Trade deadline reaction, Rockets-Thunder takeaways

Houston didn’t make a move at Thursday’s in-season trade deadline, but the Rockets did get a much-needed victory in Saturday’s 112-106 win at Oklahoma City.

For the Rockets, it's their first win of 2025-26 against the defending NBA champs. Houston (32-19) remains at No. 4 in the Western Conference standings, while the top-seeded Thunder (40-13) continue to own the league’s best record.

Featuring Ben DuBose, Paulo Alves, and Dave Hardisty, Saturday night’s postgame show reacts to both the trade deadline and that nationally televised Rockets-Thunder showdown.

Discussion points include offensive growth from Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr.; an apparent step forward for Alperen Sengun on defense; what general manager Rafael Stone considered at the deadline; and potential buyout options and trade targets over the coming weeks and months.

This episode can also be viewed in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZfQqFRZMy0

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
All right, welcome everybody. The Rockets get a big win
in Oklahoma City won twelve one oh six, a game
that was televised nationally on ABC, and Yes, Oklahoma City
was missing their MVP Shay Gildess Alexander, they were missing
a former All Star Jalen Williams, and they were missing
their underrated third best on ball guard with aj Mitchell.

(00:26):
At the same time, there's still a good defense, still
a good team, and it's a very tough place to play.
I've been in Oklahoma City to for a Rockets game
and that place is insaying. Rockets get a huge win.
Tarry and Bari were absolutely excellent this whole game. Shangoon
rebounds after this really rough week with a triple double
and you know, created a men Thompson out in this game.

(00:47):
Kevin Duranty, they completely loaded up on him defensively. So
this is a really good win one twelve one oh six.
I'm here with Ben Dubos. You can follow him on
Twitter at Bendubos and read him on Rockets Wire and
on Clutch Fans, as well as Palo Alves Pollo. You
can follow Pallo on at on Twitter at Palo Alves NBA.
You can see the handles underneath them. Guys. This was

(01:09):
you know, yes, they needed to win because a loss
would have reflected poorly. But they they got a good
win and a tough place to play.

Speaker 2 (01:17):
And I know the spreadsheet doesn't account for injuries, but
this was a spreadsheet loss, right yeah, oh yes, And
of course the Rockets are't gonna feel sorry for who
the Thunder are missing when Houston's without a men Thompson
and obviously fred Enfleet and Steven Adams as well. So
I think, first off, with everything the Rockets absorbed this week,
the back to back blowout losses at home to the

(01:38):
Celtics and the Hornets, all the bad pr after the
trade deadline, and then going down fifteen early today, they
needed this win. This was a team that it felt
like was teetering, and if they had lost this game,
especially if it was a blowout to the short handed
Thunder the way it looked early, that's the kind of
thing that that can linger. As opposed to you get
the win. Now, you have a couple of days off,

(01:59):
you have a back to back Tuesday and Wednesday before
the All Star break. This assures that you're not going
to go in the All Star break on some sort
of awful losing streak like this doesn't, you know, fix everything,
but it does give you a chance to catch your breath.
I do think some of what's happened. It's an older team,
There's a lot of injury, so the Rockets are running

(02:20):
on fumes a little bit, especially with the back to
backs increasing, and so they just needed to get a
win to stabilize. And the fact that it came against
the defending champs on national TV that only helps. But
I think the real story today, you know, defensively, the
challenge would be a billion times more and will be
when the Thunder have Sga and Jdom, let's be honest

(02:40):
about that. But on the other end of the floor,
for the Rockets offensively, I don't think the formula is
all that different regardless of who the Thunder have out there,
because defensively, they still have their marquee pieces and they're
going to do what they do when it comes to,
you know, physically defending Kevin Durant, the intense ball pressure
overplaying the passing lanes, and I do think that relative

(03:01):
to that opening night loss in Oklahoma City, the Rockets
did some things better today on the offensive end of
the court, most notably Tarry Easton and Jabbari's from the
junior And it makes sense because when a team defends
how the Thunder did today and really how they do
all the time, they are conceding driving lanes to guys
who normally aren't great drivers and creators, and so Tari

(03:24):
and Jabbari you don't think of them as, you know,
off the bounce, off the dribble, creative types. But if
the defense is overplaying the passing lanes trying to get
those steals, then guys that you know you wouldn't think
of them as shot creators offensively are going to have opportunities,
especially when they're loading up against Kevin Durant. They're loading
up against alf for and Shongoon who was in double
digits and assists, so credit to him.

Speaker 3 (03:45):
He used his gravity effectively.

Speaker 2 (03:47):
I think, you know, this was a good counter from
the Rockets, and I'm not going to say that you
should assume that they figured it out against the Thunder
because defensively, the challenge is going to go way up
when they have Sga and Jdubb. But offensively it was
really ugly in that opening game. At the start of
the year. It was better tonight primarily because they could
trust Tarri and Jabari to make plays off the dribble.

(04:08):
I think that's essential against the defense like the Thunder
and how aggressively they play on the perimeter. So I
think this was a huge game for the Rockets confidence wise,
both short term just you know, getting the stench off
of the past few days, and then against the Thunder.
I do think at least on the offensive into the court,
it gives the Rockets something that that they can build
upon moving forward.

Speaker 4 (04:27):
Yeah, but as they said, they do have to take
into consideration, and it's a massive factor that they don't
have a two lead ball and stars one guy that
him for being the best played in the league, and
I don't really believe that, but he's a top five guy,
no doubt about it. And you also got to take
into consideration that the way the Thunderworld attendee completely taking

(04:47):
away King and whichever ways they could after that, they
were also still getting more than they were getting any less.
And Jessica, right, they they weren't there in those guys
shoes and those guys shocking those guys missed a lot, right, Obviously,
that the strategy that they go to knowing that they
need a bit of bit of an out higher performance

(05:09):
wise from somewhere, or they need to add variums to
this game because they're playing school stressed so shorthanded, right,
and it kind of went as good as it possibly
could offensively, as far as those guys missing cups, Like
those guys could not get the broad side of a
barn And to be honest, I think tera will be
a discussion at some point. He's an you know, playing drinking.
It is until we go to you know, moving on

(05:32):
from that more negative part, and you think that this
game is you know, the latest in the series of
games in which the stretching their rest play you know,
a lot better than people have been getting him credits
for the entire season who have a six game director.
He played really poorly, and during that six game starts
to seem like a public opinion of Bari has completely shifted.

