Houston was number 2 and have dropped to #5 but a few games out. Jimmy Butler is asking for $100M plus for two years or more this summer. $50M per year or plus. Brandon Ingram trade was almost nixed today because Brandon Ingram turned down $40M from Pelicans last offer and apparently was looking for $50M a year. Settled on $40M today to get trade finalized. If broken down body Jimmy Butler wants $50M and broken down Brandon Ingram were demanding $50M......who do you think Stone will get this summer? And how much will it cost? You and Hemingway thinking we will get Anthony Edwards in a trade? Forgive me for laughing. Stone going to pull the trigger on? Only one team can outbid us right now, The Thunder and we couldn't pull off a deal like DeAnder Hunter x Caris LeVert and George Niang x 3 second rounders and 2 second round pick swaps. We couldn't have outbid the Cavs. Hunter has been having a tremendous year, Cavs have wings but yet got more or upgraded. They weren't afraid to pull the trigger. Mavs got Caleb Martin for Grimes and a second round pick. Mavs were set but it didn't let them to add depth. Tari has mysterious leg injuries, Jabari is hurt, Dillon is older. VanVleet is out......just get a player that can shore up things. Reed has looked out matched all season and he is suppose to flip a switch in the playoffs. That's a matter of hope. Hope and wishes. Not reality. List who you want this summer: Free agent list is bad, bad, bad. Kyrie Irving.......dude can re-up with Mavs at $44M.....Stone comes a calling this summer and his eyes are going to light up and ask for $50M to $60M Dillon was on his way to China and they worked Stone over for $20M a year. Of course Kyrie is going to ask for the world. VanVleet was a lesser Brunson who was making $27M a year.....at best VanVleet should have received $20M to $22M.......instead he got $40M. Of course Kyrie and every star is going to ask for the world. Booker or Durant could have come over at the trade deadline. They must have said no. The Rockets won't be able to use Jeff Green, Steven Adams, Holiday or Tate in a trade for one of them this summer. So in essence the Rockets would have to use core players. Would Durant or Booker want to join the team while sending out about 4 or 5 core players? Same with Giannis? Lakers look unbeatable with LeBron and Doncic. Mavs are better, Suns are better without Nurkic. Thunder traded for Theis x cash considerations. Top team adding depth. We might not be better than 8th in the West next year? There is no sense of urgency by the Rockets front office. Like a losers mentality knowing the team will be bounced early. Let's just be happy to get experience. This is why the Stars won't come here. They want to be overpaid and see the owner as too cheap.
If you think the Rox are so bad how about you put your money where your mouth is. I bet you 100$ USD Rockets will get higher than 8th seed next year. Deal? Ita kinda ridiculous posters here are putting us on the same timeline as Suns, Mavs and GSW.
No sense of urgency….you are on crack cocaine!!! Stone is the greatest GM ever and to disprove your theory of being cheap, he is working on a 4 year 180 million extension for 32 year old (next season) FVV. Heard they are also in talks to extend Brooks. Be patient, as we’re almost to the Finals as the West gets worse and worse each day and we can just wait it out. No changes whatsoever are needed. That is the Rockets way!!!
As hard as I've been on Stone during past trade deadlines, he's so much better than Cronin. https://ripcityproject.com/joe-cronin-baffling-move-gm-blazers
"The young Rockets core needs to prove that the front office was right to keep them together this year, because if anyone underperforms in the postseason, Houston has a right to move on from him as it looks for a superstar on the trade market this offseason." https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/arti...essure_after_trade_deadline/s1_17031_41739029
I was not aware that Stone did have zero experience as Assistant GM shortly before he succeeded Morey. Job title from 2005-2019 with the Rockets: Legal Counsel. I guess that is a Unicorn among GMs.
Yeah it was known and why a lot of people were upset when he was first selected but apparently he was the key to all the loopholes Morey used to find - meaning he’s great at contracts but I don’t trust his talent evaluation as of yet.
Stone can redeem himself in offseason by signing Naz Reid to poison pill contract. Rockets have history of success collecting 6MOY. James Harden, Eric Gordon, Lou Williams ... Naz Reid
Yeah but I guess Naz is second most important .....for the Wolves. They would rather give the Rockets Randle.
Working directly with players like Pelinka did with and for Harden is different than sitting on your desk and browsing paperwork. Pelinka worked with athletes. That is why Morey and now Stone don't have the best networks, I know, those people rather have their private space. PS: Pelinka also had the education to become a lawyer but decided to open his own Agency instead. https://www.sportsagenthof.com/copy-of-arn-tellem-1
Nah the are waiting til after the lottery is set to see who gets the 1st pick in the draft and will get to be lucky enough to hand it over for Cam.
I'm pretty sure the Rockets are still big game hunting. I don't think they want to deal a young guy as they would need to be in a big trade or be depth after the trade. Though, I do think how the Rockets do in the playoffs will affect things. Rockets go to Western Conference finals, I think the Rockets are more motivated to add, but at the same time keep the guys that succeeded in the playoffs.
I caution handling limited data of one playoff run with care....see Magic. Young teams cannot be trusted, they could be making Top 3 one year and they could be close to a Play In exit. I know the stabilizer is Ime Udoka but he is also not a guarantee for it every year. Anything can happen.
None of these feel like a golden opportunity. The only golden opportunity would have been Luka, but the Mavs are in bed with the Lakers so we never got the chance.
Amen, Jalen, Jabari, and Sengun will only get better next year. We will still have Dillon, Tari, and probably a re-signed FVV. Orlando was always fool's gold, because of Banchero being extremely overrated. Amen and Jalen especially are being underrated by our fans. The rest of the country has caught on to Amen as one of a couple of superstars (Wemby, Flagg) that will lead the next generation of stars. Jalen's last 30 games have been great and that is a big enough sample size to say he has finally turned the corner and is still only 22.
