The Houston Rockets have one of the deepest groups of young players in the NBA. They have done a great job of stockpiling young, high-upside assets in recent years that they hope to develop into their next core.
Many players have come via the draft, such as Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason, and Jabari Smith Jr. Another player who looked like he could be a core piece was Kevin Porter Jr., who the Rockets acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Porter has a falling out with the Cavaliers that led to the Rockets being able to acquire him essentially for free, trading a future second-round pick to Cleveland in exchange for him. Since then, Houston has poured a ton of time into developing Porter as the team’s starting point guard.
He has shown signs of improvement after coming into the NBA as a shooting guard and wing player. Porter is averaging 6.1 assists per game in his Rockets career to go along with 16.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kevin Porter Jr & Houston Rockets Updates
Still only 22 years old, Porter does have time to continue growing as a player, but the Rockets may be changing course soon. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, while making an appearance on the Lowe Post podcast, revealed that the Rockets are not 100 percent sold that Porter is a starting point guard in the NBA.
That hesitation is likely why Porter’s rookie extension was structured in the fashion that it was. The two sides agreed to a four-year, $82.5 million deal, but only $15.86 million of that contract was guaranteed and there is no guaranteed money on the contract beyond this season.
That gives the Rockets an out should they no longer feel that Porter is part of their long-term plan, putting him on the clock. If he doesn’t show the kind of development that the team wants to see, they will go in another direction.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kevin Porter Jr & Houston Rockets Updates
A first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft was used on Kentucky point guard TyTy Washington and the Rockets will have a lot of money to spend in free agency in the coming offseasons. If better fitting options arise, they will not hesitate to make the move, especially since Porter’s contract is only guaranteed through 2024.