(05:53):
And the truth is he is someone who can do
things that nobody else on this prospect can outside of
the top two shot, right, the ability to be able
to pull up from anyone and that what's a better
shout than what most back on this team and are
going to be able to get just if they are
caught in a situation where they have to make something up.
And in the playoffs last year, and we've seen it

(06:14):
time and time again about his career. He is someone
who is but who is not specifica fit tots of
big moments, and I just wanted to highlight how good
of a gang he had and hope, how with his
last ten games are over the last ten games, so
we can you know, balance it out, Like it was
really bad there for a moment for sixteen threats, but
since then, what is now the eleven game, he's been

(06:36):
playing really really well and without him drow up its
own win all the games they wont.

Speaker 1 (06:41):
Yeah, I think the biggest compliment to Jabari is, you know,
nobody's talking about Jabbari anymore. Like it was they all
on Twitter, like everybody was just blaming Jabari for everything,
like they stubbed their toe, it's Jabari's fault. It was NonStop,
and now nobody's talking about him.

Speaker 3 (06:56):
They've moved on to a man.

Speaker 1 (06:57):
They've moved on to some other you know, stapgoat or
some other issue. And Jabari's been good. I think he
nailed at Paolo, he's been good. He had a really
horrible stretch where he couldn't make shots and it was
in his head. That's hopefully past. He is going to
have a bad game at some point. He's gonna go
three for thirteen in some game and we're gonna have,
you know this get turned back on again. But I'm

(07:18):
glad you said that, because I do think he deserves
a lot of compliments. Tonight was one of his best games. Well,
I loved about Jabari, and Jabari's not the lead story
of this game.

Speaker 3 (07:26):
I want to be clear.

Speaker 1 (07:26):
We just started talking about Jabari, but nine of eleven
he took eleven free throws. He was physical, and he
was like he was forcing the issue at times, and
he got to the line. That's not something we see
very often from Jabari. Also, Tari, this was a game
where Tari was incredibly aggressive as far as seeking his shot. Yeah,
twenty six points on twenty two shots is not like

(07:49):
the greatest efficiency, but he was really good. Hit five
of thirteen from three jabbar or excuse me, Tari took
thirteen three point shots today. So I thought those guys,
you know, in the fact that a men is out
and a men in this particular game, with none of
those lead ball handlers being here, maybe you don't need
a man quite as much. You're gonna need him against SGA.

(08:11):
You're gonna need against Jaylen Williams and aj Mitchell and
those guys. But tonight, you know, I thought, with him
out and Katie that them really loading up on Kadi
Jabari and Tari really stepped up. And Shanhun was terrific too.
We're gonna talk about him and his triple double. But
I was really impressed with how those guys did in
a time that they needed more volume from them.

Speaker 2 (08:31):
And then a very odd game from Reed Shepherd early
in the game. Defensively, he was terrible. That was a
big part of how the Rockets dug that fifteen point hole.
And he had four turnovers that were just killers, including
one with like three minutes left when Rockets had a
chance to put the game away. Instead, next thing you know,
the Thunder get a transition layup and it's back down
to four. I think they ended up cutting it to two.

Speaker 3 (08:52):
But Reid was.

Speaker 2 (08:53):
Seven of twelve sixteen points, six assists and he only
made one three so he was of eight from inside
the arc and so Tari and Jabari were the lead
story offensively in terms of how they you know, punished
the Thunder for overplaying on the perimeter. Dave, But I
love that you mentioned how aggressive Jabari was at getting
to the line. When he was able to get the

(09:15):
Thunder in a tough spot, he leaned into the contact.
He showed some craft that we haven't always seen in
the past, but read as well. Six of eight not
a perfect game from Reid the firstf He was terrible
defensively throughout. He had issues with turnovers, but in terms of,
you know, getting to the buck, he had two or
three layups and a couple of mid range shots as well.
I think that's what you have to do against this

(09:36):
Thunder defense. And I really think, you know, the Thunder
were missing their guys offensively, but defensively they had the
pieces they need, and so what Reid, Tari and Jabari
did offensively, to me, that's the key to eventually having
the chance to beat the Thunder. I'm not saying that's
going to happen this season. You know, the Rockets have
their issues right now. So no, let's not act like

(09:56):
the Rockets are ready to go toe to toe with
the thunder in a playoff series. But eventually, whenever that
time comes when you want to really challenge them, like
I think on offense, at least this is at least
the initial blueprint. Now, maybe if Reid and Tari and
Jabari do it enough, then they relaxed their defense against
the likes of Kadi and Shangoon and the stars can
get going a little bit more. But for right now,

(10:16):
I think the formula from not just Tari and Jabari
but read as well, that's exactly how you have to
attack this Oklahoma City defense. So Powell, I'm curious what
you think about Reid because it was just to be
a fascinating game. Some of the issues with defense and
especially turnovers were terrible. But offensively, I mean he helped
them out in the half court yeah.

Speaker 4 (10:33):
A hundred percent, and they especially needed him to because
a man was not there. We saw a lot of
me that from Kad Davis and your guy that's beat
them to Bendiebo's guy. And he did play well, had
some one heeaded decisions that I've expected from you know,
play that doesn't play with the main team for that
many it doesn't have that many opportunities but not on Reid.

