Houston Rockets Wiretap

The Houston Rockets signed Bruce Thornton to a four-year, $9.3 million deal on Tuesday.

The first year of the deal is fully guaranteed.

Thornton was the 31st pick of the 2026 NBA Draft.

Tari Eason was offered a four-year, $100 million contract extension by the Houston Rockets before the start of the 2025-26 season, but ultimately signed a five-year, $81.5 million deal in restricted free agency.

The $100 million offer, however, had $65 million in guaranteed money and the new contract at $81.5 million has more guaranteed money. Eason also has a player option and a 10 percent trade kicker. 

Eason was the 17th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft out of LSU and is one of the NBA's better perimeter defenders.

In 60 games last season, Eason averaged 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 25.8 minutes. Eason shot 35.8 percent on three-pointers.

Eason is represented by Thaddeus Foucher and Chafie Fields.

The Charlotte Hornets have acquired Dorian Finney-Smith and three second round picks from the Houston Rockets. The Hornets will acquire a 2027 second round pick originating from the Memphis Grizzlies and second round picks from the Rockets in 2028 and 2033.

Finney-Smith signed a four-year, $53 million deal with the Rockets last offseason, but struggled as he returned from left ankle surgery. Finney-Smith has no guaranteed money beyond the $13.33 million for the 2026-27 season. 

Finney-Smith appeared in just 37 games, averaging 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting just 27 percent on three-pointers. During the 2024-25 season, Finney-Smith shot 41.1 percent on three-pointers.

The Rockets had a surplus on the wing amid rising payroll concerns after re-siging Tari Eason to a four-year, $81.5 million deal. 

Tari Eason has agreed to re-sign with the Houston Rockets on a five-year, $81.5 million contract, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. Eason was a restricted free agent after he was unable to agree to terms on a contract extension before the start of the season.

Eason's contract includes a player option in Year 5 and a 10 percent trade kicker, according to The Athletic. 

Eason was the 17th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft out of LSU and is one of the NBA's better perimeter defenders.

In 60 games last season, Eason averaged 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 25.8 minutes. Eason shot 35.8 percent on three-pointers.

Eason is represented by Thaddeus Foucher and Chafie Fields.

Marcus Smart and the Houston Rockets have agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract. Smart had declined his $5.4 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers to become an unrestricted free agent.

Smart appeared in 62 games with the Lakers last season, averaging 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 28.5 minutes in a bounce back season.

Smart is represented by Jason Glushon and Josh Ketroser.

The signing will not hard cap the Rockets, which will improve their chances of re-signing Tari Eason as a restricted free agent.

The Houston Rockets signed Bogdan Bogdanovic to a one-year contract at the veteran's minimum, sources told Shams Charania of ESPN. Bogdanovic became a free agent after the Clippers declined their $16 million option on his contract.

The 33-year-old most recently played for the Clippers, averaging 7.4 points and 2.6 rebounds last season. Bogdanovic played in just 77 games over the past two seasons due to injuries.

Bogdanovic gives the Rockets a perimeter shooter with size that can also handle the ball on the wing.

The Houston Rockets have exercised their team option on guard JD Davison for the 2026-27 NBA season worth $2.58 million

Davison, originally selected 53rd overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Draft, signed a two-way contract with Houston on July 26, 2025, after three seasons in Boston. The Rockets converted his deal to a standard contract on April 7, 2026.

In 28 games with Houston last season, Davison averaged 11.4 points, 5.8 assists and 5.6 rebounds per 36 minutes. He posted an assist-to-turnover ratio of 5.00 and recorded nearly as many steals as turnovers.

Davison also appeared in seven games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers during a G League assignment, averaging 25.3 points, 7.9 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.3 blocks. He was named G League Most Valuable Player for the 2024-25 season.

Marcus Smart has declined his $5.4 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers to become an unrestricted free agent.

Smart has been linked with interest from the Houston Rockets this offseason where he would reunite with Ime Udoka.

Smart appeared in 62 games with the Lakers last season, averaging 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 28.5 minutes in a bounce back season.

Smart is represented by Jason Glushon and Josh Ketroser

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet is picking up his $25 million option for the 2026-27. VanVleet missed all of last season due to a torn ACL in his right knee. He's expected to be healthy for the start of next season.

The veteran point guard opted out last season to add more years to his deal, while lower his cap hit for last season. There was some thought VanVleet might take a similar path this offseason, but he chose to opt in.

In his two healthy seasons with Rockets, VanVleet has averaged 15.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

The Boston Celtics tried to trade Jaylen Brown as part of a package for Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier this offseason. With Antetokounmpo having been traded to the Miami Heat, several other rival teams have emerged as suitors for Brown.

The Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, LA Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors have all expressed interest in trading for the Celtics star.

Charlotte's interest has backed off some. While Atlanta may be reluctant to make an all-in sort of offer for Brown.

The Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans and Orlando Magic have also been linked to Boston's All-NBA wing in the past. However, none of those three teams seem to be seriously pursuing a trade for Brown at this time.

Brown is eligible for a two-year, $141.8 million contract extension in July.

Brown finished the 2024-25 season playing through a partially torn right meniscus that required offseason surgery that offseason. Brown recovered to have the best individual season of his career in 2025-26 as he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists.