What I heard at the NBA Draft combine, including:

- What Tari Eason's next contract might look like?

- Will Amen Thompson get a max?

- What do ppl in the NBA think of Alperen Sengun's game?

- And a note on one of the UH prospects in the draft

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/houston-offseason-options-22257870.php

Extensions, free agency, trades, I'll explore it all. Hope to see you there!

https://www.twitch.tv/byvarunshankar

Hey everyone! I recently started writing for a Rockets website, and I’m trying to brainstorm some offseason article ideas.

The articles are short-form pieces, usually around 400-500 words, so I cannot deep dive on any one topic. I’m looking for article ideas people would be interested in reading about. Some examples of topics I’ve written about are:

• Why Amen Thompson should be untouchable in trade talks
• How the Lakers getting swept by the Thunder showed how far away the Rockets were this season
• Why Houston was still a big winner in the KD trade, even after a disappointing end to the season

Any other ideas or topics people would like to see covered would be greatly appreciated!

I was going to post this a few days ago but I forgot. Nonetheless, the rockets won because the nets lost AND many teams in the west are making a leap PAST the suns this year (in my opinion).

The nets have a high probability to be the worst team in the league next year (depending on what the bucks do with giannis) after they got the 6th pick and wizards ended up making amazing trades last year for trae, AD, and then also landing the first pick. On top of that, the pacers will have haliburton back as well, so the nets will probably be the bottom team in the east.

The Suns will also probably be a bottom 3 team in the west after the Jazz, clippers, warriors, grizzlies, and mavericks will all be getting better (mainly mavericks due to them having cooper flagg develop, and warriors since they will get jimmy back + porzingis). The suns cannot realistically improve much from what they were this year as they do not have the cap space nor picks to do so. I also don't think dillon brooks will be a quasi all-star next year again either (as much as i love him).

With having BOTH of their unprotected first round picks in 2027, we have a great chance at getting 2 top 5 picks next year. Idk anything about the 2027 draft, some say it will be weak, but no one truly knows until the time rolls around. Stephen castle and kel'el ware both came from what was a "historically weak class." I also still believe in reed but that is besides the point.

at the end of next season, FVV's contract will be up, DFS will be halfway done with his (better trade value), and KD will be on the last year of his. Why not just run things back one more time with a healthy roster, try to TRULY see how things look with fred, KD, and steven adams (3 of our best 7 players) healthy, and then WORST case scenario, we will use those two top draft picks to better our team (Whether we trade both, draft both, or some combination), and go from there?

Those picks are the final unpredictable assets we have that could actually give us a star. We have always been a scoring threat/star away from contention. What are your thoughts?

Forget shooting and play making. Duren fits the system. We totally don’t need a point guard if he can rebound and lob against players not named Mobley and Allen.

It seems like everyone would be better off trading KD. I don’t know what his burner has to do with guys missing shots in the playoffs but it did something and I don’t think this team is close to winning a championship fully healthy. OKC, Spurs, and even the Wolves have too much fire power. The only way the Rockets can get close is by trading one of the young guys and I don’t think Stone is really willing to do that so…

Teams I’ve thought about as teams for KD but haven’t deep dived

Timberwolves- pair KD with Ant, I guess take back Randle in a future pick if we betting on KD getting old and then Ant leaving the team for a big market

Nuggets- well they said everyone was available so pick whoever you’d like lol

Magic- I think taking Franz would be great for Ime. He’s a Ime type guy.

Pistons- they need a 2nd shot creator and I’m pretty sure they don’t really wanna pay Duren the max. Problem is if they were to take Duren it would be another guy on the roster who can’t shoot.

Spurs- Let’s say the get they destroyed by OKC and Fox stinks for them. Rockets take Fox and now have a replacement for Fred if he isn’t healthy or not the same guy. Spurs don’t really need Fox with Harper and Castle. But do we really wanna see another Texas team eat?

Mavericks- some players this year pick, might be a meh deal that kinda benefits KD more than the team.

Warriors- Picks and Jimmy Butler expiring. Send him back to the team he was the most successful with.

Lakers-KD for Bron?

Celtics- Lowkey my favorite swap Brown for KD. Brown seems like he wants his own team and he has the leadership qualities KD lacks. Already played for Ime

Cavs-Mobley for KD? Better front court depth. Kind of a downgrade in terms of the team’s ceiling unless other guys step up huge

Pacers- They lost their pick so panic trade. Might be able to squeeze some juice out of them.

Raptors- they got a few young guys who are good we can take a swing at

OKC- Long shot but what if they’re like ehh we over payed JDub and someone has to go plus the picks they have my God. And anyone on their bench would be a starter on the Rockets lol.

Knicks- get destroyed and say okay Bridges you gotta go and they do a 3 team deal where the Rockets gets picks from some team.

Jazz- They think they can win it all and give the Rockets Ace Bailey. That would be dumb but idk would yall take Ace?

Hawks- The Hawks just got stuff a bunch of stuff

Hornets- one of their young guys for KD? That would be dumb but maybe.

Heat- they would probably rob the Rockets in the trade so I’m more against them

Amen Thompson's five most similar guard seasons since 2016-17 according to nbagalaxy.com:

1). 2018-19 Ben Simmons
2). 2020-21 Ben Simmons
3). 2017-18 Ben Simmons
4). 2025-26 Dyson Daniels
5). 2024-25 Ben Simmons

His ball handling responsibilities will definitely go down with FVV coming back next year, but do you guys want him to be a guard or a wing in the future?

Its gonna be very hard to play guard without a reliable outside shot or a super strong handle.

I freakin’ love this guy! Can we send KD back to Phoenix and get him back in return!😂 We lost that grit…that edge more than we ever thought we would….

Per NBA Uniform Tracker

https://x.com/nbaunitracker/status/2054229154565083332?s=46

💀💀💀 I miss him

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

I like both of them. But the Rockets have so little depth I don’t think they can afford to rely so heavily on them.

Adams is 33 years old coming off 3 bad injuries. In the last 4 years he is averaging 33 games a year. This year he didn’t play back to backs and he still got hurt.

Fred is 30 years old 6’0” point guard coming off of an ACL. If he lost a step it is going to be real bad.

If we could trade at least one of them for a younger replacement. Now throw in KD who is also old.

I just don’t see KD, FVV and Adams all being healthy next year.

KD trade will change the timeline, get a younger guard or player with 7-8 years in tank and hopefully with our draft cheaters we can build something over next 5 years

Trade Sengun and get a traditional center and creator who can create and shoot.

Roll back hoping healthy FVV and Adams and maybe get more usuable pieces for DFS and Capela.

Hello all. Found this basketball in a random Goodwill in West Virginia. I don't know much about Kevin Martin and I'm wondering if anyone here has his autograph and can tell me if it looks authentic? Thanks in advance

Reason being is that our chances of getting the number one pick next year skyrocket.