(10:55):
It's as you said during death first half, it was
actually kind of appalling the way he was playing defense.
And you know, to shift the confession a little bit
to the defensive side, because you guys have heard me
the entire season me. The offense is, you know, good
enough as long as defense steps up with something close
to the caliber that it was last season. Right and

(11:15):
read was a big part of what the defense is for.
But the defense with this team is for not just
because agree, but because it seems like the main like
rekd Eching doom and I'm not excluding KD from this conversation,
he has some responsibility on different as well. Take terms
just falling asleep defensively and the way the Rockets tried
to defend and the way the Rockets tried to anyway,

(11:36):
the pill switch system that they were running last season,
it requires everybody to be walked in and everybody to
be high effort running, closing out and compensating for for
when those guys switched. And it just seems like guys
are taking terms having breakdowns defensively, and it feels like
when you when you watch the play by play, you
could kind of point your finger at anybody because at

(11:58):
any even time, one of those guys is having that
those troubles, and it really goes to show why this
team seems to be able to get themselves in a
hole against any team like this OKAC team to not
have any business being competitive with the Rockets, even with
that difference the defense being as good as it is offense,
that the Rockets should not be giving up one hundred

(12:20):
and six I believe one hundred and six points to
do this team that has basically nobody that can create
their own shot at this moment, right, and the Rockets
from last season all not have done that. And so
given you know that being said, I do want to
give credits for sushingun for the second half. A lot
of the issues as rocketed path, other than way of

(12:40):
spoiling Asleep has been effort wise. Right. I cannot and
you know, I cannot count the amount of times that
a guy is, you know, Shingle is in a position
to help on a drive, right, and he just doesn't
contest a shot at the room that's happening right in
front of him, as you would expect any other student
in the league. And this game, especially in the second half,
earlier on it was a little bit rougher. I don't

(13:01):
know if somebody issued challenged them personally at past time
or whatever it may.

Speaker 1 (13:05):
Yeah, there were jumper cables you used, I think. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (13:08):
And someone pointed out in the comments that Shingun's energy
really picked up after the three he made and then
the Flamingo shot. I noticed that too, Like when it
started going better for Shingun offensively, the energy for defense
picked up too.

Speaker 4 (13:20):
And it and a lot of it comes from, you know,
not wanting to burn Chengun or whatever it may be.
But Shingun has, you know, limitations as far as his
length and as far as his articism too, his best ability.
He's being smarter than a player's thinking faster, and he
does have a bi vertual mobility on the ground or
a guy he'll die right. So the way he can
weaponize those things is by thinking faster than other people

(13:43):
and reaching the spots faster. And you know, I guess
contesting earlier than what players are expecting him to. You
know that that turnover that generated off of get right,
that was a foul, But he was quick to jump
on the opportunity, knowing what was going to happen, figuring
out what was going to happen faster than it appe
and being there at the point of contented. If get there,
gets the ball and gets the post up, then it's

(14:05):
a lot more different difficult for him to put up
a defensive effort because he doesn't necessarily have the tools
to do so. And the same happens. You know, he
had multiple block shots when he got beat, recovered and
blocked the shot. That only happens is the moment you
get beat, You immediately, you know, move your legs, shift
your valley position to be able to be in a
position and try to contest the shot afterwards. That's something

(14:25):
that he hasn't been doing earlier on. As I said before,
I cannot count the amount of possessions in earlier games
this season where someone's driving right at him and he
chooses to lazily just box out the stenter rather than
contest the shot. You got to contest the stout and
force the players to make the play and drop the
ball off to the center. That's how defense is played, right.

(14:46):
You force an extra decision and you hope that someone
can pick up the ky that it just open. If
you're not putting up the initial resistance and forcing that
extrap from the Auhuans, especially in the skin of trawckets. Right,
You're not never going to get that success defensively that
you want. And that's why Kings like the place they
seemed like the gangs seems like he's extremely start to end.
The Oklahoma ce be Thundered are able to stand games

(15:08):
with the rocket step until very, very late because they
are always a cold spread from free away from being
down double digit and broken to comeback.

Speaker 2 (15:21):
I will say, though, one thing you've noted in the
past day. You know, people think of you as a
Shindoon hater. If you will, well, probably all three of
us are thought of as Shingun haters. To be real, everybuddy.

Speaker 3 (15:31):
Number one, no, I hope, I'm okay, they're taking the
number one spot.

Speaker 1 (15:34):
Go ahead, though, yeah.

Speaker 2 (15:35):
But one thing to your credit that you've always said
in his favor is that he tends to get up
for these bigger games, and you know, the defending champs
on the road, national TV and as far as his
you know, assignments, both Chat and Partenstein were playing. Now,
I know if you have SGA going downhill, obviously you're
going to be able to attack Shangoon in a lot

(15:56):
of different ways. The thunder tonight just didn't have the
guys in perimeter to really challenge Shingoon in that way.
But I just thought overall, the intensity from the jump
was better, and then especially in the second half, it
picked up. And you know, he's he's got a lot
of works, but that's that's one positive. He does seem
to play with a higher intensity for these bigger games.

(16:16):
I've heard you say it before, Dave, and you know
the Warrior series last year he wasn't at his most efficient,
But I thought especially early in the series when a
lot of the young guys, it took them some time
to get their legs underneath them, to adjust to the
intensity of the playoffs. Shindoon was a guy from the start.
You with the Dunky ad over Draymond. He was the
one young guy who did seem to embrace the moment,

(16:39):
embrace the stage. And so that's not meant to, you know,
try and wash away what we've seen the last couple
of months when he's been below average defensively. No, that's
a very real consideration going into today. He was the
Rockets were almost eight points worse in net defensive rating
with Shingoon playing this year. Last year they were three
points better. So it's definitely been a decrease. And it's

(16:59):
not to say that to a you know, outweighs all
the negatives from the last couple of months, but it
is a reminder that there is you know, in these
bigger games, when the spotlight is on, he does have
an extra gear. It would be nice to see it
more frequently, but at least this was a reminder that
that he still has it in him.

Speaker 1 (17:16):
Right, Yeah, I want to talk about reb or chime
in on Rebould. Let me go Shangun first. I mean,
I'm really happy to see Shangun have this game. Seventeen points,
twelve boards, eleven assists, had three steals, three blocks, including
that one on I believe Case and Wallace where Wallace
got past him and he recovered and blocked it, and
you heard Shangun, you know, sort of yell at you know,

(17:36):
the fans and stuff.

Speaker 3 (17:37):
He was pumped up.

Speaker 1 (17:38):
His defense was better, Definitely, I thought he stepped that up.
He needed this in the worst way. We talked about
this before. I haven't seen anybody get hit this hard
pr wise and you know in a while, like he
had the you know, the defense got focused on on
you know, on the ESPN show, got to focused on

(17:58):
the ABC his defense, and then of course the issue
with the female official in Boston. We're seeing people who
don't even know who Alprin Shangun is trashing him on
social media. It's crazy right now. So he's taken a beating,
he needed this to rebound. I thought he played well
and you know, with a man out, he was definitely
the guy. And they were hitting threes. They started out
the Rockets hitting their first four, then they went into

(18:20):
a cold spell, and that's really how Shangun was, you know,
rocking up those assists. He's finding those guys out on
the perimeter, and I thought that was something that was
interesting about this game as well. Forty three threes for
the Rockets is I'm gonna have to check. It's probably rare.
We don't see that very often. We see many games
sixteen twenty, low twenties. It's good to see them do this.

