Category: Houston Rockets Blog

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Rockets sign Jeff Green

The Houston Rockets have signed free agent forward Jeff Green.

Green (6-8, 235) recently finished his 15th NBA season by averaging 17.2 minutes played during Denver’s championship playoff run. In 1,107 career games with 650 starts, he has averaged 12.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 28.5 minutes per game.

Over the past three seasons, Green averaged 9.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 1.4 apg in 24.0 mpg while shooting 50.3% from the floor. In 68 games for Brooklyn in 2020-21, he averaged 1.5 3-pointers made on a career-best 41.2% shooting. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was an assistant coach with the Nets that season.

This will mark Green’s second stint as a Rocket. He joined the team during the 2019-20 season and helped Houston advance to the Conference Semifinals as part of the Orlando “bubble” experience.

Green made his NBA debut as a 21-year-old with the Seattle Supersonics in 2007 and has teamed with eight players who won the MVP award at some point during their career: Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett, James Harden, LeBron James, Nikola Jokić, Shaquille O’Neal, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook.

Nets trade Patty Mills to Rockets

The Brooklyn Nets have traded guard Patty Mills and a 2028 second round draft pick (via Milwaukee) to the Houston Rockets in exchange for future draft considerations.

“Patty was an exemplary representative of the Nets during his two years in Brooklyn, both for his contributions on the court and his impact in the community,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “We thank Patty for all he has brought to our organization and wish him and Alyssa nothing but the best in their next chapter.”

Mills originally signed with the Nets on Aug. 10, 2021, and appeared in 121 games (50 starts) across two seasons (2021-23) in Brooklyn, registering averages of 9.7 points on 40.9 percent shooting from the field, 39.3 percent shooting from 3-point range and 82.0 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 1.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.1 minutes per game. In the 2022-23 campaign, Mills played in 40 games (two starts) and averaged 6.2 points on 41.1 percent shooting from the field, 36.6 percent shooting from distance and 83.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 1.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 14.2 minutes per contest. Mills has played in 860 games (107 starts) in 14 seasons with Brooklyn, San Antonio (2011-21) and Portland (2009-11), notching averages of 9.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 20.4 minutes per game while shooting 42.6 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from 3-point range and 85.4 percent from the free-throw line.

2023-24 Houston Rockets coaching staff announced

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has announced his staff for the upcoming 2023-24 NBA season. Joining the team as assistant coaches will be Ben Sullivan, Royal Ivey, Garrett Jackson, Tiago Splitter, Cam Hodges and Mike Moser.

Sullivan was an assistant coach with Boston the past two seasons, including on Udoka’s staff in 2021-22. Prior to joining the Celtics, Sullivan spent seven seasons as an assistant on Mike Budenholzer’s staff in both Atlanta and Milwaukee and helped the Bucks win the championship in 2020-21. Sullivan began his NBA career as an assistant video coordinator with San Antonio after being recommended by Udoka, who at the time was an assistant coach with the Spurs.

Ivey joins the Rockets from Brooklyn, where he spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach, including alongside Udoka on Steve Nash’s staff in 2020-21. After finishing his 10-year NBA career, Ivey became an assistant coach for Oklahoma City’s G League affiliate, the Blue. He eventually transitioned into an assistant coach for the Thunder and was also an assistant coach with his hometown Knicks. Ivey completed his career at the University of Texas at Austin as the school’s all-time leader in starts.

Jackson spent the past two seasons as a player enhancement coach for Boston. The Portland native played overseas following his collegiate career at USC and Saint Mary’s. Jackson was a graduate manager for Hawaii men’s team in 2018-19 before taking an internship with the Spurs video department.

Splitter spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach with the Nets and worked alongside Udoka in 2020-21. Following a standout playing career in Spain, Splitter joined the Spurs in 2010-11 and started 18 playoff games during their championship run in 2013-14. He has been an assistant coach for the Brazilian National team and served as head coach of their under-23 squad.

Hodges was a coaching associate for the Los Angeles Clippers for the past three seasons after serving as player development coach for Philadelphia in 2019-20 when Udoka was an assistant. He also worked three seasons as a player development assistant for the Spurs. Hodges, who served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserve, played overseas before interning with the Erie Bayhawks in the G League.

Moser was a player enhancement coach for Boston last season after serving as an assistant coach for the Oregon Ducks women’s team in 2021-22. As a redshirt senior for Oregon, he earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. Moser played overseas for several years with stops in Lithuania, Israel, Kosovo, Qatar, Finland, and France.

