Last week, Houston rejected offers to add forward Jabari Smith Jr. in the trade that would have brought 15-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant to the Rockets.
Reports surfaced on Sunday indicating how highly Houston regards Smith as a future member of the Rockets. Smith and the NBA franchise have reached an agreement on a five-year, $122 million contract deal, according to reports from the Houston Chronicle, NBA.com, and ESPN. There will be complete guarantees for the deal.
Smith was chosen by Houston as the third pick in the 2022 NBA Draft from Auburn, and he has one season left on his rookie contract, which pays $12.3 million. Smith may remain with the Rockets until the 2030–31 campaign according to the deal.
Smith participated in 39 starts and 57 regular-season games in the 2024–25 campaign. The 6-foot-11 forward had started every one of his 155 games throughout his first two seasons. Before breaking a bone in his left hand during practice, Smith started the first 33 games of the 2024–25 season. He was out from January 1 to February 21.
Smith averaged 12.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in his third NBA season. Smith has averaged 13.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 212 regular-season games over his NBA career.
In the 2024–25 season, the Rockets made the playoffs for the first time in Smith’s tenure with a 52–30 regular-season record. The Golden State Warriors defeated Houston in a seven-game first-round series. Smith’s first season saw the Rockets go 22-60, while his second season saw them go 41-41.
When the NBA’s free-agent moratorium expires on July 6, Smith will be able to sign the deal. It will also be the official date of the Rockets’ transaction for Durant. In return for Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, the 10th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and five second-round selections, Houston acquired Durant from the Phoenix Suns. On Wednesday night, the Rockets selected Khaman Maluach, a center for Duke, at No. 10 on behalf of the Suns.
During the 2024–25 season, Green led the Rockets with a scoring average of 21.0 points per game and started every game as shooting guard for Houston. Brooks averaged 14.0 points per game while starting 75 games as a small forward.
