As 2024 draft nears, Rockets also finalizing free agency plans

As Wednesday’s 2024 NBA draft nears, the Rockets and general manager Rafael Stone are also finalizing plans for next Sunday’s start of free agency.

With that in mind, topics in Monday’s full show (featuring both Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves) include final considerations with the No. 3 overall pick of the first round; why Houston could pass on using its non-taxpayer mid-level exception in the initial wave of free agency; and considerations to weigh in any potential trade pursuit of Clippers star Paul George.

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
Cheers, Rockets fans, Welcome toThe Logger Line, an exclusive podcast from
the home of the Rockets, SportsTalk seven ninety The Logger Line. It's
proudly served to you by car BoxClutch City Logger. It is good.
Oh yeah, Red Nation, getready, Ready, get Ready. The

(00:26):
lagger Line starts now. Welcome aboardBendubo's here Paolo Owls there, thanks for
checking out another new episode of TheLogger Line, as always served to you
courtesy of Clutched the Lagger of CarbackBrewing. We're recording this Monday night,

(00:49):
June twenty fourth, a little underforty eight hours until the twenty twenty four
NBA Draft. Rockets are currently slatedto pick at number three in the first
round and number forty four in thesecond round, though it certainly sounds like
the phone lines are very open forpotential trades. We will talk about the
draft before the end of tonight's show, but honestly, at this point,
I kind of feel like we've saidwhat needs to be said. We have
several preview shows and our archives ifyou want to check those out, and

(01:12):
at this point we're pretty much justwaiting to see what actually happens. Once
it does, of course, we'llhave extended reaction later in the week.
So for now, I want tospend things forward and look ahead to the
opening of free agency, which efficientlystarts next Sunday night, June thirtieth.
The day before that, Saturday totwenty ninth is when the majority of decisions
on team options are due around theleague. And we've heard from both Jonathan

(01:34):
Fagan and Kelly Eco great reporters herein Houston, that the Rockets plan to
bring back all three of Jack Landale, Jeff Green, and Jayshawn Tate.
That's their trio of team option guysfor next season. So because you've got
all those inflection points on the calendarand the draft coming up as well,
you've got plenty of trade talks allaround the league. And so what that
adds up to is the next weekor two being one of the most active

(01:57):
transaction windows of the entire NBA calendar. Really, the only one that's even
comparable is the week that leads upto the end season trade deadline each February.
So we've had a lot to discuss. There's actually a report that the
Rockets are interested in potential free agentPaul George, although it appears to be
unlikely we will get to that.But I want to start our show with
some more confirmed news, which isthat, according to Jonathan Fagan if the

(02:20):
Houston Chronicle, the Rockets plan tosave their non taxpayer mid Level exception for
future trades as opposed to spending itin the first window of free agency.
As a team operating above the salarycap this year, that non taxpayer MLE
is by far the biggest financial tool, well excluding trades. That is that
the Rockets will have to add totheir roster, and theoretically it would allow

(02:40):
them to offer a starting salary inthe ballpark of about thirteen million dollars annually
for up to four years now.As a reminder, this is a change
under the NBA's new Collective Bargaining Agreement. In contrast to previous CBA versions,
this updated one allows teams to basicallyuse the cap exceptions like trade exceptions,
So basically you can trade for contractsof players on other teams for up to

(03:02):
their salary amount, and you canalso use it to make a waiver claim.
So for the Rockets, according toJonathan, the thinking is basically this,
even if we exclude Landale Tate andJeff Green, and we park those
guys at the end of the bench. The Rockets already have a nine man
playing rotation just between the core sixof young prospects and the three established veterans

(03:23):
in Fred Nley, Dylan Brooks,and Steven Adams. And then if you
stay at number three in the draftor anywhere close to that, then that's
a tenth guy that you'd like tofind at least a little bit of immediate
playing time for. So there's reallynot a ton of bang for your buck
to use that MLE for if we'retalking about adding a guy who might be
eleventh on your priority list. So, considering that, the plan seems to

(03:46):
be to save the mL for winor if a consolidation trade happens down the
line, maybe it's later in theoff season, maybe it's during the season
closer to the trade deadline. Butthe idea is that if the Rockets eventually
in depth trading three or four rotationplayers for one more proven commodity, maybe
that star trade that we know they'vepursued for years, then you would have
the MLA available at that time tohelp you fill out those other rotation spots.

(04:10):
You could absorb someone from another teamvia trade. Beyond that, I
also want to make clear that Fagandid not write this part. But I
also think there's a couple other considerations. So in our recent salary Cap pod
with C. Goslin, we talkedabout the importance of not aggressively spending the
MLE for multiple years because you don'twant to clog your salary books in twenty
twenty five. You need at leastthe potential of having salary cap space in

(04:32):
twenty twenty five. Keep in mindthat's the year you'll have a team option
on the giant Fred VanVleet deal,because that could help you on the trade
market. Well, the thing is, the longer you go without making a
big trade, the more important thatpotential twenty twenty five cap room becomes.
So it kind of works hand inhand with saving the MLE because you can
keep that flexibility. Conversely, ifyou do make a big trade, then

(04:54):
that probably makes the potential cap roomless important, so in that scenario you
can more easily justify spending the mL. The other possibility that I would note,
and again this is me, notJonathan, is that as you get
closer to the trade deadline, there'sprobably going to be teams that are trying
to dump salary for luxury tax purposes, so you can potentially get a draft
asset in exchange for taking on acontract that someone else needs to ditch.

(05:16):
So you add all that up andit looks like minimum deals and maybe the
bi annual exception which allows you tospend about five million dollars annually for up
to two years, are probably goingto be what the Rockets use or offer
at the startup free agency. Andso my guess is that's why some of
the names that are linked to theRockets. Kelly Eco recently reported some two
way wing players like Alec Burks,Taylor Horton Tucker, and Gary Harris.

