The Houston Rockets are reportedly considering a major overhaul of their roster after suffering a disappointing first-round exit to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2025-26 playoffs.
According to Kelly Iko, the Rockets’ insider for Yahoo Sports, Houston’s front office is now open to listening to offers for Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, and considers Amen Thompson to be the only untouchable player on this roster.
“Another trickle-down effect from the Finals is further clarity from teams eliminated in earlier rounds. When the Houston Rockets traded for Kevin Durant last July, there was an internal belief that a team that had won 52 games, developed talent, and added future Hall of Famer Durant would take the next step.”
“What wasn’t accounted for were season-ending injuries to Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams, two integral parts of a team predicated on manipulating possessions, or a roster that had an incomplete makeup.”
“An in-depth analysis of both the Western Conference finals and the NBA Finals revealed that the Rockets are a ways away from the upper echelon of teams, both in their own conference and the league as a whole.”
“Such a reflection has influenced how they approach the open market, taking more of a wholesale approach than simply the ‘run it back’ mantra previously held,” wrote Iko in his report.
“Rival teams that have contacted the Rockets recently have been informed that 23-year-old Amen Thompson is the only near untouchable on the roster, league sources told Yahoo Sports.”
Iko clarified that Houston isn’t actively shopping its All-Stars or other key members, but is merely expressing more of a willingness to listen than they were previously.
“Concerning Thompson, who will be entering his fourth season and is expected to command a lucrative extension, Houston’s brass has already communicated its intentions and plans to continue talks following the draft,” Iko further added.
Let’s understand the layer-by-layer impact of such a move from the Rockets. Firstly, Kevin Durant was signed only one season ago, but at age 37 stands to be an asset at risk of depreciating in terms of the value he can command in the market over the years.
He ended 2025-26 averaging 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while shooting 52.0% from the field and 41.3% from beyond the arc. In just one season, he performed like a player who would have been in the MVP conversation if the Rockets were a top-three or top-four team in the West.
Durant signed a $90 million extension with the Rockets last season, keeping him under contract until the end of the 2027-28 season. I do not believe that the Rockets will try to trade him without his consent, as he took a significant pay cut to stay with the team and performed at an extremely high level when healthy.
Just because he was injured in the first postseason he played for the Rockets does not mean he should be traded in a rush at all. There are alternative moves that the Rockets could make in order to improve to championship contention next season.
If these rumors are true, Alperen Sengun, who was previously viewed as the potential face of the franchise for the future since James Harden was traded away, seems to have lost some of the faith that the front office had in his abilities for the long-term. Other than some teams that Sengun should avoid, he would ideally be a solid addition to any team he potentially joins.
When it came down to choosing the next face of the franchise, Amen Thompson seems to have overlapped him in the eyes of the front office. Thompson is eligible for a $252 million extension this summer, and if he is considered the only near untouchable on the roster, then I can predict him getting all the money he can demand in the negotiations.
The two-time All-Star ended last season averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists while shooting 51.9% from the field. Meanwhile, Amen Thompson averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists while going 53.4% from the floor.
While a willingness to listen to offers does not mean they are actively shopping the two All-Stars, it will certainly be intriguing to see what impact this summer has on the team chemistry at the beginning of next season for the Rockets.