(18:40):
This is what I kind of want to see. And
I just wanted to chime in on Read because I
Read is somebody that I agree with all the people
in the chat saying that this is a guy who
needs to play. You gotta play read. I totally agree.
I just don't I don't know if people are trying
to have both, you know. In other words, this is
a special Kadie year. We have to win now, but
we also need to play Reid. Maybe those two things aligned.

(19:04):
But I think we saw in the first half he
was negative eight, negative nine. There was a lot of
defensive moments today with Reid that were rough. He had
the four turnovers, including one in crunch time that you
kind of held your breath for a little bit. But
he does make winning plays here and there, and I
want to see him play and develop. You just have
to really decide if you're willing to you maybe sacrifice

(19:25):
or game War two, because that that can happen with
younger players who are gaining experience. So that's all I'll
say on that.

Speaker 2 (19:30):
Yeah, one hundred percent. And to the point on threes,
keep a nine. The Rockets didn't have a Men or
Steven Adams today, so many of the low three games
by volume were when a men, Shangoon and Steven were
playing extended minutes together. And so that's three of your
five that are non spacers generally today you only had
one non shooter out there and Shinggoon even made a

(19:51):
three today. So I think when you have the pieces
that they had today, you almost have to shoot threes
a volume to have a chance. And kudos to email
the rockets they did. Sorry for interrupting.

Speaker 4 (20:00):
You can go no, I was gonna turn something that
tastes that was really valid. So the thing about people
saying you like, you can't have your picking the two,
you can say the special kde year and at the
same time say, hey, we got to play recap for
the lot, right, And I want to reach back to
something that that Raphostom and in the in the post
deadline press conference, which was we're not a developmental team,

(20:23):
and I think a lot of us being a developmental
team or not is reached Sephard. Right, the other guys
pull their own weight. They're gonna get better, right, but
they are they pull their own weight at this point. Right,
there's a difference between being like, there's a middle ground
between being a full on contender and being a full
on developmental team. Seems not retal. It still is contending, right,

(20:44):
But the best way for this thing to reach its
maximum potential with the pieces that it currently has is
by playing these young guys and hope they get better,
because if these guys have done development, developing, and they're
not going to get better at any point throughout the
next few years of their careers as He's expected because
they're really young. And this is never going to be
a one A contender because you know, our guys are good.
They're not one as best player on our championship team

(21:07):
good yet, but we need these as to develop in
order to for ust be that team eventually. So it's
not a developmental team. We're not prioritizing, you know, minutes
to young guys over winning. But at the same time,
if if the price is low enough on giving these
guys extra minutes, then I do understand the decision, for example,
for not bringing or not spend as on a vat

(21:30):
from point guard when you know it's not a developmental team,
but they're still a middle round here where it's the
upgrade's not big enough, you might as well give the
minutes to someone who is going to be a part
of their teach.

Speaker 1 (21:41):
Oh, go ahead, Ben, I.

Speaker 2 (21:43):
Was gonna say, let's talk about the trade deadline a
little bit because.

Speaker 1 (21:46):
Can I try to hit one shingoon thing before we
go trade ad? It's just guys can say he you
mentioned he hit the three, and I did want to
make a point about that because it did. When he
hit that three, I'm like, man, he must love this
arena because going back to the first game, you know,
he hit five threes and it was coming on the
heels of EuroBasket where he was hitting threes like consistently,
and you're like, is this did he really just learned

(22:06):
to become a good three point shooter in like three weeks?
Like how did this happen? And then he set that
in first impression, kind of like the dunk over Draymond,
Like he sets this first impression and you're like, wow,
I mean I have to bet that was a moment
where I was like this, this could be something where
I just didn't, you know, foresee him doing this. And
that three here tonight is the fifth one in like
over two months that he's made, and that's just in

(22:28):
contrast to him hitting five in that first game. I
think it's something he does need to have because a
man can't a man needs to do it too. I'm
not taking anything away from that, but a man has
so many elite qualities that it makes it so if
you're going to have a primarily offensive center, you need
him to be versatile. Sbonus can do it, Jokic can
do it. Shangun needs to add that range to I

(22:49):
think he's close, but for whatever reason, it's really slipped off,
and tonight it's nice to see him hit one go
right into the trade down line.

Speaker 2 (22:57):
It's fine, Okay, a couple of little things. I'll save
the JD Davison discussion for the end that ties into
today's game as well, But that's more about the buyout market,
because I do think there's an interesting conversation to be
had about you know, is JD better than a lot
of the options that are out there on the buyout
market if the Rockets simply play it. We'll talk about
that in a few minutes. As far as bigger picture takeaways,

(23:18):
you mentioned KD and the win now emphasis one thing
I posted in the Rafelstone press conference thread today on
Clutch fans, I just wanted to remind people so the
KD trade agreement was reached on June twenty second of
last year. On June eighteenth, I've reported and I think
some other people did as well. But I've reported this
on Jackson Gatlin show Locked on Rockets, and I bumped

(23:39):
it today. The Rockets had made it clear that Fred
van Fleet was not going to be a part of
the KD trade talks because they didn't think they were
a good enough team for KD to be worthwhile if
they lost Fred and Low and the hole three months later,
just a freak accident and they lose spread.

Speaker 3 (23:59):
So a lot of these.

Speaker 2 (24:00):
People that are talking about the lack of alignment, Oh,
you bring in Kevin Durant, but then you don't go
all in. The Rockets wouldn't have brought in Kevin Durant
if they had known, they wouldn't have Fred. They specifically
kept Fred out of the talks for that reason. So
this is not pr spen after the fact. They said it.
I reported it before the trade. This was their mindset.

(24:20):
Now after Fred got hurt, obviously they tried to spend
it as well. We hope we can still contend. We'll
give more reps to a men and read YadA YadA.
I mean, what else are they gonna say. I mean,
one of your most important players gets hurt right before
trading camp what are you gonna say, Oh, the season's over,
pack it up.

Speaker 3 (24:34):
No.

