Houston

Rockets

During his press conference, Durant was asked about GM Rafael Stone and head coach Ime Udoka wanting to manage his minutes. KD acknowledged the logic behind it, but said he’s ready to play as much as he needs to to help the Rockets win. He played 36.3 minutes per game last season, and he hasn’t played fewer than 35 minutes per game in a season since his first with the Nets, which was right after he missed a full season with a torn Achilles. Since an injury-plagued stint in Brooklyn, Durant has been mostly healthy over the last three seasons and still plays a significant workload. It doesn’t seem like that will change this season.

The fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, Thompson has emerged as a key figure within the Rockets’ current build. His scoring output has increased in each of his three seasons, with the 6-foot-7 wing averaging 18.3 points per game in 2025-26. Thompson, who finished eighth in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting, also accounted for 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 53.4 percent from the field. Despite the lack of three-point production, Thompson does enough in other areas to provide top-50 fantasy value. With Thursday’s contract extension and Kevin Durant set to turn 38 in late September, Thompson’s role should only grow in the years to come.

Not selected in June’s draft after two quality seasons at George Washington, Castro was initially reported to have signed with the Bucks on a two-way deal. However, the deal was never finalized, opening the door for Castro to sign with the Rockets. To make room for Castro, the Rockets have waived two-way guard Tristen Newton.

After one season in Indiana and two in Utah, Tshiebwe is headed to Houston. Specifics regarding the deal were not announced, but the 6-foot-9 forward/center may be on a non-guaranteed deal. Tshiebwe has appeared in 49 NBA games over his three professional seasons, averaging 7.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game. Even if he is on the Opening Night roster, Tshiebwe is unlikely to have an impact on fantasy basketball next season.

While Thornton did not perform as well as he would have wished in his final action of the summer, the Rockets have to be pleased with what they saw from the second-round pick overall. And even with his shot not falling in Saturday’s semifinals, Thornton still offered value with the rebounds and assists. Given Houston’s current backcourt, getting the minutes needed to affect fantasy basketball as a rookie will be challenging. However, Thornton’s skill set and experience likely make him better equipped to earn playing time next season.

Having appeared in nine total NBA games in his first two professional seasons, Newton is looking to use summer league as a springboard into a greater opportunity in 2025-26. The former UConn standout put up 20 points on good shooting numbers on Thursday, and the victory may be enough to push Houston into Saturday’s semifinals. Newton is unlikely to be in a position where he can offer reliable fantasy value once the season begins. Still, a good finish to the summer could ensure him a longer look from Rockets decision-makers.

Thornton continues to perform well in Las Vegas, and his effort on Thursday may have pushed the Rockets into Saturday’s semifinals. Houston will have to wait for results from other games to know for sure, but their point differential may be high enough. Thornton is a winning player, and the ability to fill a stat line is another reason why fantasy managers in deep leagues should be mindful of the rookie. Of course, Houston’s point guard options will include a healthy Fred VanVleet, Reed Sheppard and offseason signing Marcus Smart, so it won’t be easy for Thornton to crack Ime Udoka’s rotation. But his play in Las Vegas is a reminder of what the second-round pick is capable of.

Crawford spent last season with the Rockets on a two-way contract. While he is currently a restricted free agent, Houston’s willingness to extend a qualifying offer indicates what they think of the forward. Crawford put forth another quality performance on Tuesday, scoring on all three levels and playing well defensively. Houston still has an open two-way contract slot, so they could conceivably keep Crawford for another season under that designation. However, his play in Las Vegas may get him a look from other NBA teams needing frontcourt depth.

Thornton, whom the Rockets signed to a standard contract, continues to impress in Las Vegas. The former Ohio State standout was efficient as both a scorer and a playmaker in Tuesday’s 87-62 victory, and his final line was missing only a blocked shot. While Thornton may not land in a position to be fantasy-relevant immediately, his basketball IQ makes it possible for the rookie to earn consistent playing time next season. He’ll have value within dynasty leagues; his chances in redraft leagues will depend on the health of Houston’s veteran guards.

A second-round pick in the 2024 draft, Newton has appeared in nine NBA games during his first two seasons, spending most of his time in the G League. The Rockets’ guard is coming off an excellent season with the franchise’s G League affiliate, and the hope is that Newton plays well enough in Las Vegas to earn a longer look in 2026-27. Newton didn’t have the best game against the Raptors, struggling from the field and not recording an assist. However, his production improved over his output in Friday’s win over the Nuggets, and the ball was in rookie Bruce Thornton’s hands quite often. Given Houston’s depth at point guard, Newton faces long odds of being fantasy-relevant next season.