston Rockets would be a preferred destination for Jimmy Butler</a> if he were to be traded by the Miami Heat, general manager Rafael Stone gave his opinion on the recent news.</p><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/warriors-vs-rockets-prediction-odds-pick-for-2024-nba-cup-quarterfinals">Rockets prepare to take on the Golden State Warriors</a> in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, Brown said on SiriusXM NBA Radio that he would be <a href="https://x.com/SiriusXMNBA/status/1866593331486339309" rel="noopener">“shocked if something changes this season.”</a></p><p>“I mean, of course, my job is to be open to everything, so I’m not going to not do my job,” Stone said. “We like this team. You know, we definitely do not intend to change anything. And I would be shocked if something changes this season.</p><p>“You know, we like where we’re at. We want to continue to develop our guys, you know, and full stop, and will I listen to other teams? Of course, I will. That’s my job, you know.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Miami Heat are open to listening to offers for Jimmy Butler.</p><p>Houston’s General Manager, Rafael Stone, shares his thoughts with <a href="https://twitter.com/TermineRadio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TermineRadio</a> on trade speculation involving the Rockets. <a href="https://t.co/cCclysaUZF">pic.twitter.com/cCclysaUZF</a></p><p>— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SiriusXMNBA/status/1866593331486339309?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Rockets’ Rafael Stone shuts down any Jimmy Butler talk</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jimmy-Butler-on-Dec-7-2024.jpg"><figcaption>Jim Rassol-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-news-ime-udoka-demands-alperen-sengun-get-european-out-of-game">Rockets are led by Alperen Sengun,</a> Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Dillon Brooks, and others, Brown likes where the current team is at in the present and how they can develop in the future. However, Stone would say that as a part of his job, due diligence is necessary, though still putting down the notion that a trade for Butler is happening.</p><p>“But again, no, there’s no part of me, there’s no part of our decision-making process that suggests that we’re looking to do anything big now or in the near term,” Stone said. “And you know…we want this group to be as good as it can be this year, and then we’ll evaluate things at the end of the year.</p><p>“But the hope is very much that this core group can lead us to where we want to go and that, from a transactional perspective, we’re largely done.”</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-rockets-mavericks-quietly-linked-potential-jimmy-butler-trade-pursuit">Rockets have been connected to Butler trade rumors</a> for a while now, especially since the Heat star is from the city and the team is on the come-up. At any rate, Houston is 16-8, which puts them third in the Western Conference as they prepare to take on the Warriors on Wednesday night.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rockets GM pours cold water on Jimmy Butler trade rumors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-jimmy-butlers-preferred-trade-destinations-with-heat-open-to-offers');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Jimmy Butler’s preferred trade destinations with Heat open to offers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NBA-rumors-Jimmy-Butlers-preferred-trade-destinations-with-Heat-open-to-offers.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Jimmy Butler’s preferred trade destinations with Heat open to offers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-10T06:25:30-08:00">December 10th, 6:25am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-10T14:46:51-08:00">December 10th, 2:46pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Dallas Mavericks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Miami Heat are open to the possibility of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-rockets-mavericks-quietly-linked-potential-jimmy-butler-trade-pursuit">trading star Jimmy Butler</a>, who reportedly has three teams he would prefer to play for. This comes despite the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-use-34-point-tyler-herro-explosion-to-take-down-no-1-cavs">Heat defeating the red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers</a> last Sunday as part of a three-game win streak.</p><p>“The Heat are open to listening to offers for Butler and making a deal if the proposal is right, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/42878390/shams-charania-nba-pass-trade-intel-jimmy-butler-brandon-ingram-golden-state-warriors" rel="noopener">league sources told ESPN</a>,” ESPN writer Shams Charania said. “And Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, has indicated in league circles that Butler is open to destinations such as two Texas teams (Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks) and the Golden State Warriors.”</p><p>This would not be the first time fans hear such teams as the Rockets, and Mavericks mentioned in connection to Butler, as Michael Sotto of HoopsHype said last Monday that the <a href="https://hoopshype.com/lists/top-nba-trade-candidates-for-the-2024-25-season/" rel="noopener">two are contenders for the star.</a></p><p>“Within league circles, there’s been quiet discourse about whether the Houston Rockets or Dallas Mavericks will eventually land Butler, a Texas native, should he and Miami decide to part ways,” Sotto reports. “For now, however, the Rockets are among the top teams with a young core, and the Mavericks remain a contender in the tightly competitive Western Conference.</p><p>“It’s also worth noting executives who’ve checked in on Butler got the impression that Miami wants to figure out their star’s future after the season,” Sotto concludes.</p><h2><b>Heat’s Pat Riley originally noncommittal on Jimmy Butler extension</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jimmy-Butler-on-Dec.