Sources: Rockets, Thompson agree to $208M deal

Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson has agreed to a five-year, $208 million rookie-scale contract extension with the franchise, sources told ESPN. The new deal includes a 10% trade kicker, sources said, and constitutes the same percentage of the Rockets salary cap as when the team signed Alperen Sengun to a five-year, $185 million rookie extension in 2024. Thompson, 23, has been an ascending multi-position player for the Rockets ever since becoming their No. 4 pick in 2023. He led the NBA in minutes played last season while averaging career highs in points (18.3), assists (5.3) and steals (1.5) and ranking eighth in total steals and fourth in loose ball recoveries. Last season, Thompson was among nine players to average at least 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists; as the youngest to join a list including Sengun, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Johnson, Paolo Banchero, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum. Thompson played primarily at point guard last season due to the absence of Fred VanVleet, but has shown the ability to swing to either guard position and the frontcourt. The Rockets, who have won 52 games in each of the last two years, have now locked in multiyear extensions for their young core of Thompson, Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason. Before last season, Houston reached a two-year, $90 million extension with All-NBA star Kevin Durant, giving him a player option for 2027-28. Thompson becomes the second player from the 2023 draft class to agree to a rookie extension, along with the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama. Several other players, including Charlotte's Brandon Miller, Detroit's Ausar Thompson, Utah's Keyonte George, Oklahoma City's Cason Wallace, Milwaukee's Jaime Jaquez Jr., Golden State's Brandin Podziemski, are expected to be rookie extension candidates in the coming weeks.