Rockets sign rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore

The Houston Rockets yesterday signed rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore.

Thompson (6-7, 215) was the fourth overall pick by Houston in the 2023 NBA Draft. He spent the past two seasons with Overtime Elite, (OTE) an Atlanta-based league which offers players ages 16 through 20 a pathway to becoming professional athletes. His twin brother, Ausar, was selected fifth overall by Detroit, making them the first brothers picked top-10 in the same draft in NBA history.

While leading his team, the City Reapers, to the OTE championship last season, Amen averaged 17.2 points, 9.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds up from regular season averages of 16.3 ppg, 6.2 apg and 6.4 rpg. The 20-year-old ranked third in the league in assists and sixth in scoring. In 51 career OTE games (regular season and playoffs), Thompson averaged 2.2 steals and 1.2 blocks while shooting 53.6% from the floor.

Whitmore (6-7, 235) was the 20th overall pick by the Rockets in the 2023 NBA Draft. As a freshman at Villanova last season, he averaged 12.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.4 spg and 1.4 3-pointers made. Over the past 15 seasons, Whitmore was one of four Division I freshman to have averaged at least 12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.00 spg and 1.0 3FGM while playing fewer than 28.0 mpg.

At the 2022 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship, Whitmore averaged 18.7 points and was named MVP after leading USA Basketball to the gold medal. The former McDonald’s All-American will turn 19 years old on July 8.

Rockets re-sign Darius Days and Trevor Hudgins to two-way contracts

The Houston Rockets have re-signed forward Darius Days and guard Trevor Hudgins to two-way contracts.

Days (6-8, 240) was claimed off waivers by Houston from Miami prior to the start of last season and was converted to a two-way contract. He spent most of 2022-23 assigned to the Rockets G League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley, and earned All-NBA G League Second Team honors. In 29 regular season games for the Vipers, Days averaged 24.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.0 3-pointers made.

Hudgins (6-0, 198) was eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft following a stellar career at Northwest Missouri State, during which he won three Division II championships. He signed a two-way contract with Houston shortly after the draft and spent most of last season assigned to the G League. In 28 regular season games for Rio Grande Valley, Hudgins averaged 20.0 points, 6.1 assists and 4.5 3-pointers made.

Rockets exercise option on KJ Martin’s contract

The Houston Rockets have picked up the fourth-year team option on forward KJ Martin’s contract.

Martin was originally the 52nd pick by Sacramento in the 2020 NBA Draft before his rights were acquired by the Rockets. In three seasons, he has appeared in 206 games while averaging 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Martin ranked 12th in the NBA in field goal percentage last season (.569) and seventh in dunks (173).

The Rockets also announced they have waived guard Daishen Nix. He appeared in 81 games for Houston over the past two seasons.

Houston Rockets select Amen Thompson 4th overall in 2023 NBA Draft

In last night’s 2023 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets selected guard Amen Thompson with the fourth overall pick and Cam Whitmore with the 20th overall pick.

Thompson (6-7, 215) spent the past two seasons with Overtime Elite, (OTE) an Atlanta-based league which offers players ages 16 through 20 a pathway to becoming professional athletes. This past season, the 20-year-old teamed with his twin brother, Ausar, to lead the City Reapers to the championship with Amen hitting a game-winning buzzer beater in Game 2 of OTE’s best-of-five Finals. Ausar was selected fifth overall by Detroit in tonight’s draft.

During the Reapers playoff run, Amen averaged 17.2 points, 9.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds up from his season averages of 16.4 ppg, 5.9 apg and 5.9 rpg. He ranked third in the league in assists and sixth in scoring.

Prior to the start of last season, Thompson represented a collection of OTE draft eligible players in a series of games overseas against professional teams from Spain and Serbia. In five games played, he averaged 17.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.8 apg and 2.0 spg while shooting 56.1% from the floor. Following that tour, Thompson also had 17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in an exhibition game against the Adelaide 36ers from Australia’s National Basketball League.

Whitmore (6-7, 235) finished his freshman season at Villanova averaging 12.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.4 spg and 1.4 3-pointers made. Over the past 15 seasons, he was one of four Division I freshman to have averaged at least 12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.00 spg and 1.0 3FGM while playing fewer than 28.0 mpg.

