TITLE: Southwest Roundup: Rockets deepen roster, Mavericks lock in P.J. Washington, Grizzlies acquire Gilyard
SLUG: southwest-roundup-rockets-mavs-washington-grizzlies
CONTENT:
The Houston Rockets’ blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant has dominated NBA headlines, yet the club’s quieter offseason moves could carry similar weight.
Rockets reinforce supporting cast
Houston has extended center Steven Adams and re-signed guard Fred VanVleet on a more team-friendly deal, according to the Houston Chronicle’s Danielle Lerner. Both veterans served as key locker-room leaders and played pivotal roles in last season’s playoff clash with Golden State. After winning 52 games, the Rockets aim to push that figure toward 55 in 2025-26, though the franchise has not advanced past the first round since 2020.
Division outlooks
Lerner surveyed beat reporters around the Southwest Division for their 2024-25 projections:
- Michael Wallace of Grind City Media expects the Memphis Grizzlies to contend for a top-six seed despite trading Desmond Bane.
- Jim Eichenhofer of Pelicans.com predicts the New Orleans Pelicans will outperform preseason forecasts that place them near the bottom of the Western Conference.
- Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com projects the Dallas Mavericks to finish 48-34 and return to the postseason picture.
Mavericks extend P.J. Washington
Dallas and forward P.J. Washington have agreed to a four-year, $89 million extension. While the salary is viewed as reasonable, Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron notes that the deal adds another contract to an increasingly crowded and costly frontcourt.
Grizzlies’ G League move
The Memphis Hustle, G League affiliate of the Grizzlies, have obtained the returning rights to guard Evan Gilyard from Raptors 905 in exchange for a 2025 G League first-round pick. Gilyard averaged 12.3 points and 5.4 assists last season and could receive an Exhibit 10 invitation to Memphis training camp.
Source: Hoops Wire
