Less than 24 hours after the blockbuster trade involving John Wall and a future draft pick for Russell Westbrook, members of the Houston Rockets met with the media on Thursday afternoon from training camp.
Thursday’s speakers were new head coach Stephen Silas and recent signing DeMarcus Cousins. For Silas, it was his first availability to reporters since the team’s flurry of offseason moves — which culminated with the Westbrook-for-Wall swap on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, Cousins discussed not only his own decision to join the Rockets, but also his friendship with Wall after playing with the 6-foot-4 guard at the University of Kentucky more than a decade ago.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” said Cousins, who called Wall a “brother for life” in his comments about playing with Wall in Houston. “This is something that me and him have planned and dreamed about for a long time.”
See below for a social media compilation of the most important takeaways from Thursday’s media session at Toyota Center.
DeMarcus Cousins on how he feels, mentally and physically: "Incredible. My body is in a great place, my mind is in a great place." #Rockets pic.twitter.com/P9QxdbWc7N
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 3, 2020
Cousins on reuniting with Wall: "It's an incredible feeling. This is something that me and him have planned and dreamed about for a long time." https://t.co/ygQqIJUWMS
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 3, 2020
Cousins spoke to Christian Wood already about their fit, says he has some of the same intangibles as Anthony Davis. Also believes he can be First Team All-NBA.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) December 3, 2020
Cousins: "It's been a tough road but I'm happy with where I'm at… It is a fresh start. I haven't played a full season in almost two years. Like I said, it's just about putting this plan in place and following through with it."
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 3, 2020
DeMarcus Cousins on playing with John Wall: "We're super excited. There's obviously chemistry between us from our college days…That's one of my better friends in the NBA."
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) December 3, 2020
DeMarcus Cousins on John Wall & James Harden teammates: “I think it can work.I honestly do.I think John will make James’ job easier.He doesn’t have to handle the ball &make plays for everybody as much or at the rate he’s done in the past.He won’t be as gassed at the end of games”
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) December 3, 2020
Silas: "I haven't spoken to James since the trade. To be honest with you, when stuff like this kind of happens and there's a little indecision, I take a step back and allow the guy some space."
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 3, 2020
Silas mentions potentially using Christian Wood in similar ways on offense to how he used Porzingis in Dallas.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 3, 2020
Coach Silas says Houston can play “big ball” with Demarcus Cousins and Christian Wood on the roster now.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) December 3, 2020
"If it weren't for Russell Westbrook, I probably wouldn't have this job. The way he vouched for me is the first thing I thought about when this trade was made. " – #Rockets HC Stephen Silas
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) December 3, 2020
Stephen Silas says the #Rockets should have their entire roster available at Toyota Center by Sunday, which is when group work begins at training camp.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 3, 2020
Silas on Harden and Wall: "They fit very well. Most of the stuff I wrote on my board stayed up there because they really fit the way I want to play. To have John Wall pushing the ball up the floor… it accentuates to play the way I want to play."
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 3, 2020
He said the second thing he thought of is how dynamic John Wall has been in his career and the excitement of the possibilities now adding him. #Rockets
— Cayleigh Griffin (@cayleighgriffin) December 3, 2020
Silas: "Now that roster is set, there is more excitement than anything else. There were moments you don't really know what's going on during … free agency and roster flux. You're looking around trying to figure everything out. Now… seems like everybody's in a positive place."
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 3, 2020
Coach Silas says Wall and Harden can play together and he doesn’t have to have a prototypical point guard, he needs playmakers.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) December 3, 2020
Stephen Silas on Danuel House Jr. and the incident: "I wasn't really privy to everything that happened. It was very much second-hand info that I received, when it came to his situation."
"For me, it's clean slate. We're going to build a relationship based on today and tomorrow."
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 3, 2020
Coach Silas on his confidence level Harden will be here and ready to go when the season starts @HoustonRockets #Rockets pic.twitter.com/AjJNHK4en7
— SportsTalk 790 (@SportsTalk790) December 3, 2020
Coach Silas says James Harden will be all in.
“I’m confident he’ll be here when we get started.”
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) December 3, 2020
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