WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>Ben de Bow's Rockets Wire also done some work with

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<v Speaker 1>us here Clutch Fans and also locked on Rockets. Ben

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<v Speaker 1>appreciate the time. Should we expect that Rafelstone gets aggressive

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<v Speaker 1>tonight moves into the back end of round one or

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<v Speaker 1>do we not see the Rockets name tonight.

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<v Speaker 2>I wouldn't expect it, but I think you should keep

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<v Speaker 2>an open mind. I think that report yesterday from Kelly

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<v Speaker 2>Eco over at Yaghoo Sports about the Rockets taking more

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<v Speaker 2>of a wholesale approach to the roster and basically everyone

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<v Speaker 2>not named a Men Thompson the team at least being

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<v Speaker 2>willing to listen on in terms of deals, I think

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<v Speaker 2>that's fairly accurate. So when you cast a net that wide,

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<v Speaker 2>and you know how strong the top of the Western

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<v Speaker 2>Conference is with the Thunder and the Spurs, you can't

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<v Speaker 2>roll anything out. And the Rockets definitely have the types

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<v Speaker 2>of players and future picks as well that could bring

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<v Speaker 2>in a first round pick tonight. Not saying I'm expecting it,

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<v Speaker 2>but you know when you hear them casting a net

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<v Speaker 2>that why it would be silly to rule it out.

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<v Speaker 3>When you look at the move for Gianni Santetekoompo and

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<v Speaker 3>the report that came out last night by Scham's that

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<v Speaker 3>Jalen Brown was a part of a package by Boston,

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<v Speaker 3>And this is now the second time that Jalen Brown's

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<v Speaker 3>name has been brought up as part of a package

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<v Speaker 3>trade to move off and to bring in a premier player.

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<v Speaker 3>Does that maybe peak interest for Rafelstone to call up

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<v Speaker 3>Boston say, we understand that he's going to be a

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<v Speaker 3>tough to move, but let me offer this package. If

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<v Speaker 3>using the instgrid enough for you, let's go to make

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<v Speaker 3>this deal and bring him on down here. Because if

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<v Speaker 3>you don't want him anymore, we sure as I would

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<v Speaker 3>love him in our backboard.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, if it was just Jalen Brown the basketball player, absolutely,

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<v Speaker 2>I think the fear is Jalen Brown the contract in

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<v Speaker 2>today's NBA, with the first and second aprons as restricted

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<v Speaker 2>as they are, if you're giving out a deal that's

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<v Speaker 2>like sixty plus million in annual value, which is what

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<v Speaker 2>Jalen Brown's going to be at the next few years.

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<v Speaker 2>I think it's three years, one hundred and eighty three

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<v Speaker 2>million dollars left, You've got to feel really good about

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<v Speaker 2>that guy being a centerpiece. Like one thing Rafelstone has

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<v Speaker 2>done really well at his tenure is negotiate good terms

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<v Speaker 2>on contracts. Shingoon is a flawed player, but to get

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<v Speaker 2>him below forty million dollars a year is a really

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<v Speaker 2>good deal. I'm sure they're going to try and do

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<v Speaker 2>the same with Amn Thompson this offseason. So even if

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<v Speaker 2>a guy like Jalen Brown is able to put up

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<v Speaker 2>close to thirty points per game, if you're paying him

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<v Speaker 2>upwards of sixty million dollars, that's a very high bar

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<v Speaker 2>to clear for it to be worthwhile and to build

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<v Speaker 2>a championship team around him. So that's why I'd be

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit surprised if they go in that direction.

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<v Speaker 2>And quite frankly, it's why it shocked me that that

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<v Speaker 2>the Bucks went with the Miami offer, because I think

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<v Speaker 2>the way the modern NBA is going, especially with the

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<v Speaker 2>revised lottery odds for the drafts, quantity is becoming so

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<v Speaker 2>much more important. You want more bites at the apple

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<v Speaker 2>in terms of, you know, future draft picks opportunities and

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<v Speaker 2>the lottery young players, and so you don't want to

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<v Speaker 2>put all of your eggs in one basket like a

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<v Speaker 2>Jalen Brown unless you are so convinced that this is

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<v Speaker 2>the guy. This can be the number one or I

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<v Speaker 2>guess the upperational on number two on a title team.

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<v Speaker 2>I think he's a really good player. I don't know

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<v Speaker 2>if he's quite at that level, and so I think

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<v Speaker 2>that's the hesitation. It's not Jalen Brown the basketball player,

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<v Speaker 2>it's Jalen Brown the contract. That's why I don't think

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<v Speaker 2>the Rockets would bid super aggressively on him, and it's

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<v Speaker 2>why it doesn't shock me that the Bucks went with

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<v Speaker 2>the Miami deal instead of the Boston one.