(05:38):
Those are generally, while nice players, a tier below the true mL names,
And so I think what that meansis that, assuming no major deal,
you're probably looking at names like thatthat aren't very sexy. But I'm
okay with it because I do seethe logic behind it and I get the
bigger picture. How what are yourthoughts as far as that being the opening
strategy heading into the new fiscal year. Yeah, I think earlier on in

(06:01):
the off season, people talked aboutor think it was kelle Eco. That's
reported Malik Peasley right then. Ithought at the time that it made sense
depending on how the draft went.But truth is, what we've talked about
in relation to the draft, alsowhys the pre agency, which is we
have ten guys that need minutes rightnow, and that's even you know,

(06:23):
and that's already if you if you'rehaving a ten one rotation, you know,
the back end of that rotation isgoing to play ten minutes a night.
And usually you're not signing a guyto thirteen million dollars a year with
the goal of playing him, youknow, that little time. So it's
it's the entire roster congestion thing.While you you could make the argument that

(06:45):
you should use it to sign themon because it and it disappears at the
end of the season every single season. There's definitely websites not using it.
And usually if you sign a guy, even if it at the time looks
like a value deal and you don'tplay them enough, eventually that's not going
to be a value deal, orit's it's harder and harder to to make

(07:10):
you know, to have that thatcontract be an asset. So I definitely
understand. I think I don't know, considering the Rockets already have so many
small flexible salaries that they could trade. I don't know how much it will
contribute if they're looking for a consolidationmove, because if it is a treader
played exception, you can combine it. We rather salaries get aggregated, so

(07:36):
and on that front, not really, but it could save you not having
to move someone and you use theTP instead if you're just to take on
a salary or or something of thesort, right, and instead of having
to use Jeff Breen as filler whoyou know played the Rod last season,
you instead use them that that youknow, TPE slash mL and you are

(07:58):
able to keep Jeff Green as well. So it's definitely nothing crazy. It's
not that I know people are goingto try to spend it as a Stilman
being cheap or something like that.It really has nothing to do with that.
I don't well. And if youwanted to spend it as Tilman being
cheap, they could just not pickup the option for someone like Jock Landale
or Jeff Green, who's going tobe getting paid close to ten million dollars

(08:20):
did not play so I think thatpushes back on that they're picking up team
options for guys in Tate, Landaleand Jeff who at the moment aren't even
in your rotation. You're going tobe paying close to thirty million dollars combined
for those three front court players tobe like spots ten through twelve on your
bench. But because it gives themtrade optionality on one year deals, they're
basically spending thirty million dollars to havethem as trade ships. So I think

(08:41):
that pushes back on that already.Yeah, And I think and I think
you can also you can also takeaway from the decision or to the upcoming
decision to not be is TMLI asa kind of, you know, a
meter on how they valued Tate Landaleand and Jeff Green. I think obviously
when they'll they valued him for hiscontract at the very least, and he

(09:05):
has some upside of eventually being ableto play right, but he has that
upside obviously, Jason has the upsideof having bird rise on him. So
if it's contracted and stroupets have flexibilityand what they can do with the bast
off season, and Jeff Green justas a fat that they don't think that
there's a fat out there on themarket for comparable value that they can use

(09:26):
the Emilie on that's going to bebetter than Jeff Green. So I think
you can take better away as well, because they could have just not picked
up the Keiff Green's option or ornon guarantee and just signed someone with the
MLI instead, But no, theythought they thought that Keff Green was worth
his salary and better than what alternativesare out there on the market for what

(09:46):
they were looking to get out ofthat Rosser spot. So I think all
in all, you know, itmakes it makes some sense. And I
and you know, I think worstcase scenario, you'll see them get you
know, you'll see the team thateverybody goes planes that waste second round picks
so that we get one or twosecond round picks from the salary to put
the deadline right and then hopefully,hopefully when if or when that happens,

(10:11):
it will be as celebrated as asit was maligned when they did the opposite
last last offseason. God forbid,we have another tie time Washington. Who's
wan Garuba deal? Yeah, theassets you get for taking on a contract
into the mL E TPE effectively,I think we can call it that should
be celebrated just as much as thatone was panned anyway. Amongst the names

(10:33):
that have been listed to this pointthat I think are in the bi annual,
exception or even minimum deal range,Gary Harris, Taylor Horton, talker
Alec Burks. Kelly reported Eric Gordonwas potentially interested in a reunion as well,
although he did not say whether theRockets had interest on their end.
Jonathan mentioned that Aaron Holliday was apossibility to come back. However, if

(10:54):
the Rockets end up drafting Breed Shepherd, that could make it less likely because
that's two small guards. I thinkthe moral of the story is that because
so many of your established players arefrontcore pieces Landale, Tait and Green on
one year deals, anyone you signedyou a short term deal with the biannual
or minimum is more likely to bein the wing or guard tier. So
do you have any preferences in thatrange or is it just if they're that

(11:16):
cheap, just take whoever's most willingto take a friendly deal. Yeah,
so definitely Gary Harris had, youknow, when he was with them,
that's had I think a couple ofdown years, but then when he moved
on to Orlando, he's had athirty eight thirty percent three point shouting season,
forty three percent, thirty seven percent. I think he's actably someone that's

(11:39):
interesting. I don't think that he'llbe as cheap as as the Buiannola exception.
Maybe he will, but I don'tknow. I find that tough too.
He is he's making thirty million dollarson on until that was signed the
year two years ago, so Ithink he's if he can get him on
that deal, I think that's theguarantee to be an asset. I think

(12:00):
that's just a t for a playerof this quality is obviously a good defender.
I you know, if you wereto get Alec Bergs, I think
most of the value would actually comefrom the fact that he's up playing for
other teams against the Rockets, becausehe seems to be at this to the
next. He seems to be oneof those guys that it always goes off
against us. And then I wouldsay, you know, listen, I'm

(12:24):
not you know, there's a newCBA. I'm not sure if this would
work well. What we we spentit up to a little where oh,
geez, I had to get itin there, you know, you know
I can't not gonna talk barely anydraft. I had to do it.
Well, we might because there aresome trade down scenarios, So save that
for later on and we can circleback at the end of the pod.

(12:45):
Is that fair? Yeah, that'sfair enough. I mean I was happy
enough with I was happy enough withgetting this one in this early on.
So yeah, over to fifteen minutesthe obligatory cololl we're mentioned, and of
course we'll get another one towards theback half of the pod. Already spoiled
that anyway, before we get tothe draft, because again, at this
point, I think a lot ofthe draft outlook is sort of baked in

(13:07):
and we're just waiting to see whatthe Rockets actually do, be it picking
at three or trading down a littlebit. It doesn't sound like there's really
any momentum for trading out entirely,or just not enough value for doing so
in a draft that's considered subpar.But time, waltelf don't have to wait
very long to find out draft atleast the first round is Wednesday night and
the second round is Thursday afternoon.Anyway, most of this spot, I

(13:30):
want to spend talking about the freeagency and trade window, which free agency
officially opens on Sunday to thirtieth,although we know behind the scenes there's negotiations
going on now, and of coursethe trade window opened up basically as soon
as the NBA Finals ended last week, and so those discussions are going on
all around the league. And Ireally want to talk about this Paul George
situation because there was some concrete reportingtoday and I've done some digging myself as

