In an appearance on the Lowe Post podcast, ESPN and Draft Express’s Jonathan Givony blasted the Houston Rockets and, in particular, their organizational culture. Givony told Zach Lowe that people around the NBA don’t have good things to say about their culture and locker room, with Zach Lowe calling it “a circus.” To hammer home his point, Givony said that even players on the Rockets say, “we’re a mess.”

Jonathan Givony did not pull punches on Kevin Porter Jr.

The most explosive remark Givony made involved Kevin Porter Jr. The draft analyst believes the Rockets should cut the soon-to-be 23-year-old point guard as a way to clear out the “bad apples” and reset the team’s culture. Porter, after some dust-ups last season and early in his career, has avoided trouble this season. Givony may believe Porter’s style of play is hampering the development of Houston’s younger and more talented core of Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Jabari Smith Jr. His brand of basketball sees him dominate an offense and doesn’t leave many meaningful reps for his teammates. 

On the surface, releasing Porter so soon after signing him to a four-year extension would be a drastic change of opinion, but looking at the details of the contract, make it clear that the Rockets always wanted an easy out with Porter. Porter’s four-year $82.5 million extension only includes $15.86 million in guaranteed money, all in 2023-24. Each subsequent season there are trigger dates for guaranteed money, and the final season is a team option. If the Rockets were to move on from Porter today, it would only cost them $15.86 million in dead money. 

There is no reporting that the Rockets are currently entertaining releasing Porter, and it is just Givony’s opinion. However, as the structure of Porter’s contract suggests, it’s clear the Rockets were never completely sold on Porter being a long-term piece of their rebuild. Remember, NBA front offices show love through guaranteed money and player options.