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<v Speaker 3>Let's just say that they did, though, and that they

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<v Speaker 3>were aggressive going after Jalen Brown. What does that look

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<v Speaker 3>like in terms of a trade package? Is it a hey,

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<v Speaker 3>Alprin Shoon, a couple of draft picks, is it a

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<v Speaker 3>it's a sign and trade to go get rid of,

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<v Speaker 3>go get rid of one of our key pieces for

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<v Speaker 3>the long term, like like Tarry Easton. What does that

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<v Speaker 3>entail for both sides to walk away winners?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, So one thing that's going to be different for

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<v Speaker 2>the Rockets this upcoming season and really starting this offseason,

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<v Speaker 2>they will have more salaries they can trade. What really

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<v Speaker 2>put them behind the eight ball last year was being

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<v Speaker 2>hard capped at the first apri and also the terms

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<v Speaker 2>of the Fredends League contract extension or the restructure basically

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<v Speaker 2>gave him a no trade clause last season. He will

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<v Speaker 2>not have it this year. So for this upcoming year

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<v Speaker 2>they won't be hard capped and they'll have three expiring

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<v Speaker 2>salaries of significance Jorri and Phinneysmith, fredent Leet Between the

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<v Speaker 2>two of them, that's almost forty million dollars, and then

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<v Speaker 2>Clint Capella as well.

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<v Speaker 3>Well.

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<v Speaker 2>I think technically Capella has a small amount guaranteed for

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<v Speaker 2>next season, but I mean you're getting close to fifty

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<v Speaker 2>million dollars in expiring salaries there. So in theory you

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<v Speaker 2>could make a deal work even without giving up someone

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<v Speaker 2>like an all per in Shangoon and be in the

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<v Speaker 2>ballpark financially for any big name. With that said, I

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<v Speaker 2>do think that from an asset standpoint, you probably have

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<v Speaker 2>to give up, you know, Shingoon and some of those

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<v Speaker 2>future picks that you have from the Suns or the

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<v Speaker 2>Mass something along those lines, just because it's got to

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<v Speaker 2>be worth the while of the other team, unless it's

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<v Speaker 2>like the Julius Randall trade of last night, where it's

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<v Speaker 2>a balery dump. Unless it's something like that, the Rockets

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<v Speaker 2>would probably have to give up one of their young

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<v Speaker 2>core guys. And I just tend to think that Shingoon

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<v Speaker 2>maybe reed Shepherd, Tarry Easton and assigned in trade. I

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<v Speaker 2>think those are the more likely ones at the young

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<v Speaker 2>core that the Rockets would part with. I don't think

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<v Speaker 2>they would part with him in Thompson, and I also

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<v Speaker 2>don't think they'd be willing to part with Jabari Smith.

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<v Speaker 2>Not so much that he's untouchable, but I just think

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<v Speaker 2>very young, great contract, and I think Jabari is a

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<v Speaker 2>situation where he's probably more valuable to the Rockets than

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<v Speaker 2>he would be in a trade. So I would say

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<v Speaker 2>anyone not named himn or Jabari is in play. Not

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<v Speaker 2>expecting it by any means, but I think if a

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<v Speaker 2>big deal were to happen, that's what it might look like,

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<v Speaker 2>at least from the standpoint of, you know, selling up

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<v Speaker 2>someone from the young core that would have value to

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<v Speaker 2>another team.

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<v Speaker 1>Ben to both join us here on the morning job

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<v Speaker 1>at Dan and Cole Sports Talk seven ninety Ben, I

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<v Speaker 1>mean just talking about a couple of those names. As

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<v Speaker 1>you mentioned, we understand while reports like this come out

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<v Speaker 1>from a beinterest, it's agents whoever it might be, But

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<v Speaker 1>what does your gut tell you right now when it

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<v Speaker 1>comes to Alprin Shingoun and Kevin Durant. Are they playing

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<v Speaker 1>together in twenty twenty six and twenty seven.

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<v Speaker 2>So the smart money is yes, simply because it takes

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<v Speaker 2>two to tango. But like with this team, I do wonder,

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<v Speaker 2>and it's why I do think the Rockets will explore

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<v Speaker 2>the market if it makes sense to get in better alignment,

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<v Speaker 2>because I think if you're trying to win at the

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<v Speaker 2>highest level right now, and the Rockets are a very

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<v Speaker 2>good team. They've won fifty two games the last two years,

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<v Speaker 2>but the Spurs and the Thunder each one sixty plus,

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<v Speaker 2>So there's a tier that the Rockets have to go.

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<v Speaker 2>And while getting Fred and Steven Adams back will certainly help,

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<v Speaker 2>I don't think you can expect that alone to take

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<v Speaker 2>the Rockets to the level of the Spurs and the Thunder.

