The Houston Rockets are entering the offseason with a different read on their roster than they had a year ago, and that has pushed Amen Thompson into a separate tier from everyone else on the team.
According to Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports, rival teams that have recently contacted Houston have been told that Thompson is the only near untouchable on the roster. Iko reported that the Rockets are no longer operating with a simple “run it back” approach after a season that exposed how much work still remains before they can join the West’s top tier.
That shift follows a year in which Houston’s ceiling was tested by injuries and by the limits of an incomplete roster. The Rockets won 52 games after trading for Kevin Durant last July, but season-ending injuries to Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams undercut the structure that had helped them control pace and possessions.
Iko’s reporting suggests the front office came away from the Western Conference finals and NBA Finals with a clearer sense that the team is still several moves away from true contention.
Thompson’s status reflects both his production and his trajectory. The 23-year-old is entering his fourth season and has already become one of Houston’s most valuable two-way pieces. In 2025-26, he averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals in 79 games, shooting 53.4% from the field while handling a major workload as the team’s primary initiator. He also finished eighth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
That combination gives Houston a rare player to build around. Thompson’s size, athleticism and versatility make him the sort of guard who can impact both ends of the floor without requiring the offense to be fully rebuilt around him. Iko reported that the Rockets have already communicated their intentions on Thompson and plan to continue talks after the draft as they move toward a lucrative extension.
Houston’s broader approach appears more flexible. Iko reported that the Rockets are not actively shopping their other key players, but they are more willing to listen than they were at earlier points in the cycle. Tari Eason remains a priority to keep despite outside interest, while VanVleet is expected back either via his $25 million player option or through a longer deal.
One possible move could involve Dorian Finney-Smith. The veteran forward, who signed a four-year, $53 million deal last offseason, dealt with lingering ankle issues and posted career lows in several statistical categories. His contract could help Houston create the room it needs if the team wants to make a run at free agency and reshape its bench.