Speaker 2 (24:34):
I mean they're gonna put on a brave face, but
you know, the proof is in the pudding. They knew
last June that they needed Fred to have a chance
at contending with KD. So Fred going down it does
put them in a tough spot where they know they
have Kevin Durant playing amazing basketball, but it's really tough
to actually win a championship this year unless Fred comes back,
and even if Fred does come back, he's probably gonna

(24:56):
be limited. That's important context to remember about the deadline.
Over all, it seems like there's not alignment between the
KD trade and the lack of deal making at this deadline. Well,
there was a big variable in between that changed the
thinking that went into the KD trade and the thinking.

Speaker 3 (25:11):
At the deadline.

Speaker 2 (25:12):
Secondly, there's a lot of comments in the chat about
Jory and Finney Smith. So one reason the Rockets were
boxton at the deadline, one big reason. So they went
into the first a from hardcap. They used a non
taxman mid level to sign DFS and to this point
it hasn't worked out.

Speaker 3 (25:29):
Hopefully.

Speaker 2 (25:30):
You know, he didn't look good today, missed a lot
of open shots. I did think he was moving a
little bit better, but on the balance, certainly not a
positive game for him. And so hopefully he's only been
playing about five to six weeks and so hopefully by
the end of the season he's closer to the guy
he's been the last couple of years, and he was
clearly a positive role player for the Lakers and the Nets.
But if it doesn't work out, there is something to

(25:52):
be said for mitigating the damage. And so yeah, the
Rockets by limiting their flexibility. If not for signing DFS,
they wouldn't been had capped at the first apron, you
could have used the disabled player exception that you got
for freven Fleet. So yeah, the DFS signing to this
point is absolutely hurt them. It's a big part of
why they were boxed in. But if you trade him

(26:13):
at the deadline, and he was the most movable piece
from a salary perspective, especially because now you need Clint
Capella as your primary backup center with no Steven Adams,
if you move DFS at the deadline for a pending
free agent, which that's most of the players getting dealt
like at Kobe White and it doesn't move the needle.
You're probably not gonna win a championship with Kobe White.
And then you go into the off season and you

(26:36):
need a big trade. You can't trade Kobe White as
part of that package, so you lose the salary slot
as well. Even in the worst case scenario, Jory and
Phinney Smith is still an expiring contract this summer that
can help you with trades. So the absolute worst case
scenario will be the Rockets trade DFS for Kobe White,
and then let's say DFS looks better by the playoffs
and you don't even have the salary slot in the summer.

(26:57):
So that's what the Rockets are trying to balance here,
and that's that's a big part of this. Like, yeah,
you can question the DFS signing. It definitely did limit
them and they did know yet he had the ankle surgery.
But it's not as simple as saying, just make the
deal and get something rather than nothing. Oh there's a
risk if you move him too, And I think that's
important to keep in mind.

Speaker 1 (27:17):
Yeah, now, don't mean interrupt, but it's almost like to
illustrate it from an extreme example, you could be choosing
between Kobe White now or like Giannis in the summer.
There are other things that you that you could add,
I guess, but like he is a piece that's key
for uh and correct me if I'm wrong. Man, I'm
not trying to put words in your mouth, but he
is a piece that could be used in a bigger
trade because he's going to be expiring next year.

Speaker 2 (27:39):
Someone in the chat DFS is a negative asset going
into the deadline. So Stone didn't want to sell low Bingo.
If you wait until the summer, he's at least going
to be a neutral asset because he's an expiring contract.
If you tried to use him now, you'd be selling low.
He'd be a negative asset, So you better get pretty
good bang for your buck, which I don't think Kobe

(27:59):
White is, especially now that he has a calf injury
as well. And so that's the point, Like it's not
to say that you know that everything is sunshine and roses, No,
I mean to this point that the FS signing hasn't
worked out, and the fact that it hard capture at
the first apron is is why you couldn't use the
injury exception you got for Fred so yeah, you can
question rafel Stone if you want. I'm just saying it's

(28:20):
not as simple as just cut bait as soon as
possible and get a warm body. No, at least if
you go into the summer, you do have some trade optionality.
And by the way, kudos to Tilman Fertita for being
willing to pay the luxury tax on that as well.

Speaker 4 (28:36):
I do think that besides what Ben said that and
at the end, I think someone in that said as well,
that's really valid that they would be selling flow on
lord in Phine Smith and they would never be trading
Clint Capello without having a replace himent on tnebuilt, because
well he's the only backup centner at this point. But
I just think that even more important. That makes sense
from a you know, micro micromanitingbasts standpoint, from a team

(28:57):
performance standpoint, right, it's more about do you really believe
that trading for a guy like Kobe White, for example,
is gonna be what pushes this team over the top.
Do you think we're close enough to think the lights
with the lights of ously who seems to be a
dynasty happening at this moment, It's only been one championship,
but they are far the favorite to win this year. Again,

(29:19):
is this what's gonna bring you over the top to
be the team like that? Let's you know, the Warriors
are obviously outlier, but go back to those years. Would
you have spent those assets to get someone who wasn't
going to impact the team that much trying to try
to contend earlier in that in that Warrior in that
Warriors dynasty, or would you we rather have that those

(29:41):
assets at the time where James farbenles in this crime
and you have Chris Paul and you truly could make
it then on a team like that, I do think
the one not only is OBC really good, it's always
a bit unrealistic to expect and and I and I
do not agree with Stone saying out right coming in
public and saying, hey, you know, perhaps this is out

(30:01):
our year. I don't think that's a good message to
put across, especially for the player that he made a
mistake communication wise there. But who are being brutally honest?
This team going into the season fully healthy, was expected
to be, you know a little bit below the thunder
going into the teatin right now they have lost two starters,
two key starters, that bring skill sets that we don't

(30:21):
have on the team rather than late and Steven Adams. Yeah,
forty million cap is my next point for forty million
in cap and that is now basically that gap for
this season. Is any version of this team with forty
million cap market markets and two starters actually going to contend,
are actually going to put up that big of a
fight against the Thunder that it's worth further investing on

(30:43):
rather than and not doing anything. Is still investing. You're
just investing in investing assets on someone to report card
to come play it for the team and be better immediately.
You're still investing, but you're just investing in minutes and
instead of assets. At some point you've got to be pragmatic.
You were not favored you beat the Thunder coming into
the season. You now have two West Doctors, forty million,

(31:03):
forty million wes in cups place. Pragmatically, do you still
believe that you're going to be able to beat the Thunder?
And that's the job of the DM. But the job
of the DM is not to listen to social media
or to go on whims on a game my game
based playing poorly, or because everybody on national media saying
that the needs a point cut. The jobs with the
DM is be pragmatic and too quent for this season

(31:25):
and season moving forward, and I think going to next season,
if thinking still according to Quinn, it will be thankful
that nothing was done and this that and because I
bet you if the Rockets are a first or second
round exit this year, Kobe White was not gonna gonna
get them across to the finals.

