CapmathThe NBA Cap Ledger
Vol. XI · 2026-27 · Computed live
Vol. XI · 2026-27 · Computed live
Houston Rockets · Salary cap report
Rockets are $29.6M over the cap on payroll.
Houston Rockets payroll for the 2026-27 season is $194.6M against a $165.0M salary cap.
Payroll, the salaries actually on the books plus dead money, is $194.6M. Counting cap holds for their own free agents, the Rockets' cap number rises to $213.8M, which is why there is no usable cap space until those holds come off the books. Renouncing every free-agent hold would open -$30.9M of room and give up Bird rights.
Run Rockets' offseason yourself→Under the tax on payroll
What the numbers mean
Payroll$194.6M
The salaries actually committed to players right now.
Counts against the cap$213.8M
What the league counts: payroll plus free-agent hold placeholders.
Luxury tax lineUNDERby $5.9M
Cross it and the team pays a penalty on every dollar over.
First apron lineUNDERby $14.4M
A stricter line. Over it, the bigger roster tools freeze.
Where the Rockets land · payroll against the cap lines
Cap$165.0MTax$200.4MApron 1$209.0MApron 2$221.7M
The solid bar is real payroll. The hatched extension is a free-agent hold crossing the cap line. Renounce it and the room clears.
The books
2026-27 focused
| Player | Pos | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signed contracts | ||||
| Kevin Durant | F | $43.9M | PO$46.1M | – |
| Alperen Sengun | F | $35.6M | $37.3M | $39.0M |
| Fred VanVleet | G | $25.0M | – | – |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | F | $23.6M | $21.8M | $23.6M |
| Tari Eason | F | $14.1M | $15.2M | $16.3M |
| Steven Adams | C | $13.0M | $11.9M | – |
| Amen Thompson | G | TO$12.3M | – | – |
| Reed Sheppard | G | TO$11.1M | TO$14.0M | – |
| Clint Capela | C | $7.0M | $7.4M | – |
| Marcus Smart | G | $6.3M | $6.7M | – |
| JD Davison | G | TO$2.6M | – | – |
| Signed subtotal | $194.6M | $160.3M | $79.0M | |
| Payroll | $194.6M | $160.3M | $79.0M | |
| Cap holds · placeholders, not paid | ||||
| Aaron HolidayNON-BIRD | G | $2.8M | – | – |
| Jae'Sean TateNON-BIRD | F | $2.8M | – | – |
| Jeff GreenNON-BIRD | F | $2.8M | – | – |
| Oscar TshiebweMIN HOLD | F | $2.2M | – | – |
| Tristen NewtonMIN HOLD | F | $2.2M | – | – |
| Isaiah CrawfordMIN HOLD | F | $2.2M | – | – |
| Bruce ThorntonMIN HOLD | F | $2.2M | – | – |
| Quadir CopelandMIN HOLD | F | $2.2M | – | – |
| Fred VanVleetEARLY BIRD | G | – | $32.5M | – |
| Amen ThompsonBIRD 300% | G | – | $36.8M | – |
| JD DavisonNON-BIRD | G | – | $3.1M | – |
| Steven AdamsBIRD 190% | C | – | – | $22.6M |
| Clint CapelaBIRD 190% | C | – | – | $14.0M |
| Kevin DurantEARLY BIRD | F | – | – | $59.9M |
| Reed SheppardBIRD 300% | G | – | – | $42.1M |
| Counts against the cap | $213.8M | $234.1M | $225.2M | |
What they can add
Non-Taxpayer MLEup to $15.0M
The full mid-level signing slot for adding an outside free agent. Using it locks their spending at the first apron for the rest of the season.
Bi-Annual Exceptionup to $5.4M
A smaller signing slot, usable every other year. Using it also locks their spending at the first apron.
Bird rightsLets them re-sign their own free agents for more than other teams can offer, up to the max.
Trade exceptions
Trade exception · from the Dorian Finney-Smith tradeup to $13.3M
Absorbs one incoming contract up to this amount with no salary matching. Expires Jul 3, 2027.
