Tonight’s @TheLagerLine explores all the considerations for #Rockets general manager Rafael Stone entering a crucial 2023 free agency period, which opens at 5:00 p.m. Central on Friday.
In a newly released episode, Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves offer their final preview of Houston’s goals entering 2023 NBA free agency, which starts at 5 p.m. Central on Friday. The Rockets should have a league-leading figure of approximately $60 million in available space beneath the salary cap for the 2023-24 season.
Is Houston’s apparent pivot from a James Harden-led offseason the correct choice? And if any pursuit of a top target such as Fred VanVleet, Brook Lopez or Dillon Brooks fails, what should general manager Rafael Stone have in mind as a backup plan?
The free-agency themed show explores many contingencies, including potential trades KJ Martin, Jae’Sean Tate, Usman Garuba and Josh Christopher.
Wednesday’s podcast, which is sponsored by Clutch City Lager of Karbach Brewing, can be listened to below. Each episode of the show is also made available via flagship radio station SportsTalk 790 and all major podcast distributors under “The Lager Line.”
The #Rockets could soon offer Fred VanVleet a maximum-salaried contract for two years, but James Harden and Brook Lopez look increasingly likely to stay put, according to reports.
For months, the thought around the league was Houston would pursue a reunion with James Harden to fill its lead-guard role. But the Rockets appear to be view VanVleet as a cleaner fit for their young and rebuilding roster, while Harden looks more likely to stay put with a veteran-laden title contender in Philadelphia.
Then again, the question is if VanVleet will accept the financial terms being offered by general manager Rafael Stone. The Rockets appear willing to offer a maximum contract to the 29-year-old floor general, but only for two years. That type of deal would give Houston future flexibility, should VanVleet’s play decline or if they need to turn the page to a developing prospect such as Amen Thompson.
As of midday Wednesday, June 28, here’s where things appear to stand, according to various media reports across the league. For the first time in weeks, there also appears to be growing pessimism in Houston’s ability to lure big man Brook Lopez from Milwaukee.
Rookie forward Tari Eason tied his career-high with 20 points as the #Rockets ended their 11-game losing streak with a big win at San Antonio. Here’s our look at postgame reaction.
The 11-game losing streak for the Rockets is no more after Saturday’s 122-110 win (box score) at San Antonio. In a battle of two young and rebuilding clubs at the bottom of the Western Conference, Houston improved to 14-49, while the Spurs dropped to 16-48.
Rookie forward Tari Eason led a balanced effort for the Rockets with 20 points, which tied his career high. Eason hit 7-of-11 shots (63.6%) on Saturday, 2-of-3 on 3-pointers (66.7%), and he also grabbed 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks over his 31 minutes.
Usman Garuba: 11 points, 3 rebounds; 3-of-3 on 3-pointers
The Spurs were led in defeat by Devonte’ Graham, who had 28 points and 4 assists on 7-of-12 shooting from 3-point range (58.3%).
Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interviews. Next up for both Texas rivals is part two of their weekend back-to-back, with a rematch in Houston set for 6 p.m. Central on Sunday.
At a team level, the 2022-23 #Rockets season is one to forget. However, there are some individual bright spots, starting with Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason, and KJ Martin.
At the NBA’s All-Star break for its 2022-23 season, the numbers aren’t pretty for the young and rebuilding Houston Rockets.
Their 13-45 record is the worst in the NBA, as is Houston’s offensive rating (110.0). Their defensive rating (118.4) ranks 28th among the league’s 30 teams, and their net rating (-8.4) is No. 29.
Head coach Stephen Silas is in the final fully guaranteed season of his current contract, and questions have been raised whether he will be offered a second deal. Many fans have raised questions regarding general manager Rafael Stone as well.
Yet, it’s not as if the franchise is hopeless. For starters, they will have another high pick in what should be a strong 2023 NBA draft class, and they’re positioned to have the most salary cap space this offseason (up to $60 million, approximately) of any NBA team. That could help them attract marquee veterans, such as James Harden.
In addition, while the sum of the parts clearly hasn’t amounted to much this season — particularly given a void of veterans — there are some individual bright spots among the young prospects.