Speaker 1 (31:41):
So as far as buying out candidates, this is just
my hunch. I don't have any insight, info or anything.
I just look at this reading the tea leaves as
a guy, I think that they would go after I'm
sure I'm gonna make some of the people who want
offense dry heave with this suggestion. But the Pelicans, come on, looney,
I think he's sitting there not playing. And this is
a guy who is basically a Steven Adams light but

(32:02):
he can switch on defense. Now he's thirty years old.
There were some washed allegations in the past. But like
he's smart, he's disciplined, he's got a seven four wingspan,
he has that kind of specially a rebounding quality, and
he can switch on defense. He's comes from a switching program.
I am just guessing here. I think that that's somebody

(32:25):
that they want. Yeah, that's who I think would fit
and who will see if the Pelicans buy him out.

Speaker 2 (32:31):
And he's played off of other stars in the past.
We know the roles he's had on those Golden State teams.

Speaker 3 (32:37):
That's it.

Speaker 2 (32:37):
So I think playing alongside KD and Shongoon, he would
be a good fit in a complimentary role. He's the
type of guy that's not going to look good on
every building team. By the way, question for either of
you two way players, are they eligible for the playoffs
that throw on a two way contract?

Speaker 3 (32:52):
I think they are.

Speaker 1 (32:54):
Oh goodness, that is a beam of question. I'm not
one hundred percent sure on that follows you you know
I do.

Speaker 4 (32:59):
Not no, but I don't see how they would and
I don't remember in the past to a player for
us playing in the playoffs, not not with all No. No.

Speaker 2 (33:09):
Well, the reason I bring it up, and if someone
in the chat wants to answer that question, google it
for us, because I'm commenting live. The reason I ask
people want a point guard and I understand why, But
theoretically you can use JD. Davison, who's already on your
roster in that role, and use the open roster spot
and your one buyout slot that you have room for

(33:31):
under the first apron to sign a Keban Looney, to
sign a third big to get you back to the
formula when it was you know, Shingoon, Stephen and Klent.
Not that Looney's going to be Stephen, but you know
something closer to the original formula.

Speaker 3 (33:44):
Now.

Speaker 2 (33:44):
The trade off is that if you use your buyout
spot on a guard, or if you use it on
a center, then you're not using it.

Speaker 3 (33:50):
On a guard.

Speaker 2 (33:51):
So could JD Davison be your traditional point guard? I
thought he looked good today.

Speaker 3 (33:58):
I wish he.

Speaker 2 (33:58):
May would explore more. He made a couple of threes,
which is always the big variable. But you are getting close.
I think you're at forty three forty four games now
of the fifty that JD is allotted under the two
way contract, So you're probably going to need to convert
him at some point if you want him to be
available the rest of the season. Maybe you could save

(34:20):
him as an option for the playoffs and keep him
on the two way, but I'm not sure if that's doable,
and it may not be realistic. If he's not playing
in the regular season, then I don't know how realistic
it is to expect him to potentially have a role
in the playoffs. But that's just one thing to keep
in mind. Like Jad Davison, he looked good today and
he could be a consideration. Maybe he's better than these,
you know, buy out point guards that are going to

(34:41):
be out there, But you may have to make a
decision because he's coming up on that fifty game limit on.

Speaker 3 (34:46):
His two ways.

Speaker 2 (34:46):
So I'm curious what the two of you think about,
you know, the likelihood of just keeping Shad and doing
that as opposed to the buyout market.

Speaker 1 (34:54):
My two senses, I believe. I know people aren't going
to like this. I would be a little surprised if
it was a Chris Paul thing, But I I will say,
I think that they still believe in a men and
read and developing those guys they don't want. It's not
that they couldn't use somebody like a Chris Paul or
someone else or you know, something like that. I think
that they still want to play those guys the bulk
of those minutes Davison can can contribute as well. I

(35:16):
would be surprised if they added a guy who plays
significant minutes in over those.

Speaker 2 (35:22):
Someone in the chat says that and don't hold us
to it, but someone googled and says that Davison on
a two way would be eligible for the playoffs because
he signed his two way contract prior to the start
of the regular season, so he would be postseason eligible. However,
to keep him on the two way, he wouldn't be

(35:42):
eligible to play once he hits the fifty mark, so
that's just something to keep in mind. I don't know
how realistic it is to expect him to potentially be
a playoff option if he barely plays the next two months,
so you know, you might have to realistically give Davison
a standard contract if you want that to be viable.

Speaker 3 (35:58):
But at least it's theoretically.

Speaker 2 (36:00):
An option that even if you keep him on the
two way and you use the open roster spot for
a center, you could conceivably still have Davison as an
option in the playoffs. Because I do think he looked
good today. Let's let's just say that, like, defensively, he's
just he's so trustworthy even though he hasn't played, and
offensively he just doesn't make the mistakes that Reid does,
and you know, the Rockets internally sort of you read

(36:23):
as a as a two guard like that was part
of the reason that that they weren't that keen on
Kobe White. They see the two of them very similar
in playing styles, and so there's going to be some
matchups as we saw today where you can play Jad
and read together, and so that's something to consider moving forward.

Speaker 1 (36:38):
And Pala lets you go about Cam Thomas. I can't
see that personally, but but I could get call, but
you know, I can't see it.

Speaker 2 (36:43):
Go ahead, he's Katie's boy, but I can't see it.

