Each year, June 29 is a very important date on the NBA calendar because it’s the day prior to the opening of external free agency negotiations on June 30.
As a new fiscal year arrives each July, players and teams around the league are prompted to make decisions by the end of June regarding contracts with player or team options for the following season.
There are rare exceptions in which the deadline is slightly earlier or later in the offseason, but June 29 is the most common date.
For the Rockets, as currently constructed, players who entered deadline day with contractual uncertainty for 2024-25 include Jock Landale, Jeff Green, Jae’Sean Tate, Nate Williams (two-way), Nate Hinton (two-way), and Jermaine Samuels Jr. (two-way).
Houston also has veterans Reggie Bullock Jr., Aaron Holiday, and Boban Marjanovic poised to enter unrestricted free agency, and the Rockets only have Bird rights on Marjanovic.
As of June 29, here are the latest updates on those option decisions. All nine of these players were primarily reserves last season.
Jae’Sean Tate, forward
- Tate’s status: Tate’s 2024-25 team option for $7.6 million was officially picked up, per Woj.
The Houston Rockets are picking up Jae’sean Tate’s $7.6 million option for the 2024-2025 season, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2024
Jeff Green, forward
Via Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle:
- Green’s status: Green’s 2024-25 contract for $8.0 million is not guaranteed unless he is on Houston’s roster beyond July 11, 2024. However, the Rockets have already told other teams that they plan to keep Green, Feigen reports.
Jock Landale, center
Via Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle:
- Landale’s status: Landale’s 2024-25 contract for $8.0 million became guaranteed when he was not waived on June 29. There was no report of Landale being waived, and Feigen’s previous reporting said that Houston planned to keep him.
Nate Williams, guard
Via Michael Scotto, HoopsHype:
- Williams’ status: A two-way qualifying offer for 2024-25 was extended for Nate Williams.
The Houston Rockets will extend a two-way qualifying offer to Nate Williams, league sources told @hoopshype. Williams appeared in 22 games for the Rockets last season. pic.twitter.com/kN2zZmq21V
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 28, 2024
Nate Hinton, guard
- Hinton’s status: A two-way qualifying offer for 2024-25 was not offered to Nate Hinton, though an Exhibit 10 contract (effectively a training camp invitation) was signed.
The Houston Rockets and free agent Nate Hinton have agreed to a max Exhibit 10 contract, sources tell @TheAthletic. Hinton will play for the team at Summer League is expected to earn a two-way roster spot.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) July 1, 2024
Jermaine Samuels Jr., forward
- Samuels Jr.’s status: A two-way qualifying offer for 2024-25 was not offered to Jermaine Samuels Jr., Iko reported.
The Houston Rockets are not extending a two-way qualifying offer to Nate Hinton or Jermaine Samuels Jr., sources tell @TheAthletic.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) June 29, 2024
Unrestricted free agents
Point guard Aaron Holiday, shooting guard Reggie Bullock Jr., and big man Boban Marjanovic became unrestricted free agents on June 30. Holiday is the most likely to return, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, though the Rockets will not have Bird rights.
