Missing the maximum salary renewal? Thanks to Durant for giving a big gift! The Rockets are expected to stay on the front line for two new stars

The Rockets have been taking advantage of rookie bonuses now, from the rookie contracts between Jaylen Green and Shin Kyung, to the rookie contracts between Smith Jr., Ethan, Amen Thompson, and even Shepard. The Rockets have been taking advantage of these extremely cost-effective rookie contracts. But the Rockets will face the issue of renewing these young players in the next few seasons. Now Smith Jr. has received a five-year contract renewal of 122 million yuan, and Shin Kyung has also won a new contract renewal. Next season, he will execute his own big contract and become the second highest-salary player in the Rockets with an average annual salary of more than 30 million yuan, becoming the second highest-salary for the Rockets outside Durant. This obviously echoes his team's tactical status.

But there are also some players waiting for a contract renewal or early renewal, for example, another power forward, Tari Ethan. After Smith Jr. renewed his contract for 122 million yuan, Ethan has not received an early contract extension. Some experts believe that Ethan's comprehensiveness and overall strength are slightly stronger than Jabbarry Smith Jr., so in their opinion, Ethan's contract should be larger than Smith Jr. But now the Rockets have voluntarily renewed Smith Jr. and did not voluntarily renew Ethan, which makes everyone a little doubt whether the Rockets have insufficient salary space?

In fact, the Rockets are correct to do this. After all, their salary space is not particularly ideal, especially Durant, Van Vritte and Shin Kyung will take 100 million US dollars from the Rockets together next season. So, it’s hard to say whether the Rockets can keep Amen Thompson by next summer. Amen Thompson will have an opportunity to renew his contract in advance next summer. Compared to Ethan, Amen Thompson is obviously more worthy of the Rockets' focus on training. After all, he was the No. 4 pick and was a member of the All-Defensive Team last season, and Amen is only 22 years old, while Ethan is already a 24-year-old player.

However, if the Rockets can free up more salary space, not only can Amen be left, but even Ethan can stay. This should reduce the salary of players who hold big contracts. For example, Durant, I am afraid that the Rockets will not sign a maximum salary renewal contract with the Rockets next season.

In a program by several ESPN experts, they analyzed that although Durant will most likely remain with the Rockets and sign a renewal contract with the Rockets, judging from the Rockets' operations, it is unlikely that they will renew Durant with a maximum salary of two years, and this contract will be much lower than the maximum salary. Durant's annual salary next season will be nearly $55 million. If the Rockets want to keep him, he will probably not be given a maximum salary. After all, the Rockets still need to free up salary space to leave Ethan and Amen Thompson. If Durant is given a maximum salary, then obviously Ethan and Amen Thompson should only leave one person.

Durant also stated when he first joined the Rockets that they said that Durant is willing to cut his salary when renewing his contract in the future and will not get a maximum salary. In this way, Amen Thompson and Ethan have more opportunities to stay at the team at the same time, so the two young forwards should thank Durant for the big gift. If Durant is unwilling to take the initiative to cut his salary and insist on asking for a maximum salary contract, the Rockets will not be able to keep Ethan and Amen at the same time.