Speaker 4 (36:45):
Just seems like the least inmate book that I've played
that I've ever seen, maybe ever Kahn went More's close.
It's a good battle, but let's close. That's a good book.
Regarding Dadie Davison. I keep saying this and and and
it's interesting why it didn't happen this game. But I
do think that Aaron Holiday is still ahead in the
depth chartter or should be. I just think he's a

(37:07):
better player. It gives you a different times as a shooter,
a lot more confident as a shooter. I do think
that's better, and I think defensively we saw at times
last season that he could be frosted on that side
of the court as well. But regarding your point, and
then you know, jumping from what we've heard and what
we've seen in the past, I do I am with
with that. I do think that they are going to

(37:30):
give those reps to a man and to read rather
than get further insurance on that. On a point cud,
I do think that wonis a really good chat especially
because I don't know if he still is, but he
used to be very mobile, and as I said before
with the schinder of its play, guys that run around
a lot are are as are especially valuable and you

(37:51):
do need interna something happens to be unders on the roster.
As far as other guys that may be available through
the buy out market that I do think that are
under kind of people are not giving it a real
chance that they get bought out, but I think they might.
I think the Bulls have a lot of point guards
and they are going and they do have Doug Kidi,

(38:13):
who is kind of a punt cut kind of not
that's going to take a lot of pulls up as well.
I do think that it's realistic that the money comphany
Sampone brought up. Whether that is a thid for the
Rockets is a different question because he is for the
pendentally the really small guard, but he is a good shooter.
But I think another thing that goes into into the

(38:33):
bucket of reasons for running Red and the Men is
that there are certain things that you're only going to
find out what you play in playoffs. In playoffs, right,
Even regardless we said this before last season about the
guys last season, without that series, we would not have
seen that England seems to be a playoff right or
someone who's not afraid of the spotlight. Jamari Smith Junior
don't think that stands true for a man on a

(38:56):
bigger role and for Red on a on a bigger
on a role at all that it didn't have last season.
So seeing how those guys play in those situations is
also something that just from a data to electing standpoint,
it is very important and as rough as you know,
I'm gonna say this, but it's not the nicest thing

(39:17):
to say, it does give the front office some cover
in the in the sense that it was a lot
easier to move on from Jalen Queen last season after
the playoff series that he had. If those guys have
the amends, obviously unslayable. But if we those into the
playoff series and we see that is unplayable or that
he's having a really tough series offensively, which is more

(39:38):
less likely than being unplayable defensively, but could still happen.
That does give the phenomena office cover in case they
want to input them in a trade, cover with the
fan base. That's what I mean, because it's one of
the most beloved guys, right and once you see how
he looks in the playoffs, that also that all I
think that I don't think that's a factor in the
in the in the way they are making a decision,

(40:00):
but I do think it's something that's going to happen.
And when we see them play, we'll see all of
those unfested I guess skills are locked out that they
may that these guys may have.

Speaker 2 (40:10):
And speaking of Jalen, you know I mentioned the Rockets
wouldn't have done the KD trade if Fred had to
be included the way it turned out, and not only
did they sort of do the KD trade, while losing
Fred because of the injury, but they lost Jalen and
Dylan as well. Like losing Fred would have been a
non starter by himself, but then you lost Fred and
two other starters. So that's that's why if it seems

(40:31):
like there's not alignment. Yeah, it's a really tough spot
that the rockets were in. One last thing in the
chat that I want to address before we hop out, well, no,
I lie two things. One will be very quick. Someone
mentioned potentially cutting Aaron Holliday, converting Davison and then using
Holiday's roster spot for a center. The problem there is
going to be the first Apron hardcap, Like you could

(40:53):
make the roster spots work that way, but I don't
know if you'd have the money to sign both the
buyout guy and then convert Davis into a standard. So
if there wasn't a hard cap, I think you could,
but I'm not one hundred percent sure.

Speaker 3 (41:05):
But I don't think that would work.

Speaker 2 (41:07):
A little more depth, someone has mentioned this several times.
I keep seeing Yannis Yiannis. Deep down, you guys know
that won't happen because it costs too much. What are
your other big moves that could be made this summer.
I'll throw in one very quickly. I'll let both of
you chime in if you want. I'm watching the Kyrie
Irving situation in Dallas now that they've moved Anthony Davis.
It's a clear rebuild. The Rockets have the MAVs twenty

(41:30):
twenty nine pick. His salary is big, but not huge,
thirty nine million. He's thirty four years old, coming off
with torn acl so they don't have a ton of leverage,
So the MAVs have an incentive to play ball with
the Rockets. I think Kyrie would want to play in
Houston because of his ties to Kevin Durant. I haven't
heard anything but to me, if they need something a
little lower cost but potentially big impact, there's a lot

(41:54):
of dots that connect there. So that's the one, aside
from Yannis, that I'm sort of monitoring.

Speaker 3 (41:58):
Do either of you have suggestions.

Speaker 1 (42:01):
Kawhi comes to mind as a possibility, you know, I
think I'll obviously we'll see how it plays out. A
d is another one. I'm not saying he's high on
this list. I'm just saying these are the guys that
you might get see get moved in this sort of
bigger salary type of situation. But I don't know. And
to add to that, i'll let you palow I answer that.
But to add to that, I think you nailed it. Ben.

(42:21):
Is like they're on they have the first ape for
hardcap right now. They're not going to be hard caped
next year. And to add to like the compliment you
gave Tilman Furtita about you know, being willing to spend
the luxury tax, they're going to be willing to spend
next year and they're not going to be hard capped.
I'm really encouraged by the position there, and I think
they're going to people who want to, like, you know,
add a bunch of players right now. I get it

(42:42):
the frustration, but I think they are going to be
in a good position this summer to make a big move.

Speaker 4 (42:54):
Yeah, I do agree. I to agree with that regarding
potential guys that we could trade, or I'm actually looking
at it a slightly different way. For example, a guy
like Kawhi. Right to me, it's not as advising because
I think the most meat on the bone that there
is for this team, as I've said plenty of times,
is defense, and Kawai is a good defender. But I

(43:14):
don't think what we're missing on defense is individual good defender.
I think we're missing high advert guy. I think we're
missing guys that are willing to ruin that those with
his system, that are willing to go and make up
for other players that have to leave the assignments for
in order to run that scheme. And I don't think
Kawai at the stage in his career is that. Just
like AB's an individual good defender, but he doesn't seem

(43:36):
at this punt inous career to be the guy that's
going to be running around one hundred percent of the possessions.
He does do that to some extent in some possessions,
but at this point, at thirty seven years old, it's
expected that he won't be And I'm afraid that in
not refers to maximizing, but on defense, we need guys
by that. So I do think that there's a possibility
that that is a bit great, but it is for
a high effort defensive guy that's, you know, a really

(43:58):
high end studd.

