"We value the player and the person that Scoot is becoming and are eager to invest in him and his journey" - Houston Rockets GM is pleased with Kevin Porter Jr.'s commitment to the team

Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. was recently signed to a four-year, $82.5 million contract extension, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Porter Jr's contract was set to expire following the 2022-2023 season, but he will instead remain with the Rockets through the 2026-2027 season. The Athletic's Shams Charania shared that the Rockets and Porter Jr. included clauses in his contract that protect the organization by only fully guaranteeing the first year of his extension.

Rockets General Manager Rafael Stone shared his excitement for the deal, stating:

“We value the player and the person that Scoot is becoming and are eager to invest in him and his journey. He’s expressed how happy he is to be with this organization and has shown his commitment to putting in the work both on and off the court. We are excited for the opportunity to continue to build something special with him.”

With only the first season of the extension guaranteed, the deal is a steal for the Rockets. Not only do they keep a talented young player on what figures to be a team-friendly deal, but they have the opportunity to get out of the deal following every season. The inclusion of that clause in Kevin Porter Jr's extension ensures that the 22 year old won't become complacent now that he has gotten paid.

Why did Kevin Porter Jr. agree to non-guaranteed years?

It is rare to see a young player who hasn't battled injuries sign a team-friendly extension prior to restricted free agency. It is even more rare when only the first year of that extension is guaranteed, as is the case with Kevin Porter Jr.'s new extension with the Houston Rockets.

Porter Jr. dealt with tragedy as a kid, as his father was killed when he was just four years old. A five-star recruit coming out of high school, Porter Jr.'s freshman season at USC was derailed by injury and a suspension for personal conduct.

While this caused Porter Jr. to slide in the draft, he was selected 30th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. Porter Jr. saw his issues continue with the Cleveland Cavaliers, as his lone season with the organization was riddled with controversy. Porter Jr. would be suspended for making contact with a referee as a rookie.

Following the season, he was arrested for a weapons charge which delayed the beginning of his second season. Upon his return, Porter Jr. was less than thrilled to find that his locker had been changed and had an outburst that led the Cavaliers to give up on his potential.

The Cavaliers traded Porter Jr. to the Rockets for a second-round pick that will only be conveyed if it is in the bottom five, showing how low his stock had fallen. After some time in the G League, Kevin Porter Jr. was able to finally make good on his promise. Another outburst, however, led to a suspension and likely contributed to the Rockets' desire to add protections to his new deal.