-8-2024.jpg"><figcaption>Rhona Wise-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The forward has made a major mark on the league, especially with Miami, after being traded from the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019, resulting in two NBA Finals appearances.</p><p>However, the trade speculation arose when <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-jimmy-butler-contract-extension-trade-rumors-key-pat-riley-update">Heat president Pat Riley was noncommittal in giving Butler</a> a contract extension, citing player availability as a reason since Butler hasn’t played more than 64 games in a season with the franchise.</p><p>“Well, you know, we don’t have to do that for a year, and so we have not discussed that internally right now, but we have to look at that and then making that kind of commitment,” Riley said. “We don’t have to do it until ’25 actually, but we’ll see. We haven’t made a decision on it. And we really haven’t really in earnest discussed it. So we’ll see what happens.”</p><p>“Well, I mean, if you request we can either accept, or we can say we’re going to think about it,” Riley said. “We’ve not made a decision on it, and I think you can make too much out of this. You still got two years left on the contract. Theoretically he’s got a player option, but that’s something that we have to give some real thought to based on a lot of factors.</p><p>“I don’t want to go through the litany of factors right now because they all go up into different hypotheticals, but yeah, that’s a big decision on our part to commit those kinds of resources unless you’re somebody who’s really going to be there and available every single night, that’s the truth.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Pat Riley on if he will be giving Jimmy Butler a contract extension this summer.</p><p>“Well, we don’t have to that for a year, so we have not discussed that internally…” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatCulture?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatCulture</a> <a href="https://t.co/JnJwCuKfbS">pic.twitter.com/JnJwCuKfbS</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1787546558617330077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Heat’s Jimmy Butler can ‘shift the balance of power in the NBA’</b></h2><p>Still, Butler is seen as a player who can “shift the balance of power in the NBA,” according to Charania, as if a team were to trade for him, they would get a “perennial postseason performer.”</p><p>“Every trade deadline period, there are players who emerge as key figures to watch — those who could shift the balance of power in the NBA,” Charania wrote. “This season, all eyes will be on Miami Heat six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler and New Orleans Pelicans onetime All-Star Brandon Ingram.”</p><p>“Butler, 35, is one of the NBA’s elite competitors and is a perennial postseason performer,” Charania continued. “His teams have made the playoffs in 12 of his first 13 seasons, including the five previous seasons in Miami, where he has led the Heat to two NBA Finals berths and one additional Eastern Conference finals appearance.”</p><h2><b>Heat’s Jimmy Butler would want a ‘win-now title contender’ if traded</b></h2><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-heats-jimmy-butler-seeking-113-million-contract-extension">Butler was originally seeking a contract extension</a> last offseason before the comments from Riley as the conversation turned from the 35-year-old waiting for next offseason to become a free agent.</p><p>As Charania will say, this season is a contract year for Butler to further prove his worth for another team or Miami in free agency as he intends to “opt-out of his deal” and want to go to a “win-now title contender” if a trade were to happen.</p><p>“Both Butler and Ingram are essentially in contract seasons,” Charania wrote. “Butler has $49 million on his contract for this season — with a $52 million player option for 2025-26. The sides did not reach an extension last summer.”</p><p>“Above all, though, he is believed to prefer a win-now title contender in any trade,” Charania continued. “Teams have also been informed that Butler intends to opt out of his deal in the offseason and become a free agent, sources said.</p><p>“The Heat have hovered around the play-in tournament over the last two seasons, and with Butler’s contractual status, they have been open-minded to trade inquiries.”</p><h2><b>Heat’s Jimmy Butler has always loved the city of Miami</b></h2><p>There is no doubt that Butler has said many times how he loves the city of Miami, where the talks of a trade could be closed shut if the two sides could agree to a decision on their future come the offseason. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/exclusive-jimmy-butler-makes-10-year-tyler-herro-heat-claim">Butler just opened a coffee shop in Miami</a> from his brand, “BIGFACE,” this past Friday.</p><p>“Butler has been professional throughout the season, by all accounts, and has an affinity for Miami, where he even opened up his first “BIGFACE” coffee shop in the city’s Design District,” Charania wrote. “He has produced on the floor, too: 19 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while shooting a career-best 55.7% from the field in his fewest attempts since 2013-14 (11.3).”</p><h2><b>The Warriors are looking for a player like Heat’s Jimmy Butler </b></h2><p>So far this season, Butler has been averaging 19 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 55.7 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the arc.</p><p>“Sources said the Warriors are looking to add a star player — a playmaker, scorer — alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green,” Charania wrote. “Golden State pursued Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen and Paul George as a free agent last offseason and is expected to remain aggressive this deadline.</p><p>“A telltale moment happened for the Warriors on Friday night when Curry, Green, and coach Steve Kerr spoke about this being fourth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga’s time to take the mantle, and Green accepted a bench role for Kuminga to start at power forward.”