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<v Speaker 2>So if you're trying to jump up ten plus wins

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<v Speaker 2>and compete with the best of the best next season,

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<v Speaker 2>I think as currently constructed, there's a couple of primary issues. Defensively,

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<v Speaker 2>it's hard to play Shinggoon and Reach Shepherd together because

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<v Speaker 2>that's two minus defenders that you're trying to cover for.

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<v Speaker 2>There's simply too much that the other three players have

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<v Speaker 2>to do. And so if you can't play both of

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<v Speaker 2>those guys at the same time for very long, it's

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<v Speaker 2>going to limit your offensive ceiling. And then on the

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<v Speaker 2>other end of the court, Aman Thompson and all for

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<v Speaker 2>In Changoon right now, neither of them can really shoot

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<v Speaker 2>beyond twelve feet or so. So if the floor is compressed,

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<v Speaker 2>it's going to be tough to win at the highest level.

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<v Speaker 2>We saw a big part of the NBA Finals how

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<v Speaker 2>the Knicks took down the Spurs was having Karl Anthony

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<v Speaker 2>Towns as they stretched five that could space the floor.

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<v Speaker 2>So I think if you're trying to win at the

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<v Speaker 2>highest level right now, you've got to question how that

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<v Speaker 2>young core fits together. Now, with that said, the counter

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<v Speaker 2>to that would be, look, these guys are all like

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<v Speaker 2>twenty three years old or younger. It's entirely possible that

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<v Speaker 2>over time, reach Shepherd, all for Ech and Goon, they

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<v Speaker 2>get better defensively on offense, maybe Shinggoon or even a

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<v Speaker 2>men eventually developed a three point shot like that's happened

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<v Speaker 2>in the NBA Brooklope as the guy who entered the

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<v Speaker 2>NBA fifteen years ago did not shoot threes at all,

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<v Speaker 2>and now he's a marksman. It's rare, but it does happen.

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<v Speaker 2>So maybe those types of players improve as shooters as

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<v Speaker 2>the years progress. I don't think it's reasonable to expect

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<v Speaker 2>that by the time they report to training camp in September,

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<v Speaker 2>and so if they aren't, you know, if you're playing

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<v Speaker 2>the long game and you're saying, even if it doesn't

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<v Speaker 2>happen this year, we think these guys are young enough,

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<v Speaker 2>we believe in them enough that in the big pitch,

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<v Speaker 2>it's worth it to be patient. If that's the case,

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<v Speaker 2>I'm not sure how much sense it makes to roster

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<v Speaker 2>a thirty eight year old Kevin Durant who would probably

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<v Speaker 2>have a market from teams that are more ready to

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<v Speaker 2>win at the highest level right now. So that's why

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<v Speaker 2>I do think the Rockets will explore they're not in

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<v Speaker 2>a bad situation. They shouldn't make a bad deal just

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<v Speaker 2>to make a deal. But at the same time, I

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<v Speaker 2>think you've got to be realistic with this roster, and

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<v Speaker 2>if you want to air on the side of the

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<v Speaker 2>young core and giving them a long runway a longer

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<v Speaker 2>period of time. I'm not sure where a thirty eight

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<v Speaker 2>year old Kevin Durant fits into that if you can

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<v Speaker 2>trade him for assets that are a little bit younger.

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<v Speaker 2>And conversely, if you do believe in Kevin Durant and

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<v Speaker 2>Steven Adams and Pregnent Leet and all these veterans, you

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<v Speaker 2>can throw a Men Thompson into that mix as well,

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<v Speaker 2>and you think, hey, we're a move or two away

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<v Speaker 2>from really being able to challenge the top of the

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<v Speaker 2>West right now that I don't know that the young

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<v Speaker 2>wre at least for next season is the right fit.

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<v Speaker 2>So I think those are the conversations that behind the

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<v Speaker 2>scenes they've got to be having at Toyota Center.

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<v Speaker 3>I do wonder is part of the problem depth with

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<v Speaker 3>this team, because it felt like more often than not,

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<v Speaker 3>how many times you were just looking at Hey, it's

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<v Speaker 3>got to be Read coming off of the bench or

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<v Speaker 3>Tari coming off the bench, and you'd be lucky if

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<v Speaker 3>Josha Kogi was able to have a double digit game.

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<v Speaker 3>But what really I felt separated teams like San Antonio

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<v Speaker 3>in Oklahoma City was they had good depth. But is

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<v Speaker 3>it more than just that, Like you can go ahead

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<v Speaker 3>and expect to have back a hopefully healthy Steven Adams

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<v Speaker 3>and that Fred Van Vlieve is going to be able

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<v Speaker 3>to play at the top of the rim. But like,

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<v Speaker 3>at the same time, what's the missing spark right now

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<v Speaker 3>that would catapult Houston into that conversation of Look, we're

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<v Speaker 3>not Oklahoma City, we're not San Antonio. But we know

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<v Speaker 3>clear as day Denver, we're better than Minnesota, we're better

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<v Speaker 3>than Los Angeles, and teams still have to worry about

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<v Speaker 3>us because if we get hot, we're going to go

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<v Speaker 3>on a roll.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I hope it's deep. I think that's the easiest

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<v Speaker 2>spot to upgrade. We heard Imo Jujoka say it after

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<v Speaker 2>they lost Game six to the Lakers and their season ended,

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<v Speaker 2>that they felt they had too many duplicates at the

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<v Speaker 2>end of the roster. So there's sightings you can make.

