June 25Jun 25 7 minutes ago, Macklemore said: I want us to pry Quentin Grimes from the Sixers with that money by making on offer since he is a RFA. I wished we had drafted from UH from the beginning. Locked Onโs salary cap guy is convinced the Sixers wonโt let Grimes leave. Weโll see.ย
June 25Jun 25 10 minutes ago, billfromlaketravis said: Locked Onโs salary cap guy is convinced the Sixers wonโt let Grimes leave. Weโll see.ย The Rockets can only offer like 15m a year via MLE, and the 76ers would instantly match that. Morey would keep him just to have as a trade chip if nothing else.ย ย
June 25Jun 25 25 minutes ago, Macklemore said: With the Durant trade and FVV extension, Rafael has proven that he is an elite, top 5 in the NBA GM. Rafaelโs track record with trades and contracts was not stellar before this. He has improved markedly over the years and has crushed it when it matters this most with these deals. If we win a championship with those core, Rafael will be on the same level as Luhnow the GOAT ๐ in the pantheon of Houston sports greats, probably even higher since he wonโt have the taint of scandal. Yeah he's been awesome and shrewd with his moves. I still can't get over that Brooklyn pick swap trade, what an amazing gift that has become. Can't believe Brooklyn didn't tank harder this year.ย I think the Stone philosophy is to have guys on contracts ready for a trade when the right time comes around. I didn't like either the Jalen Green or Alpi extensions last year, because I would have preferred to have cap flexibility. But we can now see he has/had 2 young guys under contract, and they are both apparently enticing players for trades because they have those deals in place, instead of trying to negotiate a S&T.ย ย The KD trade likely costs us Fred if Green didn't get the extension last year. However, when they signed Fred, Brooks and even Landale, it felt like each of those deals could or would be future trade chips. Now the team gets to keep Fred at a reduced rate, add KD, and continue to grow with an excellent balance of vets and young studs. Build through the draft, keep players under contract, stock future picks, and pull the trigger when it's time to flip them.ย It also helps that Tilman seems to have taken a more hands-off approach since the Westbrook trade blew up in his face. Letting Stone and company make the basketball decisions is the key to this franchise's success.ย
June 25Jun 25 40 minutes ago, Dutchrudder said: The Rockets can only offer like 15m a year via MLE, and the 76ers would instantly match that. Morey would keep him just to have as a trade chip if nothing else.ย ย Basically this. Third Apron thinks the Sixers will offer something in $22 million range.ย Edited June 25Jun 25 by billfromlaketravis
June 25Jun 25 19 minutes ago, Dutchrudder said: Yeah he's been awesome and shrewd with his moves. I still can't get over that Brooklyn pick swap trade, what an amazing gift that has become. Can't believe Brooklyn didn't tank harder this year.ย I think the Stone philosophy is to have guys on contracts ready for a trade when the right time comes around. I didn't like either the Jalen Green or Alpi extensions last year, because I would have preferred to have cap flexibility. But we can now see he has/had 2 young guys under contract, and they are both apparently enticing players for trades because they have those deals in place, instead of trying to negotiate a S&T.ย ย The KD trade likely costs us Fred if Green didn't get the extension last year. However, when they signed Fred, Brooks and even Landale, it felt like each of those deals could or would be future trade chips. Now the team gets to keep Fred at a reduced rate, add KD, and continue to grow with an excellent balance of vets and young studs. Build through the draft, keep players under contract, stock future picks, and pull the trigger when it's time to flip them.ย It also helps that Tilman seems to have taken a more hands-off approach since the Westbrook trade blew up in his face. Letting Stone and company make the basketball decisions is the key to this franchise's success.ย Isn't Tilman in Rome right now?
June 25Jun 25 53 minutes ago, PGFrog said: Isn't Tilman in Rome right now? Correct. By all accounts, his son Patrick is the de facto owner.ย
June 26Jun 26 3 minutes ago, HtownHorn said: This might work out for Phoenix if the Duke makes it one more pick. Yep. They fell ass backwards into Maluach somehow.ย
June 26Jun 26 2 minutes ago, billfromlaketravis said: Yep. They fell ass backwards into Maluach somehow.ย To be fair, UH completely pants him and their guys weren't bigly bigs.
June 26Jun 26 4 minutes ago, HtownHorn said: To be fair, UH completely pants him and their guys weren't bigly bigs. Sure but heโs exactly what they needed for that lazy as hell Suns defense.ย
June 26Jun 26 26 minutes ago, billfromlaketravis said: And the Suns traded for Mark Williams. Iโm alarmed by their sudden competence.ย Rookie centers are usually terrible and Williams is glass joe. ย Neither is a safe bet to be part of the next good Suns team. ย
June 26Jun 26 12 minutes ago, LCHorn said: Rookie centers are usually terrible and Williams is glass joe. ย Neither is a safe bet to be part of the next good Suns team. ย Especially with sieves at guard letting opposing guards penetrate at will.