Among players averaging at least 10 minutes per game, here’s our individual grades. These grades are relative to expectations entering the season, i.e. a high grade for a bench player doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s outplayed a high-profile starter with a worse grade. It’s all relative to where each player began the 2022-23 campaign.
This list is sorted by total minutes, from most to least.
Including moves at February’s trade deadline, here’s a look at Houston’s active salaries and dead money entering a critical 2023 offseason. #Rockets
For the young and rebuilding Houston Rockets, their roster to finish the 2022-23 season is all about flexibility.
Much of the roster is comprised of highly touted draft prospects from recent years such as Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun. Because these players are on their initial NBA contracts, their annual salaries are relatively inexpensive by league standards.
Houston does have some veterans, but maintaining its salary cap space of roughly $60 million for a critical 2023 offseason was a priority in selecting who those veterans are.
For example, of the three veterans acquired and initially retained at the 2023 trade deadline — Danny Green, Justin Holiday and Frank Kaminsky — none has any guaranteed money owed beyond this season. Thus, for general manager Rafael Stone, their acquisition preserved the balance sheet as it’s been carefully set up over the years.
Here is Houston’s roster as the league year winds down. This list is sorted in ascending order from least to most, financially, during the 2022-23 season, according to HoopsHype salary data. Any potential earnings for each Rockets player as part of his current contract are noted beneath each photo.
Here’s where the #Rockets stand with their roster, coaching staff, and basketball operations department as the 2022-23 season winds down and a critical 2023 offseason approaches.
After the February 2023 trade deadline, the Houston Rockets remain one of the NBA’s youngest teams. Yet, they have something of a veteran presence after adding Danny Green, Justin Holiday and Frank Kaminsky as part of their complicated web of transactions.
While none has a contract beyond the 2022-23 season, the Rockets will acquire Bird rights for each. Thus, general manager Rafael Stone will have options moving forward.
By and large, the rebuilding Rockets have prioritized youth and salary flexibility in building their current group.
That’s why it’s a combination of highly touted prospects Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. along with veterans Danny Green, Holiday and Kaminsky expiring salaries. Sengun and Smith are on their initial NBA contracts, which inherently makes them cheaper for the time being.
That formula is likely to change this offseason, when Stone and the Rockets have approximately $60 million in salary cap space to build a roster around those talented young prospects. They will need to explore contract extensions and raises for many of their young players in the coming years. For now, they’re making the best of another challenging season by staying flexible with the roster.
Here’s a look at where the Houston roster and basketball operations staff currently stands, along with jersey numbers and other relevant information for each player. All ages are as of Feb. 14, 2023.
“We competed today, so whenever we have competitive practices, it gets to be ugly,” said John Lucas II, acting head coach for the #Rockets in the absence of Stephen Silas.
HOUSTON — As the Rockets were wrapping up practice on Monday at Toyota Center, you could hear the competitive back-and-forth of players going at each other. Although the precise words were inaudible from where the media was waiting for practice to conclude, you could feel the energy radiate to the area.
Once reporters were allowed in, it seemed as if the players had just finished playing someone other than their teammates. It was a passionate, competitive carryover from the way the Rockets finished Saturday’s fourth quarter in their 117-114 victory at Detroit.
“We competed today, so whenever we have competitive practices, it gets to be ugly,” said acting head coach John Lucas II. “But it is all love. That is the only way we can get better because we don’t have veteran players to help teach us. So, how do you win? Effort and energy. If we learn to play at that effort and energy all of the time, it helps us. We go to play hard. Playing hard makes up for lack of knowledge.”
The Rockets were without their three leading scorers, Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, and Alperen Sengun, when they faced the Pistons. They were also missing their head coach, Stephen Silas, who was attending a memorial service for his father, Paul Silas.
After falling behind double digits on multiple occasions, Houston used the efforts of unsung heroes to get itself back into the game before eventually securing its 12th win on the season.
“People,” Lucas said when asked how the Rockets (12-38) can duplicate their hustle and effort from Saturday. “We have to continue to have people play hard. It was a good win for us, and I think it will help the guys who have not been featured a lot this year.”
