When are we going to start criticizing Rafael Stone?

The reason this thread is alive is because we have the worst record in entire freaking history of the NBA the past 3 years (total).

 

exactly, I would love to say in my work that they should revise my work by 2030 lmfao

 

He is just biding and killing time, nothing to analyze here truly.

 

Because we are in an actual rebuild…. And didn’t land #1…. Twice

 

Ok. KD helped a little.

 

Stone will be under fire veery very soon.

Pressure is already mounting with the coach being the first sacrifice that will come .

If we don't look good I can see him being gone next year .

I think Silas will be gone this off-season if nit sooner .

Can't lose this much and not have it effect you.

 

Stage I: Tank and clear cap space

Mission accomplished. The Rockets have indeed tanked and they have created cap space.

Did the players they got from the tank meet expectations? Well Green looks like at least a good starting shooting guard eventually. However, you hope for more than that at #2. Personally, it looks like the Rockets passed on 2-3 players better than Green, but it is still early. Jabari Smith was the consolation prize in the draft last year's draft. He has had moments where he has looked good, but other times were it looks like the abyss of misery in the Rockets organization has swallowed him.

Outside of the lottery, the Rockets did hit on Sengun (thanks Eli!) and possibly on Eason too.

Really, I think the success of stage one of the rebuild is going to rest on whomever the Rockets get in the 2023 draft, which will largely come down to luck. If they get Wemby or Henderson, then it will be a success. If they get Miller or Amen Thompson, then it will be a "maybe".

The funny thing is that all the issues are not with the Rockets "plan", it is with inept leadership, a lack of culture and an overall poor environment for talent to grow.

Stage II: Waste cap space

So here comes the interesting part, now that the Rockets have cap space, no one worth a damn will want to sign here. Who wants to not only join a team that has been terrible, but an organization widely viewed around the league as incompetent and lacking any culture or leadership. The only free agents that will come will do so because they are vastly over paid or not that good. Under the max rules, the Rockets are limited in what they can offer, so no one really that good will want to sign. That will mean signing over-rated players like D'Angelo Russell for the max (maybe) or over paying old players or role players.

With that in mind, that leaves the Rockets probably trading for players on large contracts. Hey, if solid players don't want to join the team, you force them! That means someone like John Collins. Supposedly Tilman intends to use all the cap space. Which will be good when the Rockets need to add later, and can't because they have guys over-paid on their roster.

Why such a hurry to use the cap space? Well Tilman doesn't want to be humiliated giving up his draft pick to the Thunder, so the Rockets are expected to be massively improved. Stone will go along with it, because he knows if he loses his job, he isn't getting another one around the league.

It is also very possible that the Rockets hire a new head coach at this point to try and improve interest by the fan base. Since Stone has no concept of culture, lets hope he lucks into hiring a strong coach that can establish a cultural identity. Stone will take all the credit, but whatever.

I expect the Rockets to end up adding someone like John Collins, or maybe Tobias Harris..... possibly they try to make a big splash and get Ayton.

I expect the Rockets to definitely improve. They will have a new coach and Green, Sengun, Smith and Eason will all be older and they will most likely be adding one of (Wemby/Henderson/Miller/Thompson) the top 4 picks. On top of that they will add an expensive, but good player or two in free agency or trade.

Having said that, unless they get Wemby, there are going to be real fit issues having both Green and Sengun on the team. Those are two players you try to hide on defense. Wemby is the one player that would fit the Rockets perfectly.

 

Rebuilding is extremely difficult and can take several years. In our first season of sucking the teams with the worst four records were Orlando, OKC, Detroit, and us. Orlando and Detroit are still rebuilding despite getting #1 picks and multiple other lotto selections and drafting well, IMO. OKC is much improved this season, but they already had SGA on the roster since before they tanked. I can't say they nailed the Holmgren pick. And they really messed up by trading Sengun to us.

We'll have a great idea of the direction of our franchise by the summer of 2024 because if one of our prospects hasn't taken a leap by then they likely never will. Also, we'll know how we utilized our cap space, what pick we conveyed to OKC, and what pick we received from the Nets. Stone's biggest move so far was the Harden trade the return was primarily future draft capital. We already got Eason out of it who I love so far.

 

last time the top pick won MVP was 10 years ago...a good GM should be able to rebuild with any picks let lone top 3 picks he gets every year and they bust like a mothe****a

 

Stone to Jalen and Jabroni, I cheated my way to the top and you need to put some real hard work if you gonna do the same! I want you to be great!

 

Jalen still seems to struggle going one-on-one and getting past the guy defending him.

 

The way things are going, Tilman has a pretty good shot NOT to get humiliated by handing OKC a good pick, or any pick at all. #tankingforeva

 

Not sure about his supposed "meddling" since he pretty much forced Silas' hands here to play Josh & Garuba.

 

Now I pictured this analysis with Scoot Henderson.

 

Holmgren will look good when he is healthy, I don't think OKC are hard pressed to run him into the ground.

20 minutes and every major rookie would shine, almost any.

 

Delete.

 

He is saving his own hide.