(13:52):
well. So in Sunday's many podcasts, which I did solo just to sort
of give an update on where weare entering Draft week and this transaction window,
I mentioned that I found it verycurious that the seventy six Ers were
pulling out of the Paul George talksyet there was no new deal with the

(14:13):
Clippers, and it suggested to methat there could be at least one mystery
team that the opted and trade route, like Chris Paul in twenty seventeen,
was viable. We've heard some NBAinsiders, most notably Brian Windhurst at ESPN,
alluding to that possibility, and nowon Monday, Michael Scotto of Poop's
Hepe dropped something of a bombshell thatPG is definitely on Houston's radar, although

(14:33):
he added that he considers it unlikelyto actually happen. So after some after
talking to some bolts in the buildingat TUTA Center, I can say that's
basically where I am as well.So I'm going to try and lay it
out as far as what I thinkthe criteria are for the Rockets and why
it's unlikely to all line up interms of the value being there for the
Rockets, for Paul George and theClippers, since obviously the Rockets, as

(14:54):
in above the salary cap team wouldhave to strike a trade most likely and
opt in in trade for a dealto work out. So I think in
terms of why the Rockets are interestedat a surface level, because there are
some people every time, you know, Jackson Gatland's been pushing this for six
weeks unlocked on Rockets, this ideaof an opt in and trade for Paul
George potentially being something for the Rocketsto explore, and I'm told they have

(15:16):
explored it, and there's a factionof the fan base that says, no,
he's too old, that they justwant to let the young guys develop.
I actually don't agree with that.I think if you could get him,
and we've discussed it in one ofour previous episodes as well, if
you could get him at a lowenough price. Paul George is not James
Harden from a year ago. Heis not a ball dominant guy. He

(15:37):
can work off the ball. He'sactually one of the best shooters of this
generation. We're talking about someone overthe last eight years. He shoots right
at forty percent from three on highvolume, at like eight attempts per game
on average. He is one ofthe best shooters of this generation. He's
got length, he can function offball. And if you're worried about the
Rockets and shooting, which we've hearda lot of that this offseason when it

(15:58):
comes to the Reed Shepherd debate withthe draft, we know the Rockets shoot
a lot of threes, but lastyear they were below average in accuracy,
and so a lot of folks wantto upgrade that with Reed Shepherd. The
thing is, and we've made thispoint before, it's not like Reid himself
would move the needle all that much, at least at a team level,

(16:19):
because in his initial role, he'dbasically be replacing her on holiday. He
shot nearly forty percent on threes lastyear at decent volume. That's really good.
That's not where the problem was.And the long term, you know,
we've talked in the past about Redpotentially if you draft him being something
of a Fred replacement as Fred age's, maybe he gets too expensive once your
young core gets into their second contracts. But Fred's a really good shooter too,

(16:42):
so it's not like that really doesa lot for you. The reason
the Rockets have something of a shootingproblem is structural as things stand. Of
your five starters and your most importantreserve, which I considered to be a
men Thompson, only two of them, Fred and Jabari's junior are guys that
are clearly above average as shooters,and Jabori is just a little bit.

(17:07):
I think we project him to bewith time, but he's only had one
season shooting at an average just slightlyabove average level. The other four I
would say Dylan's an average shooter,but there's issues with shot selection. Jalen
to this point has been a slightlybelow average shooter for a shooting guard.
Shongoon is not a three point threat, and Amend's not even close. So

(17:29):
in terms of the shooting, that'swhere the Rockets have an issue. It's
not just adding one more shooter,be it Ree Thomps, Red Thompson,
b Reed Shepherd, or signing someonelike a Malik bes Lady. That's the
peek as player. By the wayyou combine Amn Thumbs with the retel,
that would actually be pretty amazing.But that is not why the Rockets have

(17:52):
this issue, and it's not necessarilythat it's going to be that way long
term. Rafel Stone has said earlierthis season that he expects the shooting to
improve as the young guys get moremature and they take better shots. That
tends to happen percentages improve as shotselection improve, and that happens as guys
get more experienced in the league,and hopefully with Jalen in particular at shooting

(18:15):
guard, that's something we start tosee entering year four. But Paul George,
someone that is an established elite shooterat either shooting guard or small forward.
If you were to upgrade Jalen Greenor more reasonably Dylan Brooks, I
don't think the Rockets would be lookingat a thirty four year old Paul George
to upgrade Jalen Green. I thinkthere's too much of an age gap there
when you look at the longer drumformula. Then yeah, that would change

(18:38):
the shooting calculus. If you wouldgo from Jalen or more likely Dylan to
Paul George, then that would addressyour shooting problem in a big way by
next season. And yet I don'tthink Paul George is so ball dominant that
he would take away the touches forguys like Jalen Shingoon and any of the
other playmaking types that you want todevelop and get more reps as the years

(19:02):
progress. So in a basketball sense, he would absolutely fit. He would
make you a better team next season. And I think if you add Paul
George in place of Dylan Brooks,I think this is a playoff team assuming
relative health, So there's value inthat. And if you could get him
for say Dylan Brooks, two ofyour expiring contracts, someone in the Landale
Tate, Jeff Green tier and maybeone first run pick, I think you

(19:25):
should and would do that in aheartbeat. The problem is that's not going
to work asset wise for the Clippersbecause the scenario in which the Rockets to
get Paul George is him opting intothe final year of his existing deal,
and I think forty eight million dollarsand Paul George all the reasons he would
be attractive to the Rockets on aone year deal without any long term commitment,
which of course mitigates the age riskto a degree. He would also

(19:48):
be attractive to other teams around theleague, and so the only way you
could get him for a sheep asa package as basically like Dylan in one
future. First is if Paul Georgesaid Houston or Bust. I don't think
that's realistic, and then even ifit was, I think the Clippers might
just call his bluff in that scenario. More realistically, I think Paul George
might be open to Houston, andI think the Rockets have done some digging

(20:11):
on this behind the scenes. Ithink they put in the legwork. They
do see the basketball merits. Buthe would be interested in some other destinations
as well, and so that's whereyou get into the asset cost and whether
Houston's bid could compete with others thatare offered to the Clippers. And that's
in the scenario where the Clippers don'tgive Paul George what he wants. Maybe

