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Stone’s Worst Move So Far

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by ThatboyPhuong, Jan 17, 2026 at 12:16 AM.

  1. ThatboyPhuong

    ThatboyPhuong Member

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    Losing the 2026 Nets pick hurts even more when you look at how stacked this upcoming draft could be. It might be the best class we’ve seen since 2021, maybe even 2018. I get that it was part of getting Kevin Durant, but it still feels like a brutal trade-off given the timing.
     
  2. LosPollosHermanos

    LosPollosHermanos Clutch Crew
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    How about signing Udoka to this massive extension.

    The fan base feels that torture and cringe night in and out.
     
  3. ThatboyPhuong

    ThatboyPhuong Member

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    Keeping Silas for like 3 season was also one of his worst moves.
     
  4. Joe Rocket

    Joe Rocket Member

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    Trading for Durant.
     
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  5. ThatboyPhuong

    ThatboyPhuong Member

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    Yeah but im sure we still could had got kd.
    They coulda got the nets pick which was 8th instead of 10th.
     
  6. Joe Rocket

    Joe Rocket Member

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    We went for the Phoenix pick because of KD. It was stupid.
     
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  7. Crashlanded19

    Crashlanded19 Member

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    Trading that nets pick was stupid af. It seemed like he just wanted to build a relationship with a GM since no else answers his calls.
     
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  8. ThatboyPhuong

    ThatboyPhuong Member

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    Brooklyn receives:

    2025-first-round pick (negating a previously agreed-to swap with Houston)
    2026 first-round pick
    Rockets receive:

    2025 right to swap their own first-round pick or the Thunder’s first-round pick for Phoenix’s first-round pick
    2027 first-round pick (via Suns)
    Rights to the two most favorable of Mavs’, Suns’ and Rockets’ first-round picks in 2029

    We still could have got KD either way the nets pick was better that year. They were trying to get devin booker.... atleast we still got the nets 2027 pick..
     
  9. ThatboyPhuong

    ThatboyPhuong Member

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    Yeah bro it still stings how stone fumble this so bad.
     
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  10. ThatboyPhuong

    ThatboyPhuong Member

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    Would have been perfect if mavs never got lucky and drafted flagg.
     
  11. Joe Rocket

    Joe Rocket Member

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    Again I didnt say anything about "we couldnt get KD without it". The reason we went for the Phoenix pick is for KD. The Rockets didnt fully know what it would take to get KD at the time and I said at the time it was stupid.
     
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  12. Aruba77

    Aruba77 Member

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    The 2025 nets pick turned out to be crap. But I did not want to give back 2025 and 2026 because they’ve been heralded as two of the best drafts for years by people who really follow high school ball. The 25’ pick could have easily been a Kon or an Edgecome…or even Flagg. But it didn’t turn out that way.

    I think stone liked the idea of pushing the picks out into the future because they thought they had their “guys” and were way ahead of schedule. And that they didn’t have the capacity to develop more rookies while pivoting to winning. But i think every draft is a chance to find a franchise type player. And I will always want to take a swing at a high draft pick, especially in good drafts.

    I don’t think it’s a terrible trade for Stone, but only because the 2025 nets pick didn’t hit. And also the Suns picks looked better at the time. There was also the nets bluff that they would try to be competitive if they couldn’t get their picks back. But it was clearly a set up for the Knicks Bridges deal, which I’m sure they would have done regardless.
     
  13. roslolian

    roslolian Member

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    We got 3 top picks out of that. It was one of his best moves.
     
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  14. roslolian

    roslolian Member

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    The Nets swap trade wasnt just that it was a pick and a swap for 2 picks and 2 swaps. In 2024 we had Jalen Green, Sengun, Amen, Tari, Bari, Whitmore and Reed about to come in as well. At the time it made all the sense in the world to move the picks back esp if you are doubling your assets given all the young guys on the team. I guess you forgot but Cam Whitmore was seen as full of potential but cant find any PT and Reed Sheppard was about to come in as well. Adding even more rookies in 2025 and 2026 would make PT even more difficult so if you could push them back AND DOUBLE your assets why would that be a mistake?

    If Stone knew in 2024 the KD consolidation trade would happen and the 2025 and 2026 class would be great then yeah maybe he shouldnt have done the trade but did you even know Cam Whitmore would be traded for 2 srps and Reed would struggle his rookie year in the 2024 offseason?



    "We could have gotten KD with the way the Nets pick was that year"

    If you had a crystal ball that can see into the future??? LOL wtf might as blame Morey for drafting Capela over Jokic why couldnt he have known Jokic would be the multi MVP?

    This whole thread tbh just people who dont understand and using hindsight to explain moves that didnt make sens at the time.
     
    #14 roslolian, Jan 17, 2026 at 1:24 AM
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2026 at 1:38 AM
  15. James Harden Stepback 3

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    Ignore this ime bag licker. He has an agenda against durant
     
  16. ThatboyPhuong

    ThatboyPhuong Member

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    I know what you're saying, I think they thought they had a chance to get devin booker at the time.
     
  17. ThatboyPhuong

    ThatboyPhuong Member

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    The 2025 draft wasn’t bad. The Nets pick ended up higher than the Suns pick we traded for KD, which says a lot. The Mavs pick could’ve turned into something too, but once they drafted Flagg, that value pretty much vanished since they’re set now.
    That Rockets trade feels more like a long game move either trying to line up KD sooner or keeping leverage for a possible Booker move later.

    I think if the nets ended up with a top 4 pick it will definitely hurt, ive been keeping up with the 2027 draft im not as blown way, but its still very early.
     
  18. ThatboyPhuong

    ThatboyPhuong Member

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    Sure, it’s tough to predict the future. I get that the Rockets were trying to gain leverage on the Suns to land either KD or Booker, but in the end, I think the bigger risk was not being patient. At the time, it did look like a steal especially with how Cam Whitmore was playing but that’s the NBA for you. Things move insanely fast, and one move can completely backfire.
     
  19. RHU525

    RHU525 Member
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    Disagree, if we don’t trade them their pick back they aren’t tanking and with how weak the east is they could easily be a play in team. It’s only looking good right now cuz they basically losing on purpose.
     
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  20. ThatboyPhuong

    ThatboyPhuong Member

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    Even if they are a play in team, we have a chance to get a top pick still. Too many times recently we seen a play in team get a top pick now.
     

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