Rockets head coach Stephen Silas bristles at the notion that the team should tank the rest of the way and improve its odds in a top-heavy lottery, according to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. “We’re trying to win every single game,” he said. “I think you see this with the disappointment that our guys have, with the fight that they have, my reaction to games. I don’t even know if that needs to be squashed or not. It’s a non-issue.”
GM Rafael Stone said this week that the Rockets don’t have to worry about their lottery position because of their stockpile of draft picks. However, the team will have to swap its pick (likely with the Heat’s selection) if it falls outside of the top four.
We have more on the Rockets:
- Kevin Porter Jr. has the offensive skills and athleticism to be a major component on offense, and he could also be a difference-maker defensively, as described in another Feigen story. Porter made a key block in a victory over Dallas on Wednesday. “He takes pride in it,” center Christian Wood said. “He’s a young, tremendous player on both sides of the floor. He can do it. He just has to keep that up and we’re going to be great.”
- Guard Avery Bradley has missed quite a few games in recent seasons but he still feels he has no peer when it comes to defense, Feigen writes. “I know that’s going to be one of my roles here,” said Bradley, acquired from Miami in the Victor Oladipo deadline deal. “I’m always going to embrace that. I know defensively, there’s no one in the NBA who can do what I can do.” The team holds a $5.9MM option on Bradley’s contract next season.
- Kelly Olynyk has been a pleasant surprise since being traded from the Heat in the Oladipo swap (17.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.0 APG) and The Athletic’s Kelly Iko explores what Olynyk may command in free agency. Iko speculates that Houston, which now holds his Bird Rights, would re-sign him if Olynyk’s price tag doesn’t exceed $11MM annually.
Yeah no tanking ?????? They only have 14 wins and second worst record in NBA. Cause they just suck I guess……. it’s clear they are trying to keep their top 4 protected pick this yr. And they should be, just can’t say it is all.
I don’t understand the question of “should” when they “are.”
Think tanking may imply intent. Houston may be trying to be good, idk, but if they are they’re failing at it.
Imo, tanking is an ownership/GM decision, not coach/player actions.
Silas is being diplomatic.
Totally agree . Owner, GM call. This yr it’s the right call for Rockets. They just can’t say it
I understand more about Knicks Leon Rose than Rockets GM
My trade proposal in September
Knicks trade 8th pick to Wolves for 1st overall pick straight up
What I mean is Leon Rose wouldn’t trade 1 future First to move up, Rose is a cheap guy
According to New York Post, Rockets asking price for Oladipo is
1 good young player and at least 2 future First round picks
Rose offered nothing but Frank the tank jr and salary release
What r u talking about? The heat got Oladipo for not 2 future 1sts. Ur way late
I understand what you’re saying, if I had to read it twice LOL. Knicks decision maker Rose is not doing anything for the benefit of the team roster wise.
If you offered the number one pick and he had the 8th pick he wouldn’t trade it straight up. That’s probably not true but I understand your point.
I still don’t understand why after all these years so many coaches, gms, media, and fans act as if tanking is somehow worse than just being terrible. Honestly, I view it the opposite way. A team with the second worst record in the league who is tanking to maximize their chances of being a contender again one day is a lot better than someone trying their best and still ending up the second worst team in the league.
Strategic Planning > Incompetence
it’s well known that being in purgatory, especially in the NBA, is detrimental to your team going forward. ideally you have a constant stream of talent and dont have to do anything more then “retool” or “reimagine,” but that’s not always possible.
Looking like Kelly may be a better piece for Houston than Vic was – maybe that was a decent trade for the Rockets after all.
It was a much better trade than the media made it out to be when Oladipo was supposed to be the final piece of the puzzle and get them back to the Finals. Olynyk definitely looks like a much better fit, and who knows if Bradley will play well enough the next 20 games for the Rockets to consider picking up his option this summer.
Rockets can do better than this denial (well, the players want to win, so we’re not tanking). I don’t think even Philly involved the players in their tanking. No need. In a competitive environment, it’s usually enough that the FO wants to lose and the HC is indifferent. If the FO wants to lose, but still wants a HC that’s engaged and proactively trying to win, then they need a guy like Fizdale. Doesn’t appear necessary here.
you don’t need to try and lose to be tanking. if your team sucks you’re going to lose regardless. just a matter of how much really.
I look at it like this every yr there are 14 lottery teams. Some or most of them at some point start playing for next yr. You play young guys. You try new combos, new sets. Others teams are playing for seeding. So you are going to lose mostly. I don’t see anything wrong with that. It shows you know who you are. So why not try and get a top 5 pick. Especially this yr. This yr top 10 is a great talent imo. A guy like Keon Johnson is going 8-10. He’s all offense right now. He’s got great potential . Josh Giddey from Australia is younger and better than LaMelo was imo in same league. Is projected outside the lottery. I pray Knicks grab him.
Maybe if the Rockets offered a million dollars to other teams to “tank” in their games, they wouldn’t be tanking. The Rockets are in no mans land with hope in a draft that can bring in some young players. No promises they will be stars though.
Well, I guess we got our answer that Avery Bradley wasn’t going to be waived to get a shot to hookup with a playoff contender…
I watch these boys nightly, and they are giving maximum effort on the floor. They have the supporting cast. They just need talented leadership.
They need a star too.