
Trevor Ariza is headed to Phoenix. J Pat Carter
I'm the guy that has said from the get-go that I wanted to keep this Rockets team in tact and bring everyone back. I get the excitement centered around trying to lure Lebron James, but we all know that you would have to gut the entire roster to get him here. Why blow up a team that set a franchise record for regular season victories last season, had the best record in the league and was one healthy hamstring away from going to the NBA finals?
If you bring everyone back and maybe add a free agent shooter or two, you could once again find yourself competing for a championship. After the first weekend of free agency it looks like mission impossible when it comes to bringing everyone back. Clint Capella met with the Rockets on Sunday, but remains a restricted free agent.
Trevor Ariza didn't waste any time and signed a one year, 15 million dollar deal with the Phoenix Suns, essentially ending any hopes of keeping the roster in tact. Finding a replacement for Ariza could now become the biggest challenge that Daryl Morey faces this off season, along with getting Capela to sign on the bottom line.
I find it very humorous that Rockets fans wanted change and Trevor to go, simply because he did not make a 3 point shot in Game 7 against the Warriors. To be honest, he didn't make a shot at all in the teams' final game, but as a team, no one could as they missed 27 straight attempts from behind the arc. In his second stint with the Rockets, Trevor Ariza was a catalyst on the defensive end, one of the better on ball defenders in the league, a better than average 3 point shooter and most importantly, a leader in the locker room that was invaluable in keeping his teams together over the course of several NBA seasons.
During the Dwight Howard years, Trevor was one of the few guys who could talk sense into both Howard and James Harden and help the coaching staff find common ground within the locker room. He was a guy that wasn't afraid to speak up at practice or in film sessions, to get players to put their ego aside and understand the teaching moment for the betterment of the team. He was a pro's pro in that he practiced everyday and played the right way while quietly going about his business and setting an example for younger players. He didn't ask for a lot of touches on the offensive end, but when he did got the ball, he was an effective role player for this team. The other intangible that no one factors in, is that Trevor played a big role in recruiting Chris Paul to Houston.
Harden will get all of the credit in making the trade a reality, but Paul and Ariza have been friends for a long time and Trevor was in Los Angeles working out with and working on getting CP3 to H-town throughout last off season. If Morey is lucky, he will find a younger, more athletic, wing player that can knock down 3's and sign him for less money. Even if he does, he will be hard pressed to find someone to replace his presence in the locker room and leadership off the court.
Let me be clear that I do not believe the Rockets could afford to bring Ariza back at a 15 million dollars a year price tag. I don't blame Houston for letting Trevor walk away simply because the price tag was way too high, and would have basically ended their ambitious plans of improving this team. I also don’t blame Trevor for taking the deal from Phoenix, as you only get so many opportunities to cash in on a big contract and this might be his last chance to get a big payday. He will miss playing with a winning team on a consistent basis, but will find reassurance when he looks at his bank statement every 2 weeks.The Rockets on the other hand will feel a massive void if they are unable to replace him with someone that has the same attributes as he brought to the table for this basketball team. Some of the names to keep an eye on as a potential replacement at the starting small forward position are guys like Wilson Chandler in Denver, Jeff Green who played in Cleveland last year and possibly Rodney Hood who also finished last season with the Cavs.
Hood may command a salary too expensive for Morey's budget. Green can't shoot the long ball like Ariza, but is a younger, longer wing with the ability to defend most of the most talented "3's" in the NBA. If Cleveland doesn't bring Lebron back, it may give Green a reason to look for greener pastures and a new place to call home. Chandler has been on the trading block in Denver and the Nuggets would love to get his salary off their books. What the Rockets have that could be offered up for Green remains to be seen.
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Jun 11, 2025, 5:11 pm
The Houston Astros return to action Wednesday night with a chance to get back on track and even their three-game set against the visiting Chicago White Sox.
White Sox continue to have Houston's number
After falling 4–2 in Tuesday’s opener, the Astros now trail the season series 3–1 and will turn to Ryan Gusto (3-3, 4.78 ERA) in hopes of steadying the ship and reinforcing their grip on first place in the AL West.
Houston enters the matchup at 36–30 overall and 22–13 at home, a mark that reflects just how comfortable they've been playing in front of their fans. Though the offense has been inconsistent at times, the Astros are an impressive 19–4 when they manage to keep the ball in the yard — a stat that will be key with Gusto on the mound. The young right-hander has had an up-and-down season, but he'll be tasked with limiting a White Sox offense that did just enough to sneak away with a win in the opener.
Chicago, meanwhile, continues to play with a bit of unexpected edge despite sitting in last place in the AL Central. At 23–44, the White Sox have struggled most of the season — particularly on the road, where they’re just 7–26. Still, they've now won four of their last five games and will hand the ball to Sean Burke (3-6, 4.03 ERA), a righty who’s shown flashes of command and competitiveness in his rookie campaign.
The Astros will once again lean on their veterans to lead the way at the plate. Jose Altuve continues to be a consistent presence at the top of the lineup with nine home runs and 24 RBIs on the year. Yainer Diaz, who’s 10-for-39 with three home runs over his last 10 games, has started to find his swing again and could be a factor in the middle of the order. Houston will need more of that timely hitting if they want to avoid dropping their second straight at home — something that hasn’t happened often this year.
On the other side, Chase Meidroth has quietly become one of Chicago’s more reliable bats. Hitting .293 with five doubles and a pair of homers, Meidroth’s emergence adds some much-needed spark to a lineup that’s lacked consistency. Andrew Benintendi, hitting .257 over his last 10 games with four doubles, has also begun to warm up at the plate.
Both teams come in with nearly identical offensive production over their last 10 games — the Astros hitting .227 to the White Sox’s .226 — but Houston holds the edge in ERA at 3.44 compared to Chicago’s 4.04. That said, the Astros have been outscored by five runs over that stretch, and will need to clean up a few things on both sides of the ball to avoid falling into a mini-slide during this six-game homestand.
First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. ET from Daikin Park, with Houston looking to reassert itself against a team it hasn’t solved yet this season. A win would not only even the series — it would also be a reminder that the Astros remain very much in control of their own narrative heading into the summer grind.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -181, White Sox +150; over/under is 8 1/2 runs.
Here's an early look at Houston's lineup for Game 2
Wednesday night matchup.
⚾️: 7:10 PM
🏟️: Closed
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— Houston Astros (@astros) June 11, 2025
Jacob Melton is hitting last and remains the left fielder with Altuve back at second base. Diaz is once again in the cleanup spot as Walker is hitting fifth. Victor Caratini will hit behind Walker and serve as the DH. Otherwise, a pretty typical lineup for Joe Espada's club.
*ChatGPT assisted.
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