The Houston Rockets have signed forward Julian Phillips. Terms were not disclosed, but it's likely that Phillips signed a one-year contract for the veteran minimum amount of $2.5 million.
The 6-foot-6 forward played the first two-and-a-half years of his career with the Chicago Bulls. Phillips was traded by the Bulls to the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead of last season's trade deadline.
In 167 NBA games over three seasons, Phillips has averaged 3.6 points and 1.5 rebounds in 11.2 minutes per game.
The Houston Rockets have signed free agent forward/center Oscar Tshiebwe.
Tshiebwe (6-9, 265) was eligible for the 2023 NBA Draft following his senior season at Kentucky. He spent his rookie season as a two-way player with Indiana in 2023-24 and the past two seasons on a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz.
In 49 career games with seven starts, Tshiebwe has averaged 7.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game.
Jae'Sean Tate and the Houston Rockets have agreed to a one-year, $3.07 million contract. The deal is partially guaranteed for $1.04 million.
Tate appeared in 46 games last season with the Rockets, averaging 2.8 points and 1.6 rebounds in 8.8 minutes. Tate's minutes have decreased each season of his career down from when he played in 29.2 minutes per game as a rookie and was a First Team All-Rookie selection.
Tate will be playing in his age-30 NBA season.
The Houston Rockets have re-signed forward Isaiah Crawford.
Crawford appeared in 14 games as a two-way player for the Rockets in 2025-26, averaging 11.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 blocks per 36 minutes played. He recorded career highs of 11 points and 6 rebounds in the season finale vs. Memphis on April 12.
In 20 games while transferred to the Rockets G League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley, Crawford averaged 19.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.1 apg and 2.1 spg while shooting 51.5% from the floor and 39.2% from 3-point range.
Crawford was was a two-way player for Sacramento in 2024-25 and helped its G League affiliate, Stockton, win the championship.
Chip Engelland has agreed to become an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets under Ime Udoka. Engelland spent the last four seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder after previously being part of the San Antonio Spurs for 17 seasons.
Engelland is known as one of the NBA's leading shooting coaches.
Engelland and Udoka worked together as part of the Spurs' coaching staff.
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.
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