Zach Lavine took the Rockets out of a tempting but dangerous spot.
Houston spent the offseason weighing whether it needed even more scoring help, and that question would have gotten a lot messier if Lavine had become available on a buyout. Instead, he decided to stay with the Kings next season on his nearly $49 million salary, and that choice saved the Rockets front office from a decision that could have gone wrong either way.
It’s easy to see why Houston would have at least considered him. Lavine has long been a high-end scorer, and the 3-point shooting is a big part of the appeal.
He’s a career 39% shooter from deep, and since landing in Sacramento in 2025, he’s hit 41.6% from behind the arc on the lowly Kings. The numbers get even more impressive when you look at the degree of difficulty.
Lavine doesn’t live on clean looks - he routinely launches some of the toughest 3-point shots in the league, taking 6-7 per game while still keeping his efficiency intact.
That kind of shot-making would give Houston another layer on offense. Lavine can stretch the floor, punish closeouts and keep a steady 20 points per game rolling.
Against playoff defenses, that sort of versatility matters. It would have been especially interesting alongside Kevin Durant, who’s only getting older and clearly needs perimeter help to carry the offense.
But the other side of the equation is hard to ignore. Lavine has never been known for defense, and that’s been a recurring problem for the teams he’s played on.
The source material points to his fourth-worst plus-minus in NBA history, tied largely to the kind of defense his teams have played with him on the floor. That’s a real warning sign for any contender trying to survive the postseason.
Then there’s the money, which is the real dealbreaker. By staying on his current contract, Lavine has essentially priced himself out of a realistic move next season.
He’ll be the 22nd highest-paid player in the league next season, and his salary sits well above his actual value. He’ll make more than Durant and even Anthony Edwards.
That leaves the Rockets in the clear for now. And if Lavine ever becomes a possibility again, it likely won’t be on this kind of contract.
The only version that would make sense in a trade is one where a team takes on Lavine’s deal and gets future draft assets attached, which really only fits a rebuilding club. For contenders, the wait now shifts to next summer, when maybe Lavine could hit the market on a more reasonable number.
In Other News...
Rockets Face A Ben Simmons Dilemma They Cant Ignore
Ben Simmons is back in the basketball conversation after a year away, with the former All-Star expected to take part in a private player-led mini camp for Australias mens team. For a player whose career has been shaped as much by availability as by ability, that matters. Interest around the league has begun to build again, and the Rockets are among the teams watching the situation closely as they look for ways to add guard depth without complicating their roster picture.
Houstons appeal in a case like this is easy to see, especially if Simmons can still bring the size and passing that once made him such a unique matchup problem. The question is whether the Rockets want to take on the uncertainty that comes with a player trying to reset his market after a long injury layoff, even with the possibility of a low-cost deal making the upside hard to ignore. For a team trying to sharpen its backcourt options, the decision may come down to how much risk it is willing to absorb for a name that still carries real intrigue. [Read more 🡒]
Ex-Rocket Jason Terry Shares What Don Nelson Meant To Him
Don Nelsons death at 86 has stirred a wave of tributes across the NBA, and the praise has been especially heartfelt from people who played for him or learned under his vision. The longtime coach, who led the Bucks, Warriors, Knicks and Mavericks, was remembered by commissioner Adam Silver and Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont for changing the way the game was played and helping shape one of the leagues most recognizable franchises.
Jason Terry was among those reflecting on Nelsons influence, offering a reminder of how much the Hall of Fame coach meant to players who came through his locker rooms. For Rockets fans, Terrys words carry extra weight because they speak to the kind of basketball education and confidence Nelson could impart, the sort that lasted well beyond a single stop in a players career. [Read more 🡒]
Amen Thompson Has A Chance To Become A Much Bigger Rockets Star
Amen Thompson spent last season turning promise into something a lot more recognizable, giving the Rockets the kind of two-way presence that can change the tone of a game. At 23, he played in 79 games, averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists, and even finished eighth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, a strong sign that his impact is already reaching beyond the usual highlights.
His rise also comes with a different kind of spotlight waiting nearby. Thompson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft after developing in the Overtime Elite league, has the athletic profile that makes him a natural candidate for the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, a showcase that has had trouble drawing many All-Stars in recent years. For a player still building his reputation, that kind of stage can matter as much as any box score. [Read more 🡒]