(20:32):
ultimately the Clippers just cave and heends up staying with Kawhi and James Harden
and they run it back. Ithink that's in play as well. But
in terms of the asset cost,that's where it gets really tricky, because
could the Rockets bid aggressively for PaulGeorge, Yes, but that's where you
get into the timeline considerations. Athirty four year old Paul George makes you
better next season, I don't thinkhe makes you a contender. So by

(20:55):
the time you could actually truly contendfor a championship, he'd be thirty five
six years old. Who knows ifyou'd be able to reach a second contract
agreement with him, And then evenif you could, he's probably going to
be on the decline, at leastto a small extent by that point in
time. I think Paul George wouldage gracefully given the profile of his game,
but all guys are, at leastthe vast majority, do start to

(21:15):
slip a little bit by the timeyou get into the mid to late thirties,
which is what I think Paul willbe at by the time the Rockets
are ready to contend, So Withthat in mind, if the window is
not open right away, why wouldyou bid super aggressively with tons of assets,
be at multiple first round picks ormembers of your young core, perhaps

(21:37):
both that you might need later fora player that could help you when your
window is actually open. The otherpart of it is that I think in
an ideal world, the Rockets wantto get more information about their young core
to help them prioritize who to tradein that type of blockbuster scenario. But
right now there's still a lot ofmystery. Look, we saw last year

(21:59):
there were tons that both all proIn shing Goon and Jalen Green looked like
potentially star level alphas, but itdidn't happen at the same time, And
of course with Jalen it didn't happennearly as frequently. Jalen had the one
month All pro In Shingoon had themajority of the first half of the season,
but neither one of them put togethera full season at that alpha star

(22:22):
level, and it wasn't at thesame time. So I think there's still
some questions there as far as thosetwo guys and how they fit. You've
got the extension calculations to weigh overthe next year as well. I think
in terms of positional overlap, you'vegot Jalen Green and Cam Whitmore on the
wing. I don't know how realisticit is to keep both of those guys
long term. There's a little bitof overlap between Jabari Smith and Tari Easen,

(22:45):
and so I think before the Rocketsmake a deal that dips into their
young core in any way, theywould like to get a little bit more
information to help them prioritize who dowe want to keep long term and who
are we more likely or more advantageto use in a trade scenario. That's
not to say the Rockets would nevermake a deal before having that information.

(23:07):
I think, you know, DonovanMitchell is a good example, someone who's
just twenty seven years old. Ifhe was on the market and at this
point it looks like he's going backto Cleveland, But if he was on
the market, he's young enough towhere I think the Rockets, even though
they don't have that information, wouldsay, look, we'll make an educated
guess because Donovan Mitchell, even ifwe don't know quite yet, who's going
to be the best of this coresix. And even if we have to
dip into our first round asset stockpile. He's young enough to where he's still

(23:30):
going to potentially be an all NBAlevel player when our contending window actually opens.
I don't think that's the case withPaul George. So I don't think
the Rockets want to dip that heavilyinto their asset stockpile of future first round
picks. And I also don't thinkthey want to force something involving their core
six in terms of prioritizing the youngprospects when in a perfect role, they

(23:52):
would want more information. So Ithink that's where things are with Paul George.
The Rockets see the merits from abasketball standpoint, and if things lined
up, would they do a dealfor Paul George in a heartbeat? It's
just would you consider that Paul Georgeopting in on a one year deal would
make him very attractive If the teamsacross the league, including contenders, the
Rockets would have to bid a lotmore aggressively than just Dylan's salary filler and

(24:17):
one pick. And in that scenario, I just don't think it's worth it
to the Rockets to invest super heavilyin terms of future first round picks.
Or members of their young core fora guy who's thirty four years old and
probably won't be in his prime bythe time the true title contention window actually
opens. So I think that's wherethe rockets are at. With Paul George.
It's interesting. On a basketball level, there's merits, but it's more

(24:40):
of a theoretical exercise than a practicalone, and I would agree that for
those reasons, it's unlikely, notimpossible. You never know, And I
do think that as long as thereare some basketball merits, which there are,
you can't completely foreclose the possibility.But when you look at the asset
perspective, when you look at thebusiness of it all, I think unlikely.
It's a good characterization and so somethingI'm expecting to happen. How old

(25:02):
does that all make sense to you? Where do you come in, because
I know Paul George is one ofyour favorite guys in the league. Yeah,
it's it's It serves for exactly becauseof that, because if you if
you ask me about any player that'sover thirty, I'm probably going to say
that Paul George to me, ifhe's like I told about this today,
I think if I could bring oneguy back on his rookie deal, back

(25:23):
on his rookie age. To thisteam, Poterardoo wouldn't be number one because
you've got to get to the Lebronand Yannis, you know, and all
that and all that, But he'dbe pretty freaking high about the list just
because of his game, his height, of his length, of his defense
of everything. He's a guy thatyou could he's He's what I he got

(25:45):
you wish Kyalen Green could become eventually, Probably not because he's never going to
be a staller or as Lady Ash, but the same style she's to me,
the perfect cuting. Basically that beingsaid, I think there should be
some space. So what I wouldsay is, personally I would not do
it because, as you said,I think the asset cost would be too

(26:07):
high to make a move like thatright now while not knowing enough about the
guys that we courple have. ButI think there is an argument to be
made for the potential benefits of atrade for a win Now superstar that's older
than thirty, if the acid costis not crippling enough that she would not

(26:29):
be able to swing a superstar tradedown the line if you need it to.
So that realize that because I thinkthat there would be you know,
while I'm confident that will make theplayoffs next year, it's hard from a
guarantee. You can assume growth fromthe season before, but with the West
is a blood bath. And Ithink by next season will we and we'll

(26:49):
get into this as the off season, you know continues. I think we
need to be a playoff team bynext year. I think that that injection
of reality to a young corel suchas ours would benefit them greatly. I
think did. They benefited greatly fromthe thinking culture with k just like everybody
or at least on this podcast projectedbefore the season started. And the next

(27:12):
step is getting to the playoffs,seeing how the game works in the playoffs.
We I mean, I think thisthis year's playoffs are a perfect in
capsulation of how different the game isin the playoffs versus the regular season,
where I mean, I think ifyou based it off the regular season,
nobody would have guessed that the masswould have got to the finals. But
the truth is they did and itwas because they met them well against the

(27:33):
number of teams and so obviously inthe playoffs, everybody focuses on the micro
of your game. If anything canbeing expoiled, it will be exploited.
I think that experience would be reallygood for the young guys, and I
you know, not perhaps it's not, it's not realistic, but I do
think that something could snap for alot of for some of our guys once

