How the Rockets' big spending could help the Pistons
The Detroit Pistons answered most questions about their opening night roster and immediate future when they signed a couple of two-way players and exercised team options on Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson and Marcus Sasser ahead of the October 31st deadline.
There were some surprise extensions around the NBA in terms of money, years and the ramifications they could have on the teams handing them out.
The Houston Rockets opened their checkbook by giving both Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun extensions just ahead of the deadline.
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The Rockets have a problem most teams wish they had, as they have a ton of young talent, with seven good players under the age of 24. Both Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason are extension-eligible next season and Amen Thompson the year after that.
Eventually, all of them are going to get paid, which means the Rockets will have to make some tough choices, which they made more difficult by inking Green and Sengun to extensions.
Could the Detroit Pistons poach talent from the Houston Rockets?
The Rockets lost some financial flexibility by signing Green and Sengun to extensions now, which cost them cap space next offseason.
Depending on what they do with Fred VanVleet’s team option, the Rockets cost themselves potential cap space, as is well laid out here.
The Rockets still haven’t picked up team options for Jabari Smith Jr. or Tari Eason for the 2025-26 season, though they still have until the end of the month to do so and may have been taking care of other more time-sensitive business first.
It’s going to be difficult for the Rockets to keep both of them along with Amen Thompson and eventually Reed Sheppard and of the two, Eason seems the most likely to be moved at some point.
Jabari Smith Jr. would be the potential prize for the Detroit Pistons, the perfect young forward to complement their core, but the Rockets still have plenty of ways to keep him.
They could let Fred VanVleet walk or restructure his deal. They could move Jalen Green at some point or get rid of all of their veterans and hold onto most of their young core. It’s hard to see them losing Smith Jr. but keeping him will likely mean other guys will be available.
It’s a situation for the Pistons to monitor, as the Rockets have a lot of talent and can’t possibly pay them all unless they want to go deep into the second apron.
The Pistons have stayed flexible, so will have ways to trade for a young star if one does become available.
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