Although the Houston Rockets are facing a crowded roster and some ambiguity around player roles heading into the next season, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle expresses doubt that the team will place either Tari Eason or Jabari Smith Jr. on the trade market this offseason.
In her recent mailbag column, Lerner suggests that instead of making a hasty decision, the Rockets are more inclined to hold onto both young forwards for now.
She believes the team will likely focus on determining whether to offer extensions to one or both players and reassess the situation in the following year, rather than rushing into a trade.
Lerner also casts skepticism on the idea that Houston would target Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson. She points to salary cap limitations as one barrier but emphasizes a more significant concern: the potential defensive downgrade.
Compared to Dillon Brooks, known for his tenacity and on-ball defense, Johnson may not offer the same level of impact on that end of the floor.
Lerner suggests that this defensive gap could be a major deterrent for a Rockets team that has built part of its identity around toughness and defensive intensity.
Southwest Notes: Flagg, Rockets, Pelicans https://t.co/Vm6eTgPFo1 pic.twitter.com/0CeKYqvLgw
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) June 14, 2025