In the 20 games Whitmore played at least 24 minutes, he averaged 14.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.6 spg and 1.8 3FGM while shooting 50.2% from the floor and 38.5% from 3-point range. At the 2022 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship, he averaged 18.7 points and was named MVP after leading USA Basketball to the gold medal.

Whitmore, who was born in Maryland and was a McDonald’s All-American, will turn 19 years old on July 8. He was measured with a 40.5” max vertical leap at the 2023 NBA Draft Combine.

On the Rockets and the 2023 NBA Draft

Via the Houston Chronicle:

Our long near-month wait between the lottery and the 2023 NBA draft has nearly come to an end, and as draft night approaches, the Houston Rockets will look to take their first steps in what could be a roster overhaul before the start of the 2023-24 season.

We have a general feel for what will happen for Houston on draft night. Amen Thompson is the (very) likely choice at No. 4, and the No. 20 pick will likely be used to add another youngster or a win-now veteran piece via trade. But as we learned last year, the best laid plans for any team can go awry on draft night. As the Rockets desperately eye a move into Phase 2 of their rebuild on Thursday night, a litany of contingency plans are likely in place. Outside of the Spurs snagging Victor Wembanyama at No. 1, there are no guarantees for the rest of the draft league-wide.

On new Rockets coach Ime Udoka and Kevin Porter Jr.

Via the Houston Chronicle:

New Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka has made a concerted effort to highlight the talent already on Houston’s roster in his first weeks with the franchise, with the appeal of his new franchise stemming from far more than lottery hopes and the team’s significant salary cap space this summer.

Houston is hoping Udoka can play a major role in the development of the team’s collection of young pieces, many of whom struggled for extended stretches of 2022-23. One player who could see a significant boost from Udoka’s arrival? Look to the backcourt, where Kevin Porter Jr. will enter a season that is quite critical to the future of his career.

Porter remains an appealing piece despite the criticism lobbed his way in recent years, and on his better nights, he looks the part of a legitimate franchise point guard.

Houston Rockets hire Ime Udoka as new head coach

The Houston Rockets yesterday named Ime Udoka the team’s new head coach.

Udoka becomes the team’s 15th head coach in franchise history.

In his lone season as head coach of Boston in 2021-22, Udoka helped the Celtics bounce back from a .500 record the previous season to win 51 games, capped off with an impressive run to the NBA Finals which included Game 7 victories over Milwaukee and Miami.

“We are excited to welcome Ime to the Houston Rockets,” said Rockets General Manager Rafael Stone. “Ime’s intelligence, drive and toughness were the traits we were looking for in a coach to lead our team through this next stage of our development as we strive to become a champion. We were honored to have the opportunity to speak to multiple outstanding candidates throughout the interview process and felt that Ime’s vision best aligned with the goals the Fertitta Family and myself have for the future of the Rockets.”

Udoka’s Celtics ranked first in the league in both field goal defense and fewest points allowed in 2021-22 after the team ranked 13th in defensive rating the previous season. He was a two-time winner of the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month award and finished fourth in voting for Coach of the Year.

Prior to becoming head coach of the Celtics, Udoka was an assistant coach on Gregg Popovich’s San Antonio staff from 2012-13 through 2018-19, Brett Brown’s Philadelphia staff in 2019-20 and Steve Nash’s Brooklyn staff in 2020-21, Those teams made the playoffs in each of Udoka’s nine seasons as an assistant, with the Spurs winning the title in 2013-14. Udoka was also a member of Popovich’s staff for USA Basketball during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

Per the Houston Chronicle, “Udoka led Boston to the 2022 Finals in his first season as a head coach but was suspended in September and dismissed in February for having an improper relationship with a staff member, considered a violation of team rules. During the All-Star break two months ago, the Celtics agreed to a long-term contract with Joe Mazzulla, who began the season as their interim coach.”

More from the Chronicle: “Udoka issued a statement after he was suspended, apologizing for his actions without specifically addressing them. He has not commented since. “I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down,” Udoka said in the statement. “I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment.”

As a player, Udoka spent parts of seven seasons in the NBA from 2003-04 through 2010-11 while appearing in 316 games with 80 starts. After going undrafted in 2000, he had brief stints with the Los Angeles Lakers and New York but spent most of his time in the NBA Development League and playing overseas. Udoka’s first full NBA season was as a 29-year-old for Portland in 2006-07 and the following season, he helped the Spurs reach the Western Conference Finals. Besides Popovich, Udoka played for Phil Jackson, Larry Brown, Nate McMillan and Paul Westphal.