June 26Jun 26 17 minutes ago, LCHorn said: Rookie centers are usually terrible and Williams is glass joe. ย Neither is a safe bet to be part of the next good Suns team. ย In his first 3 years with Charlotte, he played 44, 19 and 44 games.ย He has 1 year left on his rookie deal at 6.2m, and then he's an RFA next year.ย It's a desperate move by the Suns to get a cheap, but capable Center that may or may not play in half their games.ย I like it for the Rockets, it's a gamble.ย ย
June 26Jun 26 after last night's draft, i think Brooklyn's 2027 pick is now our most valuable future draft asset.ย I see no way in which that team is competive in the 2026-27 season and the East should be deeper then than it will be next season.
June 26Jun 26 21 minutes ago, BigOrange1 said: after last night's draft, i think Brooklyn's 2027 pick is now our most valuable future draft asset.ย I see no way in which that team is competive in the 2026-27 season and the East should be deeper then than it will be next season. Maybe. Ishbia has repeated over and over again theyโll always attempt to win. ย The Nets made some deeply bizarre decisions last night. They kept all 4 firsts, drafted 4 players, and kept Cam Johnson. Either they struck out on dozens of trades, or theyโre rudderless.ย
June 26Jun 26 I also wonder if Philadelphia is still willing to keep Grimes considering they drafted Edgecomb at #3.
June 26Jun 26 52 minutes ago, HtownHorn said: I also wonder if Philadelphia is still willing to keep Grimes considering they drafted Edgecomb at #3. Morey's perfect team, all the players will be interchangeable,ย will only shoot from the outside, and there will be no thought given to team chemistry or how the pieces compliment each other as this is all about the + - chart.ย ย They just need to get rid of Drummond and Embed. No needs for players who might actually touch the paint.ย
June 27Jun 27 Author Is this a play for Jaylen Brown? My preference is to roll with what we have and assess at the trade deadline.
June 27Jun 27 Agreed. Would like to see them roll with what they have and add what they need at the trade deadline.ย
June 27Jun 27 1 hour ago, Macklemore said: Is this a play for Jaylen Brown? My preference is to roll with what we have and assess at the trade deadline. There is no way we have enough matching salaries for Brown now. Edited June 27Jun 27 by HtownHorn
June 27Jun 27 Clutchfans consensus seems to be is that it's because Whitmore isn't coachable and it's time to get what you can for him.ย ย
June 27Jun 27 37 minutes ago, HtownHorn said: There is no way we have enough matching salaries for Brown now. good D White is the Celtics target if there is one
June 27Jun 27 55 minutes ago, HtownHorn said: There is no way we have enough matching salaries for Brown now. Yeah Cam doesn't get you anywhere close to Jaylen.ย
June 27Jun 27 1 hour ago, ztejas said: Yeah Cam doesn't get you anywhere close to Jaylen.ย Okay, throw in Sheppard and a bunch of gift certificates to the aquarium, the Kemah board walk, and some free desserts at any of the restaurants in the Fertitta empire.ย
June 27Jun 27 39 minutes ago, runthebone said: Whitmore is Jalen Green with a smaller sunk cost. And a lot fewer opportunities to show what he can do.
June 27Jun 27 Given their draft this week, call up Brooklyn and offer Whitmore, a vet, and a pick for Cam Johnson.ย Can't hurt.
June 27Jun 27 #Rockets @NBASummerLeague sked: Fri 7/11 vs Clippers, 9p Sun 7/13 vs Pistons, 3p Mon 7/14 vs Hawks, 3:30p Thu 7/17 vs Blazers, 7p Additional 5th/6th games: 7/18-20
June 27Jun 27 Weโre gonna watch reed drop 33 a game then average 4.4 during the regular season haha. Iโm kidding Iโm sure that wonโt happenโฆ again.ย
June 27Jun 27 2 hours ago, runthebone said: Whitmore is Jalen Green with a smaller sunk cost. ย 2 hours ago, Murfdogg21 said: And a lot fewer opportunities to show what he can do. I know per/36 is derided by the analytics community, but Whitmore is Green's superior in basically every statistical category except for assists, and this is coming in Green's year 4 after a ton of minutes played.ย ย If Whitmore is a complete bonehead it may all be for naught, but he's got potential that Green isn't getting to.ย ย
June 28Jun 28 1 hour ago, LCHorn said: ย I know per/36 is derided by the analytics community, but Whitmore is Green's superior in basically every statistical category except for assists, and this is coming in Green's year 4 after a ton of minutes played.ย ย If Whitmore is a complete bonehead it may all be for naught, but he's got potential that Green isn't getting to.ย ย IF?
