On April 18, Beijing time, American media reported that the Rockets completed the contract renewal with General Manager Stone and Deputy General Manager Vitus at the beginning of this season. As it turns out, Rockets owner Fertitta is quite satisfied with the Rockets' rebuilding work over the past four seasons. Recently, Rockets general manager Stone talked about this summer's work, which roughly includes three contents.
First, the Rockets will discuss an early contract extension with Green and Shin Kyung, but it will not necessarily be completed this summer. At present, the starting salary of two people on a five-year contract can reach 25% of the salary cap. The salary cap is expected to be $140 million for the 2024/2025 season, which allows Green and Shin to sign up to a five-year, $206 million contract with the Rockets. If Green and Shin Kyung make the All-Star team next season, be selected as an All-Star, or win the MVP, then the two will trigger the Rose clause and sign up to a five-year, 249 million super-cap salary. Stone also said that he will make every effort to retain the six top-20 picks selected by the Rockets in the past three years.
Second, the Rockets are likely to keep the same players from last season, including Jeff Green, Landale, Holiday and Brock, Tate and Boban, whose contracts are expiring. However, Stone said that keeping everyone behind does not mean that there will be no reinforcements and upgrades. If the Rockets empty the salaries of these six people, the total value is $30.8 million. At the same time, the Rockets also have a full middle-class exception this summer and a biennial exception.
Third, the Rockets will evaluate the quality of the 2024 draft and do not rule out the possibility of continuing to select a rookie. Currently, the Rockets have two first-round picks in 2024, of which the Rockets themselves are protected by the top 4 picks in the first round. Therefore, there is a 40.8% probability that these 2 lotto picks will be drawn with at least 1 top 4 pick, and there is a 4.2% probability that 2 top 4 picks will be drawn.