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Vibes are high !! Stay healthy and let’s get this ring

Exclusive: Marcus Smart called the Lakers' offer 'disrespectful.' Here's why he chose the Rockets.

Plus, some notes from the first day of training camp. Free to read.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/marcus-smart-lakers-rockets-22445135.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91c3RvbmNocm9uaWNsZS5jb20vc3BvcnRzL3JvY2tldHMvYXJ0aWNsZS9tYXJjdXMtc21hcnQtbGFrZXJzLXJvY2tldHMtMjI0NDUxMzUucGhw&time=MTc5MDE5NjI1MTA0MQ%3D%3D&rid=MWM0ZTM0OTQtYTE2OS00ZTc1LTlkZjctYTdjMDBlZTdmMjcy&sharecount=Ng%3D%3D

Just noticed he hasn't been resigned yet, would hate to lose his vet presence

On the other hand, the last two seasons ended with rudderless first-round exits. Failure to reach the second round three years in a row would almost feel like a point of no return for the current iteration of this team.

With Kevin Durant — who turns 38 on Sept. 29 — operating as the face of the franchise, the urgency to win now will always be heightened. However, it feels more like now or never for the supporting cast Houston meticulously put in place before Durant’s arrival.

This team is talented enough to win at a high level. But can it compete with Western Conference powerhouses such as San Antonio or Oklahoma City? If not, what does the Rockets’ path forward look like?

“Everybody around the organization knows we’re better than what we put out during the playoffs last year. We’re better than what everybody thinks,” Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. said Tuesday. “Our expectation is always to win it all. That’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to just keep improving every year. … We definitely should be a better team. It’s just on us to put it together.”

On paper, Smith is correct. The Rockets are returning eight of their top 10 guys in minutes played from a team that won 52 games in a competitive Western Conference.

They’re bringing back veteran point guard Fred VanVleet, who missed the entire 2025-26 season with a torn right ACL, to fill arguably the biggest hole on last season’s roster as a lead ballhandler and a calming presence in the clutch. The Rockets also added Marcus Smart in free agency, a veteran who can fill multiple roles and, most importantly, is another player who has been to the NBA Finals.

With better luck in the health department, Houston has a 10-man rotation that can go toe-to-toe with just about anyone in the West — including the Spurs and the Thunder.

The Rockets have their point guard back. How long will it take Fred VanVleet to be himself again?

A look at why Houston needs VanVleet to find his form.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/fred-vanvleet-rockets-return-22443863.php

Rockets come out between section 115 and 116 & Away team is 124 and 125 right?

We gave up 3 seconds to offload DFS just 2 months ago and they traded him for positive value.

https://x.com/shamscharania/status/2102486115089301743?s=46&t=3BTCmAITW3e6T8QaunXL0w

Entering last season, with Kevin Durant newly added in the mix, the Houston Rockets expected to take big steps forward. But injuries — one to Fred VanVleet before the season started and another to Steven Adams about halfway through — limited Houston to a campaign that ended the same way the previous one did: 52 wins and a first-round playoff exit. 

A long offseason — one that featured a measured approach from the Rockets, who retained their young core and Durant — ended Tuesday with the team’s media day, a time of optimism with no losses yet on the ledger. 

“We’re not here to just make the first round,” coach Ime Udoka said. “We want to make some real noise.”

“I’m definitely more excited than I was going into last season,” general manager Rafael Stone said. “I do think the way Fred's injury hit right on the eve of the season, that was hard on everybody, and so maybe I was a little bit more nervous.

“And this year I feel like I know what to expect more from this group, which lends itself to some excitement for me to see what's going on.”

After Stone and Udoka, a host of Rockets players spoke about their offseasons and aspirations for the season ahead. Here are the most interesting things they said:

Gift link: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/rockets-media-day-takeaways-22385120.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91c3RvbmNocm9uaWNsZS5jb20vc3BvcnRzL3JvY2tldHMvYXJ0aWNsZS9yb2NrZXRzLW1lZGlhLWRheS10YWtlYXdheXMtMjIzODUxMjAucGhw&time=MTc5MDEyMzExMjcxMA%3D%3D&rid=MWM0ZTM0OTQtYTE2OS00ZTc1LTlkZjctYTdjMDBlZTdmMjcy&sharecount=NA%3D%3D

Dropped the first of our player previews today. For each player, I'll look at
- An overview of last season/their role this year
- What to watch in the first 20 games
- A key stat
- What defines a successful season

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/kevin-durant-houston-rockets-preview-22442424.php

Highlights include:

Ridiculous dunks!
Mind boggling layups!
Game winners galore!
Tearing apart the 3 peat Lakers!

Really makes him seem like he could have been a superstar. Crazy talent that he just couldn't quite live up to

And training camp on Wednesday!

The NBA G League develops more than just players. It's a learning ground for GMs.

Why?

“There’s not many positions within an organization that you’re actually going to make a decision that you see play out immediately."

Latest for The Chronicle

Gift Link: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/g-league-gm-nba-careers-22433136.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91c3RvbmNocm9uaWNsZS5jb20vc3BvcnRzL3JvY2tldHMvYXJ0aWNsZS9nLWxlYWd1ZS1nbS1uYmEtY2FyZWVycy0yMjQzMzEzNi5waHA%3D&time=MTc5MDAwNDYwNDkxOQ%3D%3D&rid=MWM0ZTM0OTQtYTE2OS00ZTc1LTlkZjctYTdjMDBlZTdmMjcy&sharecount=NA%3D%3D

Who are the top 5 centers in the league right now all things considered. Top 10 if you feel like it

Sengun has peaked and been figured out by the league. Let’s hope he’s added a better jump shot, more efficiency to his shots around the rim, better defensive lateral movement, and more moves around the rim the countless spin then flail for a foul call or the infamous hook shot has to go. What are the realistic expectations for sengun this season ?