June 28Jun 28 So I donโt know the NBA cap rules near as well as the NFL. Iโm of the belief that we now have use of the MLE, which gives us options in free agency for a sharpshooter off the bench, which I think is the #1 roster need at this point. Are the MLE and the combine salary of Whitmore and Landale mutually exclusive or does this give us the ability to sign a guy at the MLE AND combine those two for an approximate $11MM second signing?
June 28Jun 28 2 hours ago, PGFrog said: IF? He's a 20 year old professional athlete with generational money.ย "If" is very relative to his peer group.ย ย
June 28Jun 28 2 minutes ago, LCHorn said: He's a 20 year old professional athlete with generational money.ย "If" is very relative to his peer group.ย ย He's a 20 year oldย athlete with generational money.ย "If" is very relative to his peer group.ย ย Fixed it, because getting paid doesn't make you a professional athlete. How you handle your business in practice, off the court, in games, and in response to something called coaching makes you a professional athlete.ย
June 28Jun 28 hmm .... after the Timberwolves committed $125 million to Naz Reid, itโs unlikely theyโll have the money to keep Nickeil Alexander-Walkerย it makes perfect sense for Houston to use the MLE to sign himย with his skill set, NAW could easily slide into the vacated Dillon Brooks role
June 28Jun 28 1 hour ago, Ignatius said: So I donโt know the NBA cap rules near as well as the NFL. Iโm of the belief that we now have use of the MLE, which gives us options in free agency for a sharpshooter off the bench, which I think is the #1 roster need at this point. Are the MLE and the combine salary of Whitmore and Landale mutually exclusive or does this give us the ability to sign a guy at the MLE AND combine those two for an approximate $11MM second signing? We are currently under the LT, so we have access to the full MLE which is the NT MLE. If we used all that, we'd be going into the LT. Cutting Landale and renouncingย Holliday would allow the Rockets to use the full MLE and stay under the LT. With the upcoming extensions to Durant, Smith, and Eason the Rockets really want to hold off on going into the LT for as long as possible. Edited June 28Jun 28 by HtownHorn
June 28Jun 28 10 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said: hmm .... after the Timberwolves committed $125 million to Naz Reid, itโs unlikely theyโll have the money to keep Nickeil Alexander-Walkerย it makes perfect sense for Houston to use the MLE to sign himย with his skill set, NAW could easily slide into the vacated Dillon Brooks role I believe he's also a UFA and there are only a few teams that have cap space and none of those teams are going to be playoff teams. The Rockets should offer their entire MLE and make this an easy decision.
June 28Jun 28 Just now, HtownHorn said: I believe he's also a UFA and there are only a few teams that have cap space and none of those teams are going to be playoff teams. The Rockets should offer their entire MLE and make this an easy decision.
June 28Jun 28 good readย https://texaslonghorns.com/news/2025/6/27/longhorn-foundation-returning-to-the-lone-star-state-kevin-durant.aspx ย ย
June 28Jun 28 The Rockets expect to bring back Jeff Green, Aaron Holiday and Jae'Sean Tate, I've confirmed. Holiday's team option is being declined and new contract negotiated. The Rockets still expect to have access to the full MLE in free agency, per source.ย ย
June 28Jun 28 Cleveland just traded for Lonzo Ball, could mean that they expect Ty Jerome to leave via FA. I'd take him over the guy from Minnesota.
June 28Jun 28 3 hours ago, HtownHorn said: Cleveland just traded for Lonzo Ball, could mean that they expect Ty Jerome to leave via FA. I'd take him over the guy from Minnesota. I think the signing of Merrill may be more important to that end.ย Their cap is shooting up with the Mobley extension kicking in this year, and the Okoro/Ball swap was to drop salary for next year. It saves the Cavs 1m this year, but that's nothing.ย They are well over the 2nd apron right now, and that's without re-signing Ty.ย He's likely going to leave in free agency to a team with a full MLE, but the Cavs could still offer him and pay out the nose in luxury tax if he stays. I'm not really sure if they will or not. I do think the Cavs may try to move Garland though. He's making 39m and appears to be the most expendable of the top 4 guys. He's a young, promising player who could be attractive to a team partway through the process of rebuilding.ย He's their best opportunity to drop some salary and get a decent player back to fill the gap without losing much.ย ย
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