Tank for a top 4 pick. That means playing Eric Gordon 45 minutes a game, sitting Wall and trading every vet besides Wood.
Of course, but it has nothing to do with Stone. Do you think he could have signed five 6'-10" basketball players off of waivers that would get 1 minute of playing time? You can't make something out of nothing... the only option for Stone was to sign free agents, and he signed the best big FA on the market. Then he signed the best of what he could get that was still left.
No he did not sign the BEST available players or even try to balance the roster. Stone focused on signing triple threat players for Silas system. Most players with those skills are under 6'6. Hence small ball in Morey/MDA 5 Out system. Building a roster has EVERYTHING to do with the GM. That's why CF blamed every wrong step on Morey, deservedly so. It's his job, buck stops with him.
This is completely ridiculous. By this logic, every GM should be fired on their 7th day of employment... What?? You've had a f***ing week, and we're still playing small ball???? The buck stops here! You're fired.
So you cannot dispute what I said and decided to throw a hissy fit? Stone is responsible for the roster, true or false? There was no discussion of termination, you brought that up out of nowhere.
Look, you can Knute Rockne this until the cows come home, but this year is the best opportunity to make something positive out a bad situation. I would rather the Rockets get a top 4 pick in a loaded draft than compete for a 8th seed, get their asses kicked in the playoffs and lose Oladipo for cap space. You and I both know that Tilman is cost cutting mode. It's not like they have an abundance of talent right now, as it is. Look at the West and tell me which roster you wouldn't trade with.
So who you tanking for? Cunningham? Kuminga? Suggs? All are risks, Cade is not Luka and he is likely going #1 overall. Neither Kuminga or Suggs are worth tanking for IMO. Do you believe Rockets can lose that many games with Dipo, Wood, Wall, etc. without killing the new culture that Silas and Stone profess to be building?
Honestly you dont know that unless you see yourself as better than any scout ever because no one seems to truly know who will be boom or bust. Unless its someone like Lebron which no one is Lebron but Lebron. No one knew Luka was Luka.
Many people knew Luka was the hands down best pick in that draft. Only the dumbasses didn't. Why do you think Vlade was fired, he had legit the best insight on Luka.
Stone is absolutely not responsible for the Rockets having a short roster. He inherited the shortest roster in NBA history. You can't reverse that in a month. The Rockets were in complete disarray with Harden and Westbrook. It's a miracle anyone looking to compete signed with them. You said Serge Ibaka could have been signed at a min contract? He signed with championship contender Clippers for $19m. Mo Harkless... championship contender Heat. Mark Gasol... likely champions LA Lakers. I stopped vetting your list after that. You said that Stone should be judged for the entire roster of the Houston Rockets which is absurd. The logical extension of your argument is for every NBA GM immediately upon hiring/promotion should be evaluated based on what they produce immediately. This completely ignores the context of the team and situation. Based on your criteria, Stone is the worst GM in NBA history and should be fired.
Oh pete's sake stop it lol Even if he was the best in the draft theres no way you knew he would be this good that fast just stop arm chair hindsight 20/20 scouting. You might as well say you knew Kawhi, Ginobili, and Giannis were gonna be as good as they are. Damn you're the best scout ever!! Rockets should hire you lol
If you are the worst team in the NBA you only have 50% chance to get top 4 pick. If you are the 3rd worst team in the NBA you will average at 4.1th spot which means you out of the top 4 already on average bro. If you wanna tank just to get OKC or whoever we owe the pick to a higher pick then you're the only one.
We didnt know he would be an MVP player yr 1 but a lot of people had him no 1, no 2 was a no brainer esp over Trae Young or Marvin Bagley. You can make an argument Ayton was a "Hakeem scenario" where it was ok to draft him no 1 since he was PHX favorite and he is still a great talented big with high ceiling but no excuse for Doncic going below no 2.
To be fair to Stone originally both Wood and Cousins were projecting to be our full time centers. Prob had no idea Cousins was so washed and Wood too thin to be a center in the west. Also all the small dudes he brought in were pretty decent for undrafted rookie minimums. Maybe we could flip some of them for a big body on the cheap.