“KJ (Martin), Tari (Eason), (Daishen), Nix, you know they have been beaten up on, rather than praised. So hopefully, this gives them extra confidence. And Uz (Usman Garuba). What about Uz? Two threes (3-pointers) out of the corner, I went, ‘Oh no, oh no. Great shot, Uz.’ He hit two of those that kept us going.”
Silas is expected to be back on the bench for the Rockets when they host Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Houston is also expected to have Sengun (non-COVID-19 illness) back, as well.
Coach Lucas could not confirm if Porter or Green would play, but he said their rehabilitation process is going very well.
“Alperen practiced today, he looks good, and he’s ready to go,” Lucas said at Monday’s practice. “Jalen is progressing nicely. We don’t know the time frame, but he’s doing well.”
“All I needed was time and opportunity to showcase what I could do,” Tari Eason said. “Tonight showed that a lot of guys in here are going to keep fighting.” #Rockets
The Houston Rockets faced a mountain of adversity as they stepped inside the Little Caesars Arena to play the Detroit Pistons.
They knew for a while they would be without head coach Stephen Silas due to his attendance at a memorial service for his father, Paul Silas, who passed away approximately six weeks ago. It was also clear the Rockets would be without starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr., who suffered a foot injury earlier this month.
They were not, however, expecting to take the court without their two leading scorers, Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, however. Both were ruled out before the game, with Green suffering from a right calf contusion and Sengun sidelined by a non-COVID illness.
Down three starters and a coach would make even the NBA’s best teams wonder if they could win under those circumstances. Yet, the young Rockets, led by Eric Gordon’s season-high 24 points, rallied late in the fourth quarter to defeat Detroit, 117-114 (box score).
“Ninety-five percent of it was about effort and hustle,” said John Lucas II, who filled the head coach’s role in Silas’ absence.
#Rockets beat the Pistons 117-114 Tari Eason 16 PTS & 10 REB in his 3rd career start
Lucas could have been talking about the ferocity that Gordon played with, or the tenacity shown by Jabari Smith Jr., Jae’Sean Tate, Josh Christopher and Usman Garuba throughout the game. In the back of his mind, though, all he could see was the consistent play displayed by young forwards KJ Martin and Tari Eason.
Eason’s strong early play helped the Rockets overcome some rough spots on Saturday. His 10 first-half points and 7 rebounds helped Houston take a 59-57 lead into halftime after trailing most of the way.
Eason finished with the third double-double of his career, collecting 16 points and 10 rebounds in Detroit. Eason has now scored 10-plus points in four of the last five games he has played.
“I know basketball is a game of runs,” Eason said postgame after defeating the Pistons. “All I needed was time and opportunity just to showcase what I could do. You can go one of two ways. You can give up or you can keep fighting. Tonight showed that a lot of guys in here, including myself, are going to keep fighting.”
“Keep fighting” also appeared to be the mantra that teammate Martin had stuck in his mind against the Pistons.
Starting his ninth straight game, Martin’s late-game heroics — along with 15 points and 13 rebounds — helped Houston (12-36) secure its second win in four games after a brutal 13-game losing streak.
For Martin, it was his second double-double in Houston’s last three games. During those nine starts, he is averaging 13.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting 70.2% from the field.
With Houston trailing Detroit, 112-109, with 38.5 seconds left to play, Lucas seemingly called the perfect play for Martin. Knowing most of the focus would be on Gordon with the ball in his hands, Martin faked a screen and slipped to the basket, where Gordon hit him in stride. He was fouled at the rim as the shot fell.
Martin missed the free throw, but Tate retrieved the missed shot. After his shot attempt failed, Martin followed the ball for an easy putback, giving the Rockets a 113-112 lead.
“I felt like once we got stops and our offense got going, the game opened up,” Martin said in his on-court interview postgame.
Houston will now have three days off before taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night at Toyota Center.
“I feel great,” says #Rockets center Bruno Fernando, who returned to Houston’s starting lineup on Friday. “It has been a long time coming, but I feel good.”
HOUSTON — Things were going great for Rockets center Bruno Fernando to begin the NBA’s 2022-23 NBA regular season. He was considered the odd man out heading into training camp with second-year players Alperen Sengun and Usman Garuba set to take over the minutes available with the departure of former center Christian Wood who was traded to Dallas in the offseason.