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<v Speaker 2>I think you should keep in mind that for the

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<v Speaker 2>first time as owner Tillman, Partita paid the luxury tax

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<v Speaker 2>last season, and they knew by the trade deadline that

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<v Speaker 2>that team, especially after losing Friend and Stephen, was not

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<v Speaker 2>going to win a title. The reason they paid the

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<v Speaker 2>luxury tax was to keep these tradable salaries on the books,

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<v Speaker 2>guys like Dorian Finny Smith and Clint Capella, who I

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<v Speaker 2>mentioned earlier, So I think those are trade candidates this offseason.

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<v Speaker 2>They paid the tax for a reason, so you could

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<v Speaker 2>aggregate those salaries and bring in someone of significant stature

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<v Speaker 2>to the bench. I think the two second rounds, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>the second round and even the late first round, has

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<v Speaker 2>really changed the last few years. With nil keeping more

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<v Speaker 2>of the young guys in college basketball, you're seeing the

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<v Speaker 2>second round have prospects that are a lot older because

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<v Speaker 2>it doesn't make sense to declare early for potentially a

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<v Speaker 2>non guaranteed contract. So these older prospects. I'm looking at

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<v Speaker 2>some of the mocks that, for example, have brackets selecting

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<v Speaker 2>Emmanuel Sharp out of U of H at pick thirty nine.

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<v Speaker 2>That's someone he defends at a high level under Kelvin Sampson.

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<v Speaker 2>He's going to be twenty three years old next season.

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<v Speaker 2>Could he give you some three and d minutes off

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<v Speaker 2>the bench that in the playoffs went to a jaschan Tate. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>he potentially could. He might not have star upside, but

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<v Speaker 2>in the short term, the second round picks are more

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<v Speaker 2>ready to play immediately than they used to be because

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<v Speaker 2>of the nil rules sort of changing the landscape and

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<v Speaker 2>what it looks like. So I do think that between

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<v Speaker 2>trade signing second round draft picks, you can fortify the

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<v Speaker 2>depth for sure. However, to your point, I do fear

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit that they need something bigger than that,

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<v Speaker 2>because as much as you can point to Fred and

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<v Speaker 2>Stephen coming back, look, other teams have injured guys coming

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<v Speaker 2>back as well. The Thunder we're missing Jalen Williams for

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<v Speaker 2>nearly the entire season. Him coming back healthy is going

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<v Speaker 2>to lift them to another tier. So you can't just

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<v Speaker 2>sit on your laurels and expect that Fred and Steven

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<v Speaker 2>coming back it is going to fix everything. Because even

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<v Speaker 2>if they do come back healthy and they're who they

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<v Speaker 2>were before the injuries, other teams have their own injuries

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<v Speaker 2>and those guys are going to come back as well.

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<v Speaker 2>So that's why I do keep going back to the

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<v Speaker 2>Rocket seem to be in a little bit better alignment.

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<v Speaker 2>Maybe it's a roster that fits more cohesively together in

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<v Speaker 2>terms of that top eight, top nine, the clear playing rotation,

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<v Speaker 2>or from a timeline perspective, you know, maybe airing on

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<v Speaker 2>the side of a little bit more youth than giving

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<v Speaker 2>them a little bit more time to cook. I think alignment,

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<v Speaker 2>that's what I'm looking for. Depth is a low hanging fruit.

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<v Speaker 2>They can certainly address that, maybe as soon as tomorrow

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<v Speaker 2>night when they had the two second round draft picks.

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<v Speaker 2>But beyond that, I think there's ways that you can

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<v Speaker 2>get the overall roster in better alignment to build for

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<v Speaker 2>not just this season, but into the future.

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<v Speaker 1>We can expect a busy and interesting off season, no

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<v Speaker 1>question about it. So I suspect this probably won't be

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<v Speaker 1>the last time we talked with you. Ben again. He's

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<v Speaker 1>been to Bow's you can find his work with Rockets Wire. Also,

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<v Speaker 1>he's done some work with us here at Sports Talk

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<v Speaker 1>seven ninety Clutch Fans and also Locked on Rockets. They've

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<v Speaker 1>been really appreciate your time this morning, and like I said,

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<v Speaker 1>we'll catch up at the beginning very soon.

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<v Speaker 2>Thanks Ben, Thanks for having me. Gus