NBA Market: The Tremendous Amount of Money for Which the Rockets Have Renewed Amen Thompson

The Houston Rockets have secured the future of one of the most important pieces of their young project. Amen Thompson has reached an agreement to sign a five-year contract extension worth 208 million dollars, as reported by ESPN.

The new contract also includes a 10% trade kicker clause and will keep Thompson linked to the franchise until 2032. The percentage of the salary cap that the agreement will occupy is the same as the five-year extension worth 185 million that Houston granted to Alperen Sengun in 2024.

Thompson, selected with the number 4 pick in the 2023 Draft, has progressively become one of the most versatile players for the Rockets. At 23 years old, he just completed the best season of his career, during which he led the entire NBA in minutes played.

The guard averaged 18.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals, all of which are personal bests. Additionally, he finished eighth in the NBA in total steals and fourth in loose ball recoveries, according to ESPN Research data.

An increasingly complete player

Last season, Thompson was also part of a select group of just nine players who averaged at least 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. He was, moreover, the youngest to achieve this, sharing that list with players of the caliber of Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Johnson, Paolo Banchero, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, and his teammate Alperen Sengun.

The absence of Fred VanVleet caused Thompson to primarily take on the role of point guard during the last season, although his versatility allows him to play in either of the two perimeter positions and even take on roles closer to the interior game.

That ability to defend multiple positions, generate offense, and contribute in different facets has been crucial for Houston's decision to invest in him long-term.

The Rockets secure their young core

With this renewal, Houston continues to consolidate the core on which it intends to build its future. The franchise has reached multi-year extensions with Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Tari Eason, ensuring the continuity of much of its young talent.

The Rockets have won 52 games in each of the last two seasons, a progression that has led the franchise to reinforce its commitment to this group of players.

Additionally, before last season, Houston reached a two-year, 90 million dollar agreement with Kevin Durant, an NBA star who has a player option for the 2027-28 season.

With Thompson secured until 2032, the Rockets have a solid contractual base to try to take the next step and become one of the leading contenders in the Western Conference.

Second player from the 2023 class to renew

Thompson becomes the second player from the 2023 Draft class to agree to a rookie contract extension, following Victor Wembanyama, the number 1 pick of that draft and star of the San Antonio Spurs.

Other players from that generation are also seen as candidates to receive an extension in the coming weeks, including Brandon Miller, Ausar Thompson, Keyonte George, Cason Wallace, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Brandin Podziemski.

For the Rockets, however, the priority is already clear: Amen Thompson is part of the long-term project and Houston has just secured his services for the next six years.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Mercado NBA: El tremendo pastizal por el que los Rockets han renovado a Amen Thompson