On Thursday, we learned that the Houston Rockets and Amen Thompson agreed to a hefty rookie contract extension. For more NBA articles, check out this one by us here.

Houston and Thompson agreed to a five-year, $208 million rookie scale contract extension. The new extension also includes a 10% trade kicker, but did Rafael Stone give Thompson this deal too soon?

Thompson Could Have Signed A $252 Million Max Contract Extension

Amen Thompson Could Have Signed A Much Bigger Contract Extension
Houston Rockets’ Amen Thompson brings the ball up the court against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA basketball game. (David J. Phillip/AP)

Thompson’s extension could’ve been significantly larger than the one he signed for. Houston’s former top four pick could’ve signed for the full five-year rookie max extension.

Which would’ve come out to five years, $252 million, and on that deal, Thompson would make up 25% of the cap. Instead, Stone was able to get the player on an extension that will only have him making just a little bit over 22% of the cap.

Those years Thompson will be making over twenty-two percent of the cap will be in the 2030-2031 season and 2031-2032 season. Thompson will be making 22.2% and 22.5% of the cap during those respective seasons.

This extension with Thompson marks the third straight offseason of Stone extending one of his former draft picks. Stone extended Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green for five years, $185 million, and three years, $105.3 million, before the 2024 season started. Former third-overall pick Jabari Smith Jr. was extended in the 2025 offseason for five years, $122 million.

Is Thompson Worth His $208 Million Contract Extension?

Is Amen Thompson Worth His New Extension?
Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Orlando Magic at Toyota Center on Nov 16, 2025. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

While it’s fair to question if Thompson is fully worth this extension, personally I don’t see this as an overpay; more so, it’s just an okay extension. Thompson has already proven to be an All-NBA caliber defender, making the First Team All-Defense in the 2024-2025 season.

Thompson is regarded as this kind of defender for his ability to guard positions one through three at a very high level. In addition to being a good defensive playmaker who also provides some weak-side rim protection.

Thompson’s Offensive Issues Will Continue To Hurt The Rockets In The Playoffs

Amen Thompson’s Concerns In The Playoffs
Apr 29, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) moves the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half in game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Yet, Thompson’s questions in the playoffs are all about his offense. While he’s a monster in transition and gets to and finishes at the rim at a good rate.

When it comes to handling the ball against playoff-level ball pressure, Thompson is only okay in this regard. Then you get to his lack of a three-point shot and the fact that playoff defenses don’t respect him at all as a shooter from behind the arc.

Thompson’s forced to function more like a big or a wing offensively depending on the lineup instead of a guard like he was touted as entering the NBA. While it’s still possible Thompson develops a shot from outside of ten feet from the basket, I wouldn’t hold my breath on it happening at this point.

The Rockets Still Have Major Ball-Handling and Shooting Concerns

Houston already is a team lacking in ball handling, passing, playmaking, and three-point shooting. To help in those areas, they’re depending on a 32-year-old Fred VanVleet who’s a small guard coming off tearing his ACL and meniscus during the previous offseason.

Along with Reed Sheppard, who appeared to be overwhelmed in playoff basketball, as we witnessed during their first-round matchup with the Lakers. In that series, Sheppard averaged 12.2 points per game, while shooting 30.7 percent from the field and 29.6 percent on threes.

In addition to Marcus Smart, who will provide them another ball-handling option and an above-average passer. Unfortunately, his health is a question, as this past season was the first time in three seasons Smart played above sixty games.

Their second-round pick Bruce Thornton can help Houston in the ball-handling department. While also providing a dynamic scoring punch off the bench, it’s still to be seen if Ime Udoka even gives Thornton consistent minutes in the rotation.

End Of My Amen Thompson Contract Extension Rant

What Amen Thompson Extension Means For Houtson Going Forward
May 5, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston Rocket forward Amen Thompson looks on in the first half of the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers game one of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

For a Rockets team that has a thirty-seven-year-old Kevin Durant, their window to win with him is right now. With this Thompson extension, the biggest fear is that Stone has now committed a lot of money to a core that nobody is sure they even fit alongside each other.

On top of the fact that they may not be good enough to be anything more than a second-round exit. Houston had to give Thompson an extension, but they may be staring down the barrel of never being able to truly be a contender.