Yet, he overcame those odds and did what he does best, proving that he belongs on an NBA roster. So, when training camp began, Fernando did everything he needed to show Rockets head coach Stephen Silas that he deserved to be on the court and proved to management that he was worthy of being signed to a contract.
Both things happened to Fernando. Houston signed him to a four-year, $10.9 million contract before the season started, and when the Rockets took the floor against the Atlanta Hawks for their first regular-season game, he heard his name called as the starting center.
Things were going well for Fernando as he finished with 7 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He brought the energy and defense the team needed, even though they lost to the Hawks that night.
His first game was something Houston could build off of and have a one-two punch at center with Fernando and Sengun, but in his second game of action against the Memphis Grizzlies, Fernando went down in the first half with a left knee injury. He missed the next 15 games, but after going through an extensive rehabilitation regimen with assistant coach John Lucas, Fernando is ready to get back on the court.
As Houston Rockets center Bruno Fernando prepares to come back from injured reserve, his HC Stephen Silas says he could see putting Bruno and either Alperen Sengun or Usman Garuba on the court together for a brief amount of time. #LightTheFuse@BrunoFernandoMV@Usmangarubapic.twitter.com/n7ggjrklyQ
“I feel great,” Fernando said on Wednesday after practice. “It has been a long time coming but I feel good.”
Even though he has not been given a definite answer on when he will return to the lineup, Fernando is optimistic that it could be very soon.
“Hopefully soon,” Fernando said when asked about his return. “I feel like it has kind of already happened, since I am practicing. I have no idea. I guess that is something that they are going to talk to me about today or tomorrow.”
Suppose Fernando does return on Friday against the Atlanta Hawks. In that case, he won’t be returning to his starting position, as he will be on a minutes restriction and considering the play of Sengun, who is averaging 14.8 points and 8.5 rebounds as the starter.
The backup minutes are also being dominated by Garuba, who has brought the same defense and energy that Fernando does.
One way that Silas could utilize the skill sets of all three of his big men is to have two on the court together in spurts during the game, which Fernando welcomes.
“We will be able to work with each other,” Fernando said regarding the possibility of playing with another center on the court. “Al-P (Sengun) does a good job of setting screens and popping and for me to be another big out there that set the screen and rolls to the rim and brings the different scene, that is going to open a lot more space for our shooters on the court. Usman has been shooting the ball really well. It would open up the court for our guards and shooters.”
With big man Bruno Fernando on the verge of a return, #Rockets coach Stephen Silas is indicating a willingness to play Usman Garuba at power forward.
Bruno Fernando began the 2022-23 season as Houston’s starting center, but he played less than two full games for the Rockets before going down with left knee tendinitis. That cost him more than a month, and it led to second-year center Alperen Sengun becoming the starter and Usman Garuba the backup.
Now, it appears Fernando is ready to return after he participated in Tuesday’s practice at Toyota Center. While it’s unclear whether Fernando will regain his previous role in the starting lineup, the reality is it’s tough to play three centers, and Sengun’s development makes his minutes a clear priority.
So, if Fernando plays, would that squeeze out promising second-year big man Usman Garuba, who has had a strong run of games in recent weeks? Not necessarily. Per Jackson Gatlin of Locked on Rockets, head coach Stephen Silas said at Tuesday’s practice that Garuba at power forward is a possibility in the games ahead.
Stephen Silas said Usman Garuba at the four next to Alperen Sengun or Bruno Fernando is a possibility once Fernando returns to the lineup.
It should be noted, however, that there’s no easy solution. If Garuba plays at power forward, that could eat into the available minutes for a reserve forward KJ Martin or rookie Tari Eason. Both Martin and Eason have played well in recent games. There’s also the matter of eventually finding room in the rotation for veteran forward Jae’Sean Tate, who has missed most of the season with ankle issues.
Whatever the case, we could find out Silas’ initial plan for reintegrating Fernando when Houston returns to action on Friday night at home versus Atlanta. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Central.
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Bruno Fernando practiced with the Rockets today, first full practice for him since the injury in the second game.
