HOUSTON — Hours after making the departure of head coach Stephen Silas official, Rockets general manager Rafael Stone met with members of the media at Toyota Center to explain the decision.
Stone and Silas were hired to their leadership roles in the 2020 offseason, but only Stone will remain in place as Houston proceeds to the next phase of its rebuilding plan.
In Monday’s press conference, Stone addressed the team’s reasoning for its decisions, as well as criteria that he and owner Tilman Fertitta will use during the process to find a replacement.
As an exit interview of sorts, Stone also offered his analysis on the recently completed 2022-23 season for the Rockets, along with early insight on other important aspects of the 2023 offseason — such as the May draft lottery, the NBA draft itself in June, and a crucial free agency period where Houston should have approximately $60 million in cap space.
Scroll on for quotes, videos, and key takeaways from Stone’s extended session with media members at Toyota Center.