RADIO
Kevin Durant Pushes Back on Rockets' Plan to Trim His Minutes
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant isn't eager to see his workload reduced this season after the team discussed cutting back his minutes. "The team is better when I'm on the court," Durant said at Tuesday's media day, adding that he wants to remain available when games require it. The 37-year-old logged 2,840 minutes last season, second most in the NBA, while averaging 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists across 78 games. Durant did acknowledge that Houston taking care of games early could lead to more rest. A modest reduction shouldn't significantly hurt his fantasy appeal, while Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. could pick up some additional frontcourt minutes.
Source: Ben DuBose
Source: Ben DuBose
Amen Thompson Agrees to Five-Year Extension with Houston
Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson agreed to a five-year, $208 million rookie-scale extension with the franchise, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The deal includes a 10 percent trade kicker and locks in one of Houston's core pieces after Thompson led the NBA in minutes last season. The 23-year-old logged 37.4 minutes per game across 79 starts while averaging career highs of 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals. That workload remains the fantasy hook. Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun will command touches, but Thompson's rebounding, defensive production, and ball-handling role keep him firmly valuable. The jumper is still the swing skill, so his ceiling rises only if the shooting catches up.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Amen Thompson Eyes Below-Max Extension with Rockets
Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson is expected to sign a rookie-scale extension before the 2026-27 season begins, though a full five-year, $250 million max deal is not expected, according to ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel. Siegel wrote that a deal between 20 and 22 percent of the salary cap, worth roughly $200 million total, would make more sense for Houston. The 23-year-old broke out last season, averaging 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals across 79 games. He was already a 2024-25 All-Defensive First Team selection, and the fantasy appeal is clear: rebounds, assists, steals, and efficiency. The jumper still caps the ceiling, but Thompson is trending toward early-round value.
Source: Brett Siegel
Source: Brett Siegel
Kevin Durant Targets Team USA Return
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant wants to play for Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, per Evan Sidery. Durant, 37, has already played in the last four Olympics and became the first American men's basketball player to win four gold medals, so a 2028 appearance would add another historic layer to his Team USA resume. He is not fading yet, either, earning All-NBA Second Team honors after averaging 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and shooting 41.3 percent from three for Houston. The Olympic note is not actionable for fantasy, but it reinforces Durant's staying power. He remains an early-round fantasy forward for scoring, threes, and elite percentages, with age and durability as the main risks.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Julian Phillips Signs Training Camp Deal With Rockets
The Houston Rockets signed forward Julian Phillips to a training camp contract, the team announced. The 35th pick in the 2023 draft, Phillips lands his third NBA home after Minnesota declined his option in June, months removed from the February trade that sent him from Chicago to the Timberwolves. Still 22, the explosive athlete has never found a role, averaging 3.6 points and 1.5 rebounds across 167 career games. His deal is reportedly non-guaranteed, leaving him to compete for one of Houston's final roster spots. A career 32.0 percent three-point shooter, Phillips has yet to show a bankable fantasy skill, leaving him off the radar unless he first wins a roster spot and steady minutes.
Source: The Spot Up Shot
Source: The Spot Up Shot
Jae'Sean Tate Lands Partially Guaranteed Deal With Rockets
The Houston Rockets and forward Jae'Sean Tate have agreed to a one-year, $3.07 million deal, partially guaranteed for $1.04 million, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, keeping the veteran with the only NBA franchise he has known. The partial guarantee tells the story: this is a fringe-roster, camp-battle deal, not a rotation promise. A versatile defender and respected locker-room presence, Tate has watched his role vanish on a loaded Rockets contender, averaging a career-low 8.8 minutes last season while spending time in the G League. With Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. among the forwards ahead of him, there is no runway here. Tate carries no fantasy value and would need a rash of injuries to surface even in the deepest leagues.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Kevin Durant Becomes First Player to Make All-NBA Team With Five Franchises
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant has made history as the first player ever named to an All-NBA Team with five different franchises. On Sunday, he was announced as a 2025-26 All-NBA Second Team selection, joining Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics), Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers), Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers), and Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks). The veteran star has also earned All-NBA honors with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and Phoenix Suns. Overall, Durant now has 12 All-NBA selections, six on the First Team and six on the Second Team. Only six players in league history have earned more selections.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
