RADIO
Reed Sheppard Returns Monday Without Minutes Restriction
Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (back) will play Monday against the Boston Celtics without a minutes restriction, head coach Ime Udoka told Varun Shankar. Sheppard missed the previous two games with a back issue. The 22-year-old is averaging 10.5 points, 4.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 2.3 threes in 23.3 minutes through four appearances. He has shot just 37.5 percent from the field and 28.1 percent from deep after hitting 39.4 percent of his threes last season. Sheppard should slide back into a regular backcourt role alongside Fred VanVleet and Marcus Smart.
Source: Varun Shankar
Source: Varun Shankar
Reed Sheppard Out Friday with Back Soreness
Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (back) is out for Friday's game against the Dallas Mavericks with lower-back soreness. The issue follows Sheppard's 23 minutes in Wednesday's win over Milwaukee. He is averaging 10.5 points, 4.8 assists, and 1.8 steals in 23.3 minutes over four appearances, shooting 28.1 percent from three. Sheppard has already missed one game this season because of a left knee bone bruise. His absence should keep Tari Eason busy off the bench, while Bogdan Bogdanovic could also see more work if Marcus Smart (forearm) remains sidelined.
Source: Lachard Binkley
Source: Lachard Binkley
Marcus Smart Sidelined Against Atlanta
Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart (forearm) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Atlanta Hawks with a left forearm strain. The 32-year-old was a late addition to the injury report and had been in line to start with Fred VanVleet (knee) sitting the second leg of the back-to-back. Smart has averaged 7.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 steals in 23.5 minutes through two games. Reed Sheppard (knee) returns at a good time for Houston and should get a longer look on the ball with Smart and VanVleet both unavailable.
Source: Will Guillory
Source: Will Guillory
Reed Sheppard Back in Action for Rockets on Saturday
Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (knee) is set to return Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks after sitting out Friday's win over San Antonio, according to The Athletic's Will Guillory. The 22-year-old had three points, four assists, two rebounds, and two steals in 16 minutes in the opener against Dallas before missing one game with a left knee bone bruise. With Fred VanVleet (knee) and Marcus Smart (forearm) both out, Sheppard has a clear path to more minutes and ballhandling work alongside Amen Thompson. He averaged 13.5 points, 2.8 threes, and 1.5 steals last season, making Saturday a good opportunity to show what he can do with a larger role.
Source: Will Guillory
Source: Will Guillory
Reed Sheppard Ruled Out Friday Against Spurs
Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (knee) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the San Antonio Spurs due to a left knee bone bruise. The third-year guard was limited to three points in 16 minutes during Wednesday's 128-110 win over Dallas, shooting 1-for-6 from deep while committing three turnovers. Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic are the most likely candidates for extra backcourt minutes with Sheppard unavailable. Houston plays again Saturday in Atlanta, so Sheppard's status will be worth monitoring ahead of the second half of the back-to-back.
Source: Matt Guzman
Source: Matt Guzman
Reed Sheppard Questionable Against Spurs
Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (knee) is questionable for Friday's matchup with San Antonio due to a left knee contusion and bone bruise, per the Houston Chronicle's Varun Shankar. The 22-year-old is coming off a quiet opener against Dallas, scoring three points on 1-for-6 shooting from deep with three turnovers in 16 minutes. Marcus Smart played 26 minutes off the bench, while Fred VanVleet's return has tightened Houston's backcourt rotation. If Sheppard sits, Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic could see additional work. Sheppard averaged 13.5 points, 2.8 threes and 1.5 steals last season.
Source: Varun Shankar
Source: Varun Shankar
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
Rockets Waive Tristen Newton
The Houston Rockets waived guard Tristen Newton in a corresponding move after signing rookie center Rafael Castro to a two-way deal. The former UConn standout was the No. 49 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and signed with Houston in January after stops with Indiana and Minnesota, but he appeared in just one game for the Rockets. Newton was far more productive in the G-League, averaging 25.1 points across 30 games with Rio Grande Valley and earning All-NBA G-League First Team honors. That production still left him without a clear path in Houston, where Fred VanVleet, Marcus Smart, Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard are ahead of him in the backcourt. Newton could get another two-way look elsewhere, but he remains off the fantasy radar.
Source: Ben DuBose
Source: Ben DuBose
Sean Pedulla Signs Two-Way Deal with Rockets
The Houston Rockets announced that they've signed guard Sean Pedulla to a two-way deal on Monday. Pedulla was waived by the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this month. He made seven appearances with the Clippers last season, but spent most of his time in the G-League. Pedulla is the reigning G-League Rookie of the Year, averaging 23.6 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.1 rebounds. The 23-year-old is expected to spend most of his time in the G-League with the Rockets. He's unlikely to see much time on the NBA court unless there's a handful of injuries. Pedulla is avoidable in fantasy formats, but maybe they can develop him into a decent player.
Source: Houston Rockets
Source: Houston Rockets
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
Bogdan Bogdanovic Signs With Rockets on One-Year Deal
Free-agent guard Bogdan Bogdanovic has agreed to a one-year deal with the Houston Rockets, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. The veteran gives Houston a proven perimeter scorer for his 10th NBA season, but last year was rough. Bogdanovic averaged just 7.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across 23 games, well below his usual production. The Rockets are betting on his shooting track record, as he owns a 38.1% career mark from three. For fantasy purposes, Bogdanovic needs a healthy season and consistent bench volume to become more than a streaky scoring option.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Rockets Select Bruce Thornton at No. 31 in NBA Draft
The Houston Rockets have selected Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton with the 31st pick of the NBA Draft. Houston acquired this pick and No. 55 in a deal with the New York Knicks. The move to draft Thornton seems like a smart one, given their needs at the perimeter. Thornton spent all four seasons of his college ball playing at Ohio State. He averaged 19.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists during his senior campaign this year. He should get a chance to immediately contribute, with Fred VanVleet (knee) still recovering from ACL surgery and Aaron Holiday heading to free agency. Thornton could see minutes right away in the backend of the rotation, but probably won't be a viable fantasy option to begin the season.
Source: Kelly Iko
Source: Kelly Iko
