I think I'm the last Christian Wood fan. He takes some plays off, but so does almost every other player in the NBA, it's just magnified because the Rockets stink and he's being asked to be 1A when he's more like a 3rd option. I think he can work next to Sengun and think it's a shame we won't see it.
This is something I really hate that I’ve noticed in a few of his interviews. He always talks about how he didn’t need to learn anything moving to GM or that he already knew this stuff. Smart and competent people don’t fear admitting that they don’t know everything. It also suggests a rigid mind. He should be learning every year on the job and adjusting. Instead he is all, “nah, I’m good.”
He's either extremely insecure or beyond arrogant. He does love to immediately shut down any talk that Morey was a positive for Rockets or personally learned from him in any way. On the plus side, Stone appears to have a plan, short and long term. And he sounds much more natural and relaxed on radio than TV, the constant ums notwithstanding.
Stone does not sound rigid at all. On the basic mechanics, sure he doesn't need to learn anything. He sounds very flexible, humble on a lot of the more complicated things like non-linear player development. He doesn't act like he knows what will happen, but that they expect improvement from their rookies even if they don’t know which ones and how the development will take place.
Agree. With Gordon, Phoenix should be the clear favorites right now. I like Jalen, but that contract situation just isn’t right to consider him a real asset, and I’d want more than a late first. If they are willing to put the 1st farther out with less protection and where they have more roster uncertainty, I’d consider it.
I expect this is the holdup for a lot trade talk with the Rockets. I think Stone doesn't see room for another 2022 draft pick unless it is better than the Nets pick. I do not think late FRPs have much value for trade up this year as bulk of talent will likely go in the Top 15 picks or so.
I could have written this article 2 months ago and I am just a dude on clutchfans. Good job adding nothing. Reminds me of having to do a highschool essay where you just wing it trying to hit your word goal.
Good point, I hadn't considered the financial considerations of his businesses. Eventually he's going to have to sign max free agent(s) or end up in a perpetual rebuild unless the team strikes gold on multiple draft picks. Even so, young teams struggle, particularly in the playoffs.
Locker room cancer and piss poor defender when it comes to defending good players at his position. They actually put Tate on guys he is suppose to guard a lot. He takes minutes from Sengun while most likely be asking way too much on free agency.
I agree, if not for the same reason. If Wood is going to continue to be part of this team, the Rockets should have been working to speed up the rebuild, and maybe they still will. For example, if they were to trade Gordon, Theis and KPJ + 3 FRP (all from other teams) for Ben Simmons, the Rockets would still have all of the rookies from this year, along with whoever they pick with the 2022 draft going into 2023 free agency. It looks like they could sign a max free agent (let's say it's Andrew Wiggins), and re-sign Wood to a max, or near-max salary. While I know there are many people who don't want to give Wood a max contract and even more who don't like Simmons at all, I don't think you can argue that the below lineup would not only be very good with lots of players still on an upward trajectory, you are unlikely to have a team that good in 5 years if you just stick with the draft. Simmons/Brooks Green/Christopher Wiggins/Tate Banchero/KMJ Wood/Sengun If you aren't willing to do something like that, you need to trade Wood. If you are just going to keep going through the draft, you aren't going to have a team after next year that he is going to want to re-sign with. And if you aren't planning to re-sign him, then you need to trade him this year and maximize the return. He will not bring as much as an expiring contract next year.
Oh nothing...Just me speculating based on Stone's answer: I took it as that there may be some trade talks going on and he didn't want to make any specific comments. Of course I could be waaaay off base.