(27:56):
they got to the playoffs, theysaw this is what we're playing for because
what we have obviously a lot ofhigh level prospects, but in those usually
go to good schools. But thatdoesn't mean that they thought to experience,
you know, that type of environmentor anything similar. I mean jelen b
Ring didn't go to market Mindnacy obviouslyin Kiley I think the reason why with

(28:21):
the l SU, but they didn'tgo far. U Tivari and Albourd obviously
cressed out fairly early on, tryingto remember the rest of our guys can
win more a little. That didn'tgo far. And Thompson was obviously not
in a in a college situation andwhere I was in oh Shingun Shan was
probably lived through this as an atplaying on a professional basketball right He's probably

(28:45):
the only one. Yeah, he'sprobably the only one who's you know,
lived through that. And I thinkthat that can change the way you look
at the sports for some of theseguys. And I think, you know,
it can kind of a quash withreality because most of these guys have
been or I have severely out talentedtheir opponents when the lights of brightest put

(29:08):
till this pot in their careers.And now you get to the already got
us up in the face of comingto the NBA not being the guy anymore
or not being so much better thaneverybody else in the playoffs. That takes
a step up. Uh And andnow I'd like to hope that Tylan Green,
for example, would crtically benefit fromit. Now I struggle to see
a world where Paul George comes inand it's not at the shooting guard position.

(29:30):
I do think that if Paul GeorgeWard Took come in, Kiln probably
hads the beat. Obviously, PaulGeorge can't play the three, and he's
are you know, he's well wellbig enough to play the three as as
as you know from my massive monthsstandpoint. But I do think that in
Mayotoka would probably rather play you know, either thirties or an inmate or or

(29:52):
or the one brooks at the threeand play Paul George at the two with
if he's trying to win, becauseI think that's where Bale is the biggest
this match. I mean, help, do you defend the six eight guy
as a shooting guard. That beingsaid, you know that is metriat to
for a trade forget that's so forthirty, But obviously it cannot come at
a cost that all George is goingto cost. Well, George is still
an insanely good player. And unlessit's I think good parallel is unless it

(30:18):
is a games harder than out ofthe sixers situation where the price is not
dictated by the market, the priceis dictated by you know, the guy
only wanting to go to one team, or or the acid being so debilitated
that nobody else wants to take therisk of the talents is obviously there that
unless it's a game short and typedeal, I don't think we should do
it because it would stop us frombeing able to make a similar deal for

(30:40):
kind of fit some time. Whinebetter and Paul George has head obviously that
the both gege specific concerns. He'sobviously not in the greatest playoff performer.
He's obviously you know, his game. While I would project it to aid
gracefully on the defense events with hisinjury, you have to wonder when he'll

(31:00):
start to slow down and not beable to keep up with guys the way
the way that you know he's doneso is it ry career? So yeah,
I think that's basically where I'm at. I think as a general rule
of I'm high enough on our currentguys that I would rather just run it
back for one more season, unlessa transcendent guy comes wrong like Tam Morant

(31:21):
or something like that, unless oneof those adecoms available, I would just
run it back at one more yearof a sample on all of these guys,
and by next season there's even apossibility that you know, I think
at this point four years for JaylorGreen is enough of a sample size where
you have to make a decision aroundhim. And if the decision happens,
if decision is positive, hey,that's it's not even a problem to have

(31:45):
it. It's the best situation possible. If it doesn't, well, you
just opened up thirty four to thirtysix minutes a night that you can now
completely you know, overhaul your rosterconstruction situation around obviously being a two guard.
Obviously you can fight. They ontothe two if if they be you
could play, You could play andwait more there you could you know,

(32:05):
you could bring you could bring ina guy at any of you know,
probably four positions with a minutes thatkill not being deal with eventually three year
but hopefully I'm not saying that Iwant this habit not at all. And
if you if you follow the podcastfor long, and as you know about
this, I'm a huge sale guy. But I think it just makes sense
to run it word more year,have more information than everybody. And we've

(32:28):
been saying this for three, twoor three years on because the rumors keeps
whirling. But I think actions actions, we call it the word and the
rockets have kills them to be patientthus far, and I think they will
continue to do so. But thistime it's for real. It's one more
year for at least the twenty twentyone PROD class guys. And you know,
if you are someone who's pressed oror wants to press for something sooner,

(32:52):
I guess you can think about itlike this, Hey, it's just
one more year before you know itis it is decided that some change,
some dramatic teams is going to happenas far as they like they chance for
the end, guys. Yeah,and I'll point out with Paul George specifically,
I think whatever small chance there is, we'll know by this Saturday,

(33:12):
which is the deadline date for mostteam options around the league, while team
and player options a player option inthis case for PG for the next fiscal
year twenty twenty four to twenty twentyfive. Because I think everyone saw what
happened with James Harden the Sixers lastyear, four and a half months of
just pure hell on both sides whenHarden opted in. But he opted in
without having an immediate trade lined up. I don't think Paul George would do

(33:36):
that. I think the template iswhat I mentioned earlier Chris Paul in twenty
seventeen, going from the Clippers tothe Rockets. He would opt in if
he has a deal lined up rightnow, and so be it. The
Rockets are most likely someone else.That's how it would happen. And then
if he opts out, if hebecomes a free agent, then of course
the Rockets wouldn't be in play becausehe would be largely looking at teams with

(33:57):
cap space. And even if theRockets wanted to assign and trade, don't
think or even if they were ableto, I don't think they would want
to, just because of the concernswith giving money into his late thirties at
the time in which the Rockets youngcorps would be going into their second contracts.
I think any Paul George entest wouldbe something exploratory on an opt en
basis and then see where you're atand a year. And while that's possible,

(34:19):
it's unlikely given the asset cost.To your point, I do think
it's at worth at least floating thetemplate, you know, because in a
basketball sense, yeah, adding aguy in his thirties could work. If
the cost is let's say Dylan Brooks, who's a solid starter. There is
some value to that solid starter ona reasonable contract, filler contracts who were
good in the locker room, guyslike Jeff Green, Jay Shaun Tate,

(34:43):
Jock Landale and maybe one future firstrun pick. If that could get you
a marquee player that's established even inhis thirties, there's basketball merits in doing
that. It's just a question ofwhether such a player is actually available,
whether the market would be there forthe asset equation to work for both sides.
With Paul George is probably not,just because there'd be too much competition

