In Friday’s press conference, Rockets general manager Rafael Stone shared his perspective on Houston’s trade deadline moves — headlined by a deal sending Eric Gordon to the Los Angeles Clippers — and insight on what comes next for the 2022-23 roster and beyond.
Will newly acquired veterans like Danny Green, Justin Holiday, and Frank Kaminsky be sticking around? Stone made it clear Friday that Houston is at least open to the idea, though additional conversations will be had with each of those players to determine the right fit.
None of the players acquired by the Rockets has a salary beyond the 2022-23 season, so Houston’s plan to create significant salary cap space in the 2023 offseason remains very much intact.
The rebuilding Rockets also bolstered their stockpile of future draft assets through Thursday’s deadline dealings, both with a 2023 first-round pick swap obtained in the Gordon trade and a pair of future second-round picks (Oklahoma City’s in 2024, 2025) acquired in the deal sending Garrison Mathews and Bruno Fernando to Atlanta.
From a GM’s perspective, here’s insight from Stone on how and why those deals went down at the deadline, along with his plan moving forward as Houston attempts to climb back to NBA relevancy.
Rafael Stone on #Rockets at the trade deadline:
“We’re trying to build something, and I do think we improved the team, at least from the perspective of what we’re trying to do.”
“We are going to have the most cap space this summer of any NBA team.”
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 10, 2023
Rafael Stone: “We are going to have the most cap space of any team in the NBA, I believe … We’re going to have a lot of room to sign free agents, to make trades into that space.”
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 10, 2023
Rafael Stone: “We’re trying to build something. We’re going to have the most cap space this summer — room to sign free agents, make trades into that space to really transform the team.”
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 10, 2023
Rafael Stone says he’s “very optimistic” and “very confident” on how he thinks Phase 2 of the rebuild will go for the #Rockets.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 10, 2023
Stone on the incoming veterans and their future roles —
“As it relates to their roles on this time, that’s really for Stephen. It’s not fair for me to start pontificating how they should be used for the remaining of the year. It’s ultimately on him.”
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 10, 2023
Stone said all of Houston’s picks were involved in recent discussions with teams over the last few weeks.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 10, 2023
Rafael Stone says he has spoken with Danny Green, Justin Holiday, and Frank Kaminsky, won’t comment on their potential roles because that’s in the purview of Stephen Silas.
Sounds like #Rockets are at least open to keeping them around, pending further discussions.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 10, 2023
Sounds like the plan is for the Rockets to keep Danny Green, Justin Holiday and Frank Kaminsky
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 10, 2023
Rafael Stone said no, he’s not satisfied with the development of the young #Rockets yet: “We want them to be great players and they’re not yet. The goal is not to be ok, not to be improving. It’s to be great.”
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 10, 2023
Rafael Stone on the Eric gordon trade: “We were really just trying to balance things out what our goals were going to be long-term, especially this summer.” #Rockets
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) February 10, 2023
#Rockets GM Rafael Stone declines to provide his opinion on whether head coach Stephen Silas can see the rebuild through. “We don’t talk about people’s contracts,” Stone said. “That would be inappropriate.”
— Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) February 10, 2023
#Rockets GM Rafael Stone said creating more playing time for non-starter first-round picks (Christopher, Garuba, Washington, Eason) wasn’t a “huge impetus” of the trades made. They still have to earn more minutes, and could, but Stone said he’d “be surprised” if rotations change.
— Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) February 10, 2023
Rockets GM Rafael Stone; “I do think we are where we hoped we’d be at this stage.”
He cited “a lot of talent” and “a lot of cap space.”
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) February 10, 2023
Rafael Stone on the role of veterans, particularly after trading Eric Gordon:
“We added a couple guys who have really been around the league and have wonderful reputations, great work ethic.” #Rockets
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 10, 2023
Stone said he spoke to Danny Green and Justin Holiday at considerable length yesterday.
Stone says Green thinks it could be a “very good fit” https://t.co/eaAs28s7mk
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 10, 2023
Holiday is with the team in Miami. Stone says he thinks Green will join the team and that things will work out, but says it’s too early to say if he’ll finish the season with the Rockets https://t.co/OIXfu223FP
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 10, 2023
Rafael is drawing a distinction between Green reporting to the #Rockets and finishing the season with the team. Basically, they’ll see how it goes and give him the option to leave, if he wants, but they are open to this working
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 10, 2023
#Rockets new acquisition Justin Holiday was at practice today. Stone said he expects Danny Green to be w/ team shortly & while he expects him to remain w/ the team, Stone didn’t want to commit to that. Said when the trade is officially completed they do intend to waive John Wall.
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) February 10, 2023
Rafael Stone said “trade value” of the pick was a big driver in getting the swap rights from Milwaukee to LAC/OKC. They like the boost in market value based on where they think the swap will end up.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 10, 2023
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