Why didn't the Rockets just take the Ben Simmons package for James Harden?--- Lonnie C.
I would love to ask Rafael Stone this very question, but unfortunately, I don't think that will be happening any time soon, so I can only guess.
Stone talked up the flexibility the Rockets gained after the trade with the Nets, which is something the Sixers trade wouldn't have given them. Your team is kind of locked in if you trade for Simmons, and while he's a great player I believe there are doubts that you can build an elite offense around him. Trading for a bunch of lottery tickets is certainly the riskier play, but it allows a team to pick a player that is more aligned with its vision. The Rockets received four unprotected picks and four unprotected pick swaps. They won't all hit, but if they can hit one or two the deal could be considered a success.
The other reasons to take the Nets offer is that there is plenty of reporting that says Simmons had no interest in playing fort he Rockets, so you'd be trading one unhappy guy for a younger less expensive unhappy guy, but also, the Nets offer gives Stone more time to rebuild the Rockets. If the Rockets fail to improve over the next couple of years he can always sell Tilman Fertitta on the fact they have the picks and pick swaps coming from the Nets which could buy him more time.
Why didn't the Rockets just keep Jarrett Allen? Isn't he better than anyone they could get with the pick they got back?--- Jack L.
This is a fair criticism of the Harden, but I think their logic is sound. First, Christian Wood is the Rockets center today, he'll be their center tomorrow and they hope for years to come, so trading for another center doesn't make a lot of sense. Could they have played Wood and Allen together? Possibly, but you are shrinking the floor on the offensive end because Allen is really only a threat around the rim, whereas Wood is a threat from every spot, so you can't run Stephen Silas' preferred offense, and defensively, you are taking Wood away from the basket. While he's a versatile defender I think you limit his effectiveness starting him outside the paint.
The other issue with Allen is that he's a free agent at the end of the season, and it's highly likely he'll command a hefty contract that could pay him in the $20-25 million range, which means in a league dominated by guards the Rockets would be devoting a significant portion of their cap to centers. Maybe they could've gotten more from the Cavs, but who knows where that Bucks pick winds up a year from now.
What was the point of offering Victor Oladipo that extension?--- Martin K.
The Rockets offering Oladipo a two-year, $45.2 million extension was simply ceremonial. It was the most the Rockets could offer and the team knew he wouldn't accept it because it is understood Oladipo will be looking for a nine-figure pay day when he hits the market after the season. The extension offer was meant to send a message to Oladipo that he's wanted in Houston and wasn't just a contract that they traded for to make the Harden deal work.
Is it me or does Victor Oladipo look terrible? It's kind of shocking whenever he makes a shot.--- Clinton M.
Offensively, Oladipo has not been good since joining the Rockets. Yes, he's averaging close to 20 points per game, but he's hoisting up 19 shots. He's making less than 39 percent of those shot attempts and his shooting percentage from three-point range is down to 31 percent, the lowest mark of his career. He's only played with the Rockets for 15 games, so this could just be a bad stretch. On the positive side, he's averaging 13.5 drives per game which is the highest number of his career, but with that positive comes a negative. The Rockets are scoring just .77 points per Oladipo isolation, which is in the 25th percentile.
He has played well defensively and remains a difference maker on that end of the floor, but Oladipo must be better at the other end of the floor.
Do you the Rockets being active at the trade deadline?--- Andre C.
They need to be active. Oladipo, P.J. Tucker, Sterling Brown and Ben McLemore are free agents at the end of the season and I'd look to move all four. There are a few guard needy teams that could be in play for Oladipo, with Denver and Boston at the top of the list, and any team that considers itself a contender should be in the market for Tucker. At this point, the Rockets main goal should be stockpiling as many assets as possible. They don't have to necessarily be first round picks, but former first round picks who are still on rookie deals are appealing.
Will the Westbrook trade go down as the worst trade in Rockets history?--- Tony D.
I don't know about worst trade, but it certainly has the potential. You can argue the merits of the trade and who pushed for it, but Sam Presti ran circles around Daryl Morey in the negotiations. I was talking to someone a couple of weeks ago, and he told me Morey told him he'd never trade a first round pick without putting lottery protections on it. Well, Morey went back on that declaration FOUR times in this trade. Not only did he only protect the picks 1-4, he allowed the Thunder to include the Miami in the pick swap. The Rockets are already in for a long rebuild, but losing what could potentially be a top 10 pick would make it even longer.
It seems like Stephen Silas is in over his head right now, do you think he's on the hot seat?--- Ryan K.
No one should be casting a verdict on Stephen Silas at this point. Remember, he took the Rockets job thinking he'd be coaching a team led by James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Harden was gone before the 10thgame of the season, while Westbrook never showed up for training camp. Silas was essentially given a roster on the fly and because of injuries and load management, two things out of his control, he's had zero consistency with his rotations. Yes, the last 13 games have been bad, but don't forget he found a way to win seven of the eight games that preceeded it.
