The Houston Rockets have exercised their team option on Aaron Jackson.

The Rockets would need to guarantee the contract of Jackson at $1.4 million in order to involve him in a trade.

The Rockets signed Jackson at the end of the 17-18 season.

The Houston Rockets have picked up their team option on Mike D'Antoni for the 19-20 season.

D'Antoni signed a four-year deal with the Rockets in 2016.

The Rockets went 55-27 in D’Antoni’s first season when he became the eighth coach in NBA history to win Coach of the Year awards with two teams, having won 2004-05 with the Phoenix Suns.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have begun to behave as though they expect LeBron James to leave this offseason.

James has until June 29th to decide whether to opt out for free agency.

James is expected to choose between the Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers.

Brian Windhorst also said during his ESPN Cleveland radio appearance that there are only four people who know what James is going to do and those people are not talking.

The Houston Rockets are still pursuing LeBron James despite indications in the media that the chances of him joining the team are slim.

James Harden was asked about the possibility of James joining the Rockets.

“We were a half away from the Finals, so I don't think there is a piece that we need to bring in or take away,” Harden said. “We're great with what we have, from top to bottom, from the front office to coaching staff to players, personnel. Our main focus is just getting better, getting healthier, and doing what we do.

“You've got to realize – like it's Chris (Paul) and PJ (Tucker) and Luc (Mbah a Moute) and all those new guys, it's their first year. Look where we got to. Imagine a little bit more time together, it can get pretty scary.”

The path for James to join the Rockets is significantly easier if he exercises his opt-in and is then traded.

James Harden has been named the 17-18 NBA Most Valuable Player, beating out LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Harden joins his fellow former first round picks of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, to win an MVP. Harden was runner-up in MVP voting in 2015 and 2017.

Harden is one of seven active players to win MVP, along with LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Dirk Nowitzki, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose.

Harden received 86 first place votes and 15 second place votes, followed by 15 first place votes for James to go with 79 second place votes and seven third place votes.

Davis received seven second place votes, 70 third place votes, 14 fourth place votes and four fifth place votes.

Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook rounded out the top-5.

Daryl Morey has been named the 17-18 NBA Executive of the Year.

Morey constructed the roster that finished the regular season with the league's best record.

Morey has been general manager of the Rockets since 2007.

Morey received 11 out of 30 first place votes, four second place votes and one third place vote. Dennis Lindsey finished second with seven first place votes, five second place votes and four third place votes.

LeBron James has no plans on hearing traditional free agent pitches this offseason.

James might speak with a club official or owner, but elaborate presentations won't be part of his 2018 free agency. James along with agents Rich Paul and Mark Termini have enough understanding of the landscape and process to handle the process without the types of recruiting pitches he had in 2010.

James went through a much more elaborate courtship when he was a free agent in 2010. The Knicks, Heat, Bulls, Nets, Cavs and Clippers flew delegations in to make presentations to him, and he announced he was joining the Heat in a televised special.

When he was a free agent in 2014, James only met with the Heat and Cavs owner Dan Gilbert in person. Instead Paul and Termini met with the Bulls, Lakers, Suns, Rockets and Mavericks at the Klutch Sports office in Cleveland.

James remains undecided on whether to pick up his player option for the 18-19 season with the Cavaliers, which is worth $35.6 million. James can pick up the option and remain with the Cavaliers, pick up the option and orchestrate a trade to another team, or he can decline the option and become a free agent.

Two sources with knowledge of the situation refute a report that there is growing tension between Chris Paul and the Houston Rockets on his next contract.

The report suggested Paul wants his full max of $205 million over five years and isn't sure if he'll get it.

Paul orchestrated an opt-in-and-trade to the Rockets last offseason. 

Paul will part of the Rockets' contingent to help James Harden celebrate his MVP award on Monday.

Paul also recently bought a house in the Houston area.

Chris Paul orchestrated an opt-in-and-trade to the Houston Rockets last offseason to delay his free agency by one season. Paul had an excellent season but injury issues plagued him.

Since then, the Rockets were also sold to Tilman Fertitta, which could complicate contract discussions with Paul.

"From what I'm told, there is tension now between Houston and Chris Paul. There was definitely some type of handshake, wink-wink, we're going to max you out last summer. Now, they're not so sure. Houston, with good reason, doesn't want to do that. They have an out because they have new ownership. So Daryl Morey can go to Chris Paul and be like 'I want to do it, but we've got the new owner and he doesn't want to give you five years.'

"Could Chris and LeBron go to the Lakers? Can Chris Paul go elsewhere? Which would open up Houston.. I don't think LeBron would go there with them doing that to Chris Paul and he doesn't want to be there long-term.

"I'm told LeBron hasn't made a decision yet because there are so many moving parts."

The Houston Rockets have agreed to sign Gary Clark to a two-way contract.

Clark went undrafted out of Cincinnati.