A trade exception is a credit from an earlier trade, not money on the books, so it does not count toward the cap, tax, or apron. On file as of Jul 31, 2026; may not be complete.
Decisions ahead
Option calls before 2027-28
Kevin Durant $46.1M player option, Reed Sheppard $14.0M team option.
Expiring after 2026-27
Fred VanVleet $25.0M, Amen Thompson $12.3M, JD Davison $2.6M come off the books.
Front office
Run the Rockets offseason
Take these exact books into the GM Machine and re-sign, sign, waive, stretch, and draft, with every cap rule checked and explained as you go.
Draft picks through 2033
The Rockets control 9 first-round and 3 second-round picks, 2 carrying swap rights.
2026
2026 2nd (via CHI) · No. 39
Chicago's own second conveyed to Houston at pick 39, routed via Washington.
2026 2nd (own) · No. 53
2026 2nd (via WAS) · No. 31
Washington's own second reached New York at pick 31, then on draft night the Knicks traded it to Houston, which selected Bruce Thornton at 31.
Their own 1st, owed to PHI · No. 22
Houston's own first went to Oklahoma City in the July 2019 Westbrook for Chris Paul deal, top-4 protected, then to Philadelphia in the February 2026 Jared McCain trade. It landed at pick 22 and conveyed to Philadelphia.
2027
2027 1st (own, swap rights attached)
Houston holds the right to swap its own 2027 first for Brooklyn's, from the January 2021 James Harden trade, retained through the June 2024 Nets-Rockets deal. Houston keeps its slot unless it exercises against Brooklyn's.
2027 1st (via PHX)
Phoenix's own first owed to Houston, unprotected, from the February 2023 Kevin Durant trade to Brooklyn and the June 2024 Nets-Rockets pick-swap deal that sent it on to Houston. Phoenix has no 2027 first.
Their own 2nd, owed to NOP
Houston's own second sits in the OKC, HOU, IND, MIA 2027 pool: Philadelphia takes the most favorable, New Orleans the second, New York the third, San Antonio the more favorable of its own or the least of the four, and Miami the least of five. Houston does not keep it; Oklahoma City is only a routing conduit.
2028
2028 1st (own)
Their own 2nd, owed to CHA
Houston's own second conveyed to Charlotte in the July 2026 Dorian Finney-Smith trade.
2029
2029 1st (via DAL)
HOU takes the two most favorable of the DAL, PHX, and HOU 2029 firsts and BKN keeps the least favorable; HOU controls DAL's slot via the June 2024 Rockets-Nets trade.
2029 1st (own, swap rights attached)
Houston receives the two most favorable of its own, the Dallas, and the Phoenix 2029 firsts, all acquired from Brooklyn in the June 2024 trade, and Brooklyn takes the least favorable of the three; the own slot is retained pending that resolution.
Their own 2nd, owed to MEM
Owed to Memphis, acquired by Dallas via Oklahoma City and Washington then sent on to Memphis in the July 2026 six-team Khris Middleton trade.
2030
2030 1st (own)
Their own 2nd, owed to OKC
Memphis takes the most favorable of the Denver, Houston, and Miami 2030 seconds and Oklahoma City the second most and least favorable; Houston's own second goes to Memphis if it is the most favorable of the three, otherwise Oklahoma City. From the June 2026 Memphis-Oklahoma City trade.
2031
2031 1st (own)
Their own 2nd, owed to BOS
Owed to Boston, protected 31-55; an Atlanta swap right on the 31-55 range is reported on the same slot from a single mirror.
2032
2032 1st (own)
Their own 2nd, owed to CHI
Chicago takes the more favorable of the Houston and Phoenix 2032 seconds; the less favorable goes to Phoenix and then on to Minnesota.
2033
2033 1st (own)
Their own 2nd, owed to CHA
Houston's own second conveyed to Charlotte in the July 2026 Dorian Finney-Smith trade.
Protections and swap conditions in plain English. Full story on the Rockets draft picks page.
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