Kimi Antonelli Proves Heâs The Real Deal At The 2026 Miami Grand Prix
Andrea Kimi Antonelli claims victory at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix!
The Houston Rockets face key offseason decisions after an early playoff exit, particularly regarding forward Tari Eason. The team must navigate the challenges of player development and injuries as they look to improve.

The Houston Rockets entered last offseason with a star player in their sights, and decided to pull the trigger on a Kevin Durant deal with the Phoenix Suns.
Durant, aging but still spectacular, immediately proved his worth. But the Rockets had to overcome the loss of Fred VanVleet to a torn ACL. In fact, the loss of VanVleet moved almost everyone up a notch on the offensive totem pole, a tough ask for a roster that was â and remains â both young and inexperienced.
While second-year man Reed Sheppard found his footing, at least somewhat, he wasn't close enough in his development to fill VanVleetâs shoes. Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Alperen ĆengĂŒn all had to carry enormous loads on both sides of the floor, and the results were predictably inconsistent. Ultimately, they fell short in the playoffs, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round in six games (with Durant missing five of them due to knee and ankle injuries).
As the Rockets enter another offseason sooner than expected, they have some decisions to make, especially in regards to fourth-year forward Eason.
Record: 52-30, fifth in Western Conference. Lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round in six games.
The Rockets are evaluating their roster and potential trades, especially concerning fourth-year forward Tari Eason.
Injuries, particularly to Fred VanVleet and Kevin Durant, significantly affected the Rockets' performance, leading to their early playoff exit.
Key players include Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Alperen ĆengĂŒn, who will need to step up next season.
The Rockets' young and inexperienced roster must overcome development hurdles and the pressure of increased roles following injuries.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli claims victory at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix!

Cédrine Kerbaol se impone en A Coruña con un gran ataque
Virat Kohli honors Evan Speechly's 18 years with RCB in heartfelt tribute.
Jon Rahm's settlement with the DP World Tour secures his Ryder Cup spot.
PGA of America reveals the 2026 PGA Championship field at Aronimink.
Latest updates from Stefon Diggs' trial as ex-chef testifies
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
Are changes ahead for Kevin Durant and the Rockets? (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Ronald Martinez via Getty Images)
The Rockets rolled off eight straight wins down the stretch of the regular season. While the competition wasn't tremendous, the team found itself in a rhythm that suggested some level of playoff success.
Kevin Durant
Alperen ĆengĂŒn
Jabari Smith Jr.
Amen Thompson
Reed Sheppard
Tari Eason (RFA)
Fred VanVleet (player option)
$159,925541
Nos. 39 and 53
Draft focus: These are late picks in a draft that's grown significantly less deep, with prospects returning to college due to NIL money. At this stage, it's all about upside. If the players with the most upside, however, are guards, all the better.
Presumably, VanVleet will trigger his player option. If the Rockets also retain Eason, it'll be at a higher salary point than his current compensation level. That would turn the Rockets into one of the more expensive teams in the league, increasing the likelihood of very little financial flexibility moving forward. In other words, if they're over the second apron, the tax midlevel exception wouldn't be available to them. So they should be motivated to stay under.
The Rockets need to slightly reshuffle the deck if they wish to compete for a title, which they do. Otherwise, they wouldn't have gone out of their way to acquire Durant. Does this mean pivoting away from some of the young players? It can't be ruled out.