(35:05):
for PG out of one year dealthe one guy. I'm a little curious
about it, and there's been onereport I think Mark sid linking the Rockets
to him. Jimmy Butler in Miami. I think his market's a little worse
than Paul George simply because there's slightlymore injury risk, there's more wear and
tear. Also, he has aplayer option in twenty twenty five, which
might scare off some teams given thatinjury history. So if theoretically Butler was

(35:31):
available for something closer to that Brooksexpirings and maybe one pick something without dipping
super deep into your young core withoutinterest you in any way, Probably not,
just because Jimmy Butler is more ofthe guy that has to have the
ball in his hands, and youcould look at it at it bullatively,

(35:52):
as he is a perimeter closer thatwe don't have. But at the same
time, it's just that he's whatI can pull up the stats. But
I would believe that he's shot atthe tops to three one attemps per game
over the last few years of Coca. It's Miami, right, we know
they don't, you know, buthe has the AA shot over his contract

(36:12):
with Miami, which is what fiveyears now, He's everything two three point
at THEMS per game, which justdoesn't cut it for a team like Cars
from a culture standpoint. Obviously,TV but words great, But you know,
I think at thirty five years old, obviously had an injury rebuilt season.
I mean, actually he's had themfor the entire time he's in in

(36:32):
Miami. Actually didn't notice that,but yeah, I'm not in I'd be
a lot more on both. Yeah, I would be on Timmate. But
yeah, he's an interesting case.He hasn't been super injury prone. He's
played about sixty games per season,but it's just constant little nicks, and
to me, those are actually moreconcerning. I think, let's say a
guy like Marcus Sport. We mighttouch on that in our closing segment where

(36:57):
we talk about some of the tradepossibilities at three, whether they stay or
moved down a little bit. Butlike, I'm not that worried about Marcus
Smart from a year ago in termsof OLW is he injury proneum only played
in twenty games, just a randomhand injury. That's a freak accident that
can happen to anybody, as opposedto if it's constant nicks, If it's
what's happened with Jimmy and Miami wherehe's missing twenty five games or at least
twenty every single season, it feelslike and to some of the same body

(37:21):
parts, then yeah, that isless randomness and more is it his style
of play or his body that ismaking him more prone to these and so
yeah, that to me is muchmore alarming than a guy that just has
a random you know, hejms histhumb and there's a fracture and he misses
a few months. That's a freakaccident. The stuff that's happened with Jimmy

(37:42):
is a little more alarming. Combinedthat with a little more ball dominance,
less shooting, and I agree,it's not nearly the fit that Paul George
is. It's just someone that froman asset cost that might be a little
more attainable in terms of what theRockets are willing to give, as opposed
to the Paul George market, whereI think, you know, the bsketball
fit is there. It's just theassets standpoint, doesn't make sense for the
Rockets to give what I think theClippers would be in position to command given

(38:06):
the interest that Paul would have aroundthe league. Anyway, let's close the
book on that and turn our attentionto the draft. This will be our
final pre draft pod, so Iwant to get your final thoughts Polo on
pick three. I'll be quick becauseI've done a couple of pods, solo
ones, mini pods, but podsnonetheless in recent days, and what I
keep going back to is the podwe did with Nathan Grubel a couple of

(38:30):
weeks ago. Draft Deeper on Twitter, where I think you're seeing more and
more of the mocks when it comesto Houston staying at three coalescing around Reed
Shepherd, he seems to be theconsensus. Kelly Eco is the one guy
reporting that Donovan Clinton is still inplay as well, but Reed is the
one guy who it's been confirmed didgo to Houston for workout believe it was

(38:51):
last Friday, and the Rockets metwith him early in the process as well,
so there is some level of interestthere. There's more utility to his
fit in terms of the shooting canfit in a number of roster constructs.
But what Nathan said in our podwith him was that the question of whether
you invest pick three in Reed Shepherdcomes down to whether you are going to

(39:12):
give him the runway to develop theother aspects of his game, i e.
The playmaking, the facilitating, theskills as a point guard, the
defense. Because if you just wanthim to be a shooter who comes around
screens and spaces the floor, youcan get that through other means. You
can trade down a little bit.You can sign someone like a Malik Beasley
with your mid level exception if that'spurely your priority. So it comes down

(39:35):
to this question of is he worthpick three? How does he fit in
the long term puzzle? And Ithink a lot of the interest in read
is just based on how he fitsas a shooter for a team that's been
largely devoid of shooting the last coupleof years. And I think, and
we've done a good job. Ifeel like in our archives of exploring this,
the question for whether you should drafthim that high comes down to not

(39:55):
just the short term fit, butmore importantly long term where does he f
and the puzzle? And perhaps hegives you something of a hedge for Jalen
Green as well. I mentioned,you know, Jalen Green and Kim we're
having some overlap. Perhaps read playsinto that dynamic as well, But I
think these are the conversations the Rocketsare going to have to have internally.
And when I pointed this out onSunday's Mini Podcasts, someone clipped about forty

(40:19):
five seconds of it and I wentsomewhat viral on Twitter, with some of
the folks responding, including Cooper Klein, a draft expert we've had on the
pod before, saying, well,that's always a consideration, this idea that
it's not just about what the playeris as a prospect, but the runway
you're able to give them. That'strue. However, what's different, and
I thought it was implied, butI want to restate it here is that

(40:44):
the Rockets are in a very uniquespot as a team picking high in the
draft. That is not bad,It's been a factor in previous years.
But when you're twenty and sixty two, you can give your high draft picks
Jalen Green, Jabari Smith a tonof runway because what else are you going
to do? Your team is awful, so you just give them the longest
leash possible and you hope they learnfrom their experiences. This year is different

(41:07):
in that the Rockets haven't established ninemen rotation. They are already a competent
team, so it's not as easyto give Read the runway to develop in
the other aspects of his game.So to me, that's the consideration for
the Rockets right now, with acore six already in place, with three
veterans who definitely want to play betweenFred Dylan and Steven Adams, to the

(41:28):
Rockets have the ability to fully developand unlock Read as part of their long
term puzzle, and if they don't, then maybe that's the scenario where it
makes more sense to trade down afew spots and draft someone like a Devin
Carter or a Dalton Connect that hasa relatively high floor but a lower ceiling.
And so if they have a lowerceiling, then it's not as important

(41:51):
to have this plan to develop themover the next two or three years because
you're looking at them, you're notprioritized them anywhere near as heavily in the
long term puzzle as you would beif you stay at three and draft a
guy like Reed Shepherd. So aswe sort of close the book on the
pre draft portion of the off season, and the Rockets go into you know,

(42:14):
the final forty eight hours of actuallyneeding to make a decision. Where
do you come in on that angle? Palo as far as at this point,
it's not just about whether Reid isthe best prospect at three, but
deciding whether actually picking at three isthe right move or whether the runway just
isn't there and you want to movedown or out in the draft. But
at this point, the since Iget from talking to the Rockets is that

(42:36):
that's where they're at. It's lessabout deciding between Reed and the other prospects.
I think, as we've said forweeks for months, really that if
it's close that I think the extrautility from Read and to shooting, his
ability to fit in more roster constructswould sort of be a tiebreaker over guys
like Donovan Klingen or Stefan Castle.So I really think if they're at three,

(42:58):
Read is the most likely pick withthat is a big reason. I
just think it comes down to sortof just organizational philosophy. Do they want
to invest that heavily and another youngguy at developing him, or do they
want to trade back or trade outto sort of build up the future war
chest. Maybe get a player thatcan help you from a role player standpoint,
but isn't as important to develop thehigh end elements of their game.