</p><p>The latest rumors about Butler come at an ironic time as the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-bam-adebayo-tyler-herro-open-up-on-miamis-positive-momentum-after-win-vs-cavs">Heat are amid their best stretch</a> as a team this season, on a three-game winning streak, beating teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and the Cavs. They are 12-10, which puts them fifth in the East. Their next game is Thursday against the Toronto Raptors.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Jimmy Butler’s preferred trade destinations with Heat open to offers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-rockets-still-expected-to-make-big-trade-splash');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Rockets still expected to make big trade splash');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NBA-rumors-Rockets-still-expected-to-make-big-trade-splash.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Rockets still expected to make big trade splash</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-02T23:04:41-08:00">December 2nd, 11:04pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-02T23:04:41-08:00">December 2nd, 11:04pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Rockets have arrived; after starting to put the league on notice last season en route to finishing with a .500 record (41-41), the Rockets have been one of the best teams in the association to start the 2024-25 campaign. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/thunder-news-mark-daigneault-honest-admission-loss-vs-rockets">Fresh off a rousing win</a> over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night, the Rockets currently boast a 15-6 record that currently has them at second in the Western Conference standings.</p><p>After all the noise surrounding the Rockets’ potential movement in the trade market, with the likes of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Jimmy Butler being linked to Houston, they have shown in the early goings of the season that they have what it takes to be a legitimate contender as presently constructed. But according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, “<a href="https://hoopshype.com/lists/top-nba-trade-candidates-for-the-2024-25-season/" rel="noopener">there’s skepticism</a> from NBA executives around the league that Houston won’t look to acquire a big-name star at some point.”</p><p>In fact, Scotto wrote that “the Rockets have even more flexibility as they decide who will remain a part of their young core looking ahead” due to their torrid start to the season. And at this point, it’s looking more and more clear who the core pieces will be for Houston moving forward.</p><p>Alperen Sengun continues to be a force at the center of everything the Rockets do on offense, and Sengun has actually done a good job at improving his defense; it’s no coincidence that the Rockets own the second-best defense in the association in terms of points allowed per 100 possessions.</p><p>Amen Thompson and Tari Eason profile as future starting-caliber players with room to grow perhaps into All-Stars in the future. Their defense on the wings makes them the perfect fit alongside Sengun.</p><p>That leaves Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. as <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-rockets-mavericks-quietly-linked-potential-jimmy-butler-trade-pursuit">potential trade candidates</a> in the future, but the Rockets aren’t in any sort of a rush anyway considering their incredible play as of late.</p><h2><b>Will the Rockets trade away Jalen Green?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rockets-guard-Jalen-Green-4-drives-for-a-dunk.jpg"></figure><p>Jalen Green is a valued member of the Rockets’ young core, that much is certain. But the Rockets have also been giving Green a short leash. Ime Udoka has tended to bench Green whenever he needs more defense and work rate on the court, and it’s not like Green has been consistent enough on offense to warrant overlooking his lapses on the defensive end.</p><p>However, according to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sources-jonathan-kuminga-alperen-sengun-jalen-green-contract-extension-decisions">Rockets “have long believed</a> in Green and his potential” and his three-year, $106 million extension reflects that. They will give Green as many chances as possible to reach what the Rockets believe is an All-Star level ceiling, so it’s looking like he’s safe from trade talks — for now.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Rockets still expected to make big trade splash

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-rockets-mavericks-quietly-linked-potential-jimmy-butler-trade-pursuit');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Rockets, Mavericks ‘quietly’ linked to potential Jimmy Butler trade pursuit');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NBA-rumors-Rockets-Mavericks-quietly-linked-to-potential-Jimmy-Butler-trade-pursuit.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Rockets, Mavericks ‘quietly’ linked to potential Jimmy Butler trade pursuit</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-02T09:09:26-08:00">December 2nd, 9:09am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-03T12:40:00-08:00">December 3rd, 12:40pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Dallas Mavericks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>If Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is on the move this season, rumors have already circulated about two potential suitors in the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks. Both could be one star away from becoming championship contenders. As <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-jimmy-butler-erik-spoelstra-reveal-jaime-jaquez-jr-s-superpower">Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. ramps back</a> up from an ankle injury, many wonder if Butler will still be in the east by the end of the season. As he inches closer to the final year of his three-year, $146.3 million contract, a player option for 2025-26 worth $52.4 million, some speculate Miami will trade him for assets.