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The Houston Rockets reportedly signed guard Jalen Green to a three-year, $106 million rookie extension, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Green, 22, averaged 19.6 points on 42.3 percent shooting (33.2 percent from three), 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in his third NBA campaign last season.
The former No. 2 overall draft pick is a walking bucket at his best, notably dropping 42 points against the Washington Wizards on March 19 last season and adding 41 more versus the Utah Jazz four days later. Those two games were part of an eight-contest tear where he averaged 33.8 PPG.
Green had also been getting some love for his defensive improvement, including notes via Kelly Iko of The Athletic and Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle.
Despite his scoring abilities, age and potential, there were trade murmurs surrounding him last year.
Zach Lowe, then of ESPN, reported in January that Green was an “under-the-radar” name that NBA executives pointed out as potentially being made available. To be clear, Lowe didn’t say that Houston was shopping Green, but rather that he could potentially be heading elsewhere should the right deal emerge.
Matt Moore of Action Network additionally reported in January that there was “no indication they’ll look to make a major move with the starters despite a lot of awkward sideways glances in the direction of former 2nd overall pick Jalen Green. The team remains committed to helping Green find his role on a better team.”
Green remained a Rocket post-trade deadline. But Houston notably added Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard with the No. 3 overall draft pick, naturally adding more questions about Green’s future in town.
Parallel to all this has been Green’s contract. The former G League Ignite star entered the 2024 offseason with one year left on his deal for $12.4 million before he could enter restricted free agency. He entered the 2024 offseason eligible for a max five-year, $225 million rookie scale contract extension, although the Rockets and Green could also come to terms on a lesser agreement.
Ultimately, the Rockets were able to agree with Green on an extension, keeping him in town as Houston attempts to continue its ascent up the Western Conference standings.
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