(43:20):
Just where do you come in onthose factors, palwl balancing, you know,
the upside of Reaed Shepherd versus therunway that you would need to develop
him. Yeah, I think thatpeople are alert to the term fit and
and and it's a regard to day. It's so often that you will always
off the PPA and you have adraft for fit, which is which is
done? You always do that ifyou are clearly if you have a clean

(43:45):
sight to the kIPS team when you'restarting off a reval, that's when you
do that. Or if the BPAis is you know, a tier above
the other guys that you're considering,which is not the case in this draft.
It's obviously you know, you can'tassume that a player player X,
coming out of the draft is goingto develop to the oldest of his potential,

(44:06):
regardless of the situation, because that'sjust not how it happens. And
if that's not how it happens,then the calculus is, you know,
what the player's potential is X whatyou can get out of him with your
girl situation, because if you imean perhaps with the gallery like Lebron James,
you could just throw him anyway andhe would develop both guys that are

(44:29):
less talma, that are situational andthey will have success in certain teams that
won't have success in other teams.And so you do have to take that
out of the consideration. And asas people hate to hear it, yes
you do have not to draft forfit, but to take fit into consideration
in the sense that not the fitfor the first year. But as we
talked about on this spot time andtime and time and time again, you

(44:51):
have to have somewhat of a paththat the prospect can you know, travel
in the quest eventually being you know, part of them in the rotation that
needs to be a basket to kindof lower resistance where the path is not
clearly set up. But if he'sgood enough and if he reaches certain mouthstones,
he'll be better the next player onthe team right now, and so

(45:13):
you'll be able to replace them thereor you or you'll have you know,
kind of like a think in thein the armor, where of your of
your of your realization where there's aguy that's not quite good enough and it's
possible that win the first couple ofyears. The guy you're going to trust
is going to be better and he'llswart into that part of the rotation for
the Rockets with the reache. ButI think for event it's clearly that guy,

(45:34):
or if killing Wind doesn't pan out, or you know, there's there's
there's multiple ways in which eventually ReachEpperd can can come in and do it.
And I don't think bad Reach Eppartis that far away from being a
good player, or I don't thinkhe has the best potential too. You

(45:55):
know, if you if a bathisn't perfect, he's having to pad out
of the guy that shoots that,well, it's going to be valuable at
some point unless he's a clear justnow go on defense. Right, So
I think he'll be good regardless,or he's a safer prospect than most,
which means rogets can be more flexiblein the way they approach bringing him along.

(46:16):
And yes, you may not,you know me, you may not
get the ninety to fifty percent styleof the outcomes that he can be because
you didn't give him startus levels startlevel minutes from day one. Perhaps he
can't become I don't even think hehas the level of potential, but he

(46:36):
can't become Steph Curry esque or oryou know, let's throw a w NBA
comparison. He can't be katel leGuard, right, And I think it's
it's you know, it's there's theyhave somewhat similar games. It's actually not,
am I wrong? I mean thethe vision on the apor see that,
yeah, the Deep three, Imean there's something there. Maybe he's

(46:58):
not that might reach epart is KailinClark. That is a cop you can
only get here, right, butmaybe maybe you know, if you get
a lower version of it, butstill a very useful player, still get
a friend than Fleet, maybe rightout out of out of reach Shepherd.
And I mean obviously fred Efleet withinthe scope of the NBA and Kidland Clark

(47:19):
within the scope of the w NBA. Right, So I think he's a
fairly safe pick. Which is whichis? You know, I think if
we were advocating Tooth or taking Idon't know, Castle or one of the
the ignite guys or even Dillingham,I think it will be tougher to make
argument. But I think read Shepherdis going to be good regardless something trically

(47:42):
happens, like the defense just doesn'thold up. So as far as what's
going to happen in two days,I honestly kind of open to all possibilities.
I would probably rather say him,because I do like him, But
you could convince me that training himfor a couple of high value future for
short picks, or drinking the pickfor a couple of five value features for

(48:05):
short picks from the thunder. Idon't even know who's drafted on their own
anymore because it's so convoluted with allthe trees that has happened. Probably the
Clippers, right, they still havea couple of picks from the clippers.
Hey, if I under one togive us, not probably willing to be
good now, I don't know,But if if we could get a couple
of you know what's but for comparison'ssake, let's call it two sons picks
from the nets, obviously not goingto be from the nets, but equival

(48:28):
of value picks. I could beconvinced that's a good move for the long
term future, especially if they arein the twenty twenty five or six draft
because of how stark they are,or if they are further down the line
in thirty and then I could alsobe convinced of it. To you where
you trade back? And I guessI'll throw in the color were shout now
if you trade back with the Grizzlies. I'm not white. I mean I

(48:52):
used to work markets Smart, butnow with our question of shooting, I
don't love him as much, especiallywith the one books already here and the
fact that you should do Marcus marttrade. You can't send Philip Brooks back
because you could, right would?You got to find a third team.
You have to find a thirteen exactly. But still, he's a former Defensive
Player of the Year who's basically thecaptain of the e May's Boston team.