</p><p>Two potential <a href="https://hoopshype.com/lists/top-nba-trade-candidates-for-the-2024-25-season/" rel="noopener">suitors</a> include the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks, per HoopsHype Michael Sotto.</p><p>“Within league circles, there’s been quiet discourse about whether the Houston Rockets or Dallas Mavericks will eventually land Butler, a Texas native, should he and Miami decide to part ways,” Sotto reports. “For now, however, the Rockets are among the top teams with a young core, and the Mavericks remain a contender in the tightly competitive Western Conference.</p><p>“It’s also worth noting executives who’ve checked in on Butler got the impression that Miami wants to figure out their star’s future after the season,” Sotto concludes.</p><p>Waiting could be in the Heat’s best interest as they gauge their position in the Eastern Conference. While it’s still early, Miami is a .500 (9-9) team, good enough for sixth place. There’s still plenty of time for the Heat to pick up steam ahead of the postseason, as only the top five teams are above .500 in their conference.</p><p>In the Western Conference, a .500 record keeps you entirely out of the playoff picture. The Minnesota Timberwolves, currently eleventh in the standings, are slightly below (9-10).</p><h2><b>Will the Heat trade Jimmy Butler to the Western Conference?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Heat-star-Jimmy-Butler.jpg"><figcaption>Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Still, it’s fun for Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets fans to dream of acquiring Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, who could be the difference between winning and losing the NBA Finals. For the Western Conference champion Mavericks, offering a trade package that includes Klay Thompson is a must. They’ll also need to include PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford to match Butler’s $48.7 million salary. In the end, is it worth it for the Mavs?</p><p>The Rockets, on the other hand, are in a similar situation. Dillon Brooks is their “Thompson” in their way to match Butler’s contract. They’ll also need to throw in Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and another player to complete a trade.</p><p>Perhaps the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-vs-celtics-predictions-odds-pick-12-2-2024">Heat’s matchup against the champion Celtics</a> will give the front office a better picture of where its team stands nearly 20 games into the 2024-25 campaign.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Rockets, Mavericks ‘quietly’ linked to potential Jimmy Butler trade pursuit

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-donovan-mitchell-150-million-cavs-deal-rockets-trade-interest');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Donovan Mitchell’s $150 million Cavs deal shut down Rockets’ trade interest');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/NBA-rumors-Donovan-Mitchells-150-million-Cavs-commitment-shut-down-Rockets-trade-interest.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Donovan Mitchell’s $150 million Cavs deal shut down Rockets’ trade interest</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-24T11:36:38-08:00">November 24th, 11:36am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-25T13:53:28-08:00">November 25th, 1:53pm</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Cavaliers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cleveland <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cavaliers-news-donovan-mitchell-nsfw-message-undefeated-start">Cavaliers are off to a 16-1 start to the season</a>, and what they did during the offseason may have led to this. One of the moves they made was re-signing Donovan Mitchell, as there were rumors that he may not have signed the extension. If that was the case, the Houston Rockers were ready to <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/sunday-best-all-my-latest-from-the-c5f?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=152086116&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">put a package together</a> to trade for him, according to Marc Stein.</p><p>“One more note on the Rockets: League sources say Houston did have real designs on pursuing Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell if the 28-year-old had elected to pass on a contract extension in the offseason, which almost certainly would have forced the Cavaliers to field trade inquiries for him,” Stein wrote.</p><p>“Yet Mitchell hushed all such talk by signing a three-year, $150 million extension, committing his immediate future to the Cavaliers and — along with extensions for Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen and the hiring of Kenny Atkinson as coach — contributing hugely to the franchise solidity that has propelled Cleveland to a 16-1 start,” Stein continued.</p><p>The Rockets showed some promise toward the end of last season, and they have been looking for the final piece to complete their team. Even though they weren’t able to pull off a trade, the Rockets have had a nice start to the season with a 12-6 record.</p><h2>Cavs off to a fast start</h2><p>The Cavs have been playing some of the best basketball in the league, and it’s been with the help of several players on the team. The backcourt of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell have been playing well next to each other, and the frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have been strong on defense.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/kenny-atkinson-to-slowly-reinvent-cavs-entering-training-camp">biggest acquisition for the Cavs</a> has been head coach Kenny Atkinson, who has unlocked the team and is letting them play free-flowing basketball. With the start that the Cavs have had to the season, it wouldn’t be surprising if they kept the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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