Speaker 2 (44:00):
Make a Jaden McDaniels type, like a Dylon Brooks sype.

Speaker 3 (44:04):
Oh okay, okay, let's.

Speaker 1 (44:05):
Go get howling out of the is this I'm interested
in Colin Murray Boyles, We'll never interested in him last year. Yeah, yeah,
this guy's going to be good, really good. But there's
no way Toronto's parting with him at this point. But
that's somebody that I think is fascinating. I would love
to look at some younger players that are going to
cost you a little bit more, but that's that's tough
to pull off. But I think that guy's got really
special potential, undersized, can play five and four and very

(44:29):
versatile defender. But well, we'll see, obviously.

Speaker 3 (44:31):
I do think.

Speaker 2 (44:32):
I do think from a trade perspective that twenty seven
Brooklyn swap is going to put the Rockets in a
good position to deal with the Nets or anybody else
because the Nets are going to be so young. I
don't care if they try to win because they no
longer haven't sent ent to tank. That pick is still
going to be pretty high because they're going to be
so young, they're not going to win games. So that
twenty seven Brooklyn swap, whether the Rockets keep it or
trade it, that's a lot of leverage that they will

(44:54):
have on the market.

Speaker 1 (44:55):
And every East team now outside of Brooklyn even Washington,
which is the one that's down there with with Brooklyn,
makes a case for being pretty good next year. Now
Brooklyn might be able to sign somebody, but Brooklyn looks
like they're set up to be pretty bad next year
and they have no incentive to tag next year. But yeah,
that could be good. It's just for me. It's the
draft pool. How good is the draft pool going to
because that's from the twenty six so for your guy

(45:17):
in Missouri. But I you know, that's the question I have.
But it looks like the Rockets are holding onto a
good pick. We'll see with Phoenix, but but Brooklyn's looks good.

Speaker 4 (45:24):
I do think that that is you know you mentioned
you mentioned McDaniel's from in Worlds. I think the Rockets
might not want to do that because they would be
giving means out of the animal to potentially go after
the guy, like like the analty available. But I do
think that there's two other names that are were computing.
One of them I already said it, and I didn't
say a guy like Dylan Brooks. I mean Dylan Brooks

(45:47):
at all. It might make sense for the Rockets to
give twenty twenty seven back to Phoenix allow them to
say in exchange for Delin Brooks. Who knows if that's
if that's a possiblity, But I do think that a
lot of more problems are because Thelin Brooks is not
there are both for me leader you perspective and from
an energy perspective. And the other guy that I did
want to touch on that it's not perhaps not known

(46:07):
as a as a good high effort defender because well
he's really good at something else. But I do and
I do think that's really much he fits the bill
as well as a higher cost ad that's not quite
a star, but with the high cost guide that we
would need those the contract.

Speaker 1 (46:23):
Yes, absolutely, I know anything you guys want to say
before we close up. I know we've gone along today,
but it was definitely a lot to talk about with
the deadline and everything else. But ben power or anything
you guys want to add.

Speaker 2 (46:34):
One last thing I want to share with Dross. You
mentioned Shangoon taking a bad PR hit this week, and
you didn't even mention the postgame pres cofference that went
viral where he may had a line about they've done
that since I've been here, so it sounded funny and
you know everybody jumped on it, but just to add
some context, the question was about teams hunting Shoangoon on switches,

(46:57):
and honestly, I don't think I may intended it to
come across nearly as harshly as it did. It became,
you know, this fire stom on social media, but I mean,
even Shinoon at his best defensively, look, big men in
the NBA get attacked. Like every team's base offense is
to try and get their lead guard if they have
one that's worth their salt against a big and just

(47:19):
to you know, try and make something happen and then
read and react from there. That's almost every team's base offense.
And the Rockets have had to do that the same way.
Every team with the traditional big man has to, you know,
scheme around that. And I think that's what that's what
E meant. And it just came across in that moment
of frustration because you know, he's sort of pouting. They
all are, they've been you know, blown out on back

(47:41):
to back nights at home, and it came across like
he was throwing Shagun under the bus.

Speaker 3 (47:45):
I don't think that's what he meant.

Speaker 2 (47:47):
I think He was just speaking to the fact that, yeah,
like it's a challenge, but it's a challenge that that
they've been dealing with for years the same way that.

Speaker 3 (47:54):
Hell, even Minnesota with Rudy Gobert, Gobert.

Speaker 2 (47:56):
Gets challenged in that same way one on one, you know,
big time guards. Look what Luca did to in the
playoffs a couple of years ago. Like this happens to
every traditional big man. So I don't think Emay mints
it nearly as harshly as it came across.

Speaker 3 (48:11):
That's all I'll say about that.

Speaker 1 (48:12):
Yeah, absolutely, Pala you good, Yeah, Okay, awesome. Appreciate you guys,
and appreciate everyone who hanging around with us tonight for
over fifteen minutes. It's a good win for the Rockets.
They come back home now play the Clippers twice. These
are not easy games. They should be a lot easier
than they were. Ill I'll say that, no Zooboch, no Harden.

(48:33):
I believe Darius Garland is still out. They have Kawhi
who's playing great, but it's not the same team that
was seventeen and four and really moving up the charts.
So hopefully they can win those two games and then
I think after that it's all Star break or maybe
it's a Charlotte first, I can't remember. Then you have
a Charlotte at New York.

Speaker 2 (48:50):
One last thing at Paolo. I think your audio depth.
Someone in the comments is asking who fits the bill well,
your second target after Dylan.

Speaker 3 (48:58):
Who did you list? Oh Murphy from the Pelagate. Yeah,
Jerry Murphy, that's what I thought you said.

Speaker 2 (49:03):
But yeah, your audio did break up very briefly then,
so glad you clarified anyway, gotcha, good.

Speaker 1 (49:07):
One, awesome, appreciate it everybody. Thanks for subscribing and listening
to and we will be back for rockets. Get a
good long break the rest of this day off Sunday Monday,
and then they'll play on Tuesday and Wednesday, so we
will see you guys then.

Speaker 3 (49:19):
Thanks everyone, have a good one.