(49:14):
You know there's a ton of trustthere. I mean, he's a decent
contract, no matter what, atabout twenty million dollars a year for his
production. Dude, if you couldget Marcus Smart for a couple of your
expirings and collel where tell me you'renot turning that down. I mean,
it's the thing is, he playedtwenty games this season, and that's scary

(49:35):
because a lot of freak injury.That's what I'm telling you that I don't
buy that too much. That itdepends on the nature of the injuries.
Yeah, Like if it's just afreak thing, like you know, he
jams his thumb going after a looseball, that to me is just random.
I mean, there's saw injury risks, don't get me wrong. And
he's now thirty years old, soit's not nothing. But I wouldn't worry

(49:55):
too much about the twenty factor.You could worry a little. But now
his production was down, but Ithink small sample on a new team.
Oh that's probably what's going on there. Listen. I used to love Marcus
Smart as a player. I stillstill do think that he would have value
as tremendous value here. I wouldhave to see what happens with the rest

(50:16):
of thorotating in order to bring him. Are we bringing him into isn't a
straight swamp with the Litton Brooks Inthat case, I could be convinced.
But if he comes like your tenthman and then you'd have another top ten
pick on top of that, thenyeah, it gets really crowded. And
that's where it goes back to whatwe were saying in the Paul George discussions.
And you know, it's even tougherwhen you're trying to build a winning

(50:37):
team. But it's not just about, you know, how a deal looks
in a vacuum. It's about theentire puzzle and in some scenarios it just
doesn't fit or you know, togo back to the beginning of the pod
spending or not spending the mid levelexception. Look, you've already got a
deprotation as is. If you're bringingin Marcus Smart to be your tenth man,
that is the juice worth the squeeze. That's sort of the conversation you

(50:59):
have to have. Yeah, andI think it was an uh as I
said, I could be convinced ofa trade like that, depending especially if
there's Colware, especially if Colware isinvolved. Obviously I could be convinced about
Kobe Williams as well. It's startingto become one of my favorites. I
could not get convinced the Dalton Netthat cannot I connect what an act?

(51:22):
What about the one scenario I've wonderedabout, what if? Because this comparison
has been thrown out a lot.Apparently he's dominated the workout circuit. What
if Emai is convinced that Devin Harder, the Guard out of Providence, is
the market's smart the next generation.That's the one that I've started kept in
the back of my mind because hedoes fit the Marcus Smart archetype. But
in that case, what would bethe company If you're not getting Marcus Smart,

(51:45):
You're gonna Yeah, what are yougetting to eat? Yeah? Maybe
a future first Saturday fair point?Yeah, if if it is a good
future first listen, I'm I'm I'ma big proponent of getting more firsts in
the next two drafts. If notthose than the furthest way the better.
But I could be convinced of adeal like that as well. As I
said, I'm not sold on thetop of this rough pass whatsoever beyond Alexar

(52:07):
and sadly he's going to fall twobut out the three. So I really
like Red Chepherd. I can seethe projectability of this role as an eventual
thread and witch replacement it before peopletell me again that that's a man,
Thompson, you can do both aman, can you know? Those two
fits together like a glove, Andobviously a man is never going to replace

(52:30):
Fred van Fleet in the type ofgame that Fred van Fleet plays because it's
so pull up heavy. Even thebiggest amend thombson proponents will never say that
he's going to be as well ofa shooter as as Fredd Vliet is.
So you could still fit. Isnot just position for position. You can
run the playbook that you run withfredsdent Fleet with Shepherd the due time,

(52:50):
and you can run with the menThompson the more downhill dribble handoff versions of
it that should have kill and greenrun up brunching good right now, it's
not. It's not a one orthe other. You can have multiple,
you know, nu ances too tothe way you play. So I said,
I like the rechaper option. Ilike the trade down and colil wear

(53:14):
option. I like the trade downand I mean definitely gardt often definitely intriguing
as well. I like the marka smart option. I think it's just
I haven't fallen in love with anybodyin this draft. So I think that
that you could make the argument forany of these and they would all be
valid if you were up to me, you know, because in those three

(53:36):
options that the trade outs, tradedown stay, it would be like a
I don't know's thirty five thirty twoand a half, thirty two and a
half in favor of in favor ofstaying three. But as I said,
it's it's a two and a halfpercent cap between the two, so it's
not obviously drunk. Yeah. Yeah, And the last thing I'll say before

(53:59):
we wrap up this spot, ifyou like the core six, which I
think you should if you're a Rocketsfan, please have some trusts in the
front office that brought them here inthe first place. There was an article
by Kevin Pelton, the ESPN theiranalytics guy, that said that since twenty
nineteen, the Rockets are by farleading the NBA in out kicking their coverage
in terms of production relative two draftslot. And of course that speaks to

(54:22):
getting guys like all for In Shangunat sixteen, Tarrey Easton at seventeen,
Kim witmoreich twenty, then if faroutperformed the statistical models for those picks to
this point in their careers. Soif you like what Rafels and Eli Whitest
have done in terms of this currentHouston front office, and you should,
I think we both agree, andI hope most of our listeners agree,

(54:42):
they've done a great job over thefour seasons of this revailable entering the fourth
season of it, I think ifyou trust them or is it four seasons
or five? Yeah, it's we'regoing into the fifth because yeah, you
had the three seasons of bottoming outand then you just had the one year
with e may Udoka, or you'vegot back to relevance. But yeah,
the point is they've done a greatjob, and if you trust them to

(55:05):
this point, then in a draftor I don't think there's a clear cut
decision on what's the best path,then have some trust in those guys.
Not saying they need to give them, you know, an unlimited leash,
but if it's within reason, thengive them the benefit of the doubt.
I think they've earned it. Andso with that, that'll bring our pre
draft potting to a close. We'llcircle back later in the week when we
see who the Rockets actually draft,what move they actually make Wednesday night,

(55:28):
because one way or another, therewill be a move, either they draft
at three or they trade the pick. If they trade the pick, then
of course will react to trading thepick and whatever they get, and then
maybe we'll get even more intel aboutwhat they're going to do. What's the
team option decisions? Sounds like thosehave already been made, but there will
be some others around the league thatget made by Saturday s deadlight, and
then we'll see if the Rockets signanyone once the free agency negotiations can officially

(55:49):
begin on Sunday night. Anyway,for now, on this Monday, June
twenty fourth, this is where wewill wrap up. And if you want
more content before our next show laterin the week, the best place to
get it, as always, ison Twitter side x where I'm on their
at Ben Dubos Powos on there atPalo Alves, NBA, and the show
the logger line is on there atthe logger line where if you go to
the link tree in the Twitter slashx bio you can find links to our

(56:09):
friends, partners and sponsors obviously CarbakBrewing, Sports Taalk seven ninety USA Today's
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to a five stor review if youhave done already, you get the benefit
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(56:30):
right, with those plays completely,will adjourn for Palo Alves. I'm Ben
Dubos before we're talking later in theweek once the draft is over. Happy
Draft Day.