On ESPN’s The Hoop Collective, NBA insider Brian Windhorst said some around the NBA see Jalen Green’s new extension with the Houston Rockets as a potential trade chip.
“This is a contract that a lot of people in the league think was signed for the option to be traded and getting the 10% trade kicker in there, which is the biggest trade kicker that was given out yesterday in all these deals,” Windhorst said. “To me, I’m not saying the Rockets are definitely going to trade him. I’m just saying this contract was designed to allow him to be traded.”
If the Rockets young guard was to be traded, it likely wouldn’t happen until the 2025 offseason. Because Green signed an extension, that makes his contract subject to the poison pill provision for the remainder of this season. That sees Green count as $12.5 million in outgoing salary, but as $29.5 million (the average of all years of his contract) on the incoming side for an acquiring team. That imbalance makes finding a trade a challenge.
Green got a fairly unique contract, in that his deal averages over $35 million over the three-year extension. But the shorter deal also has a player option on the final year. The combination of near-max contract, but on a shorter length with a player option is different from most traditional rookie scale extensions.
The Rockets are still forming their roster. Over the last year-plus, Houston has infused a young roster with several veterans. In addition to Green, the Rockets signed Alperen Sengun to a five-year, $185 million extension. Next offseason, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason will be extension eligible.
