The Rockets have lost an incredible 43 of their last 48 games, will finish the season with the NBA’s worst record, and will only have a 52.1% chance to keep their first-round pick, which is top-four protected. However, team owner Tilman Fertitta tells ESPN’s Tim MacMahon that he remains bullish on the future of the franchise.
“I never thought I could feel this good after winning only 16 games,” Fertitta said of his 16-53 club. “I never thought I could feel this good when I’ve been so upset about losing. But when I look at all the draft picks that we have and the future, I’m just happy. I know it’s unusual to feel this good with your coach (Stephen Silas) and your general manager (Rafael Stone), but I do.”
If the Rockets’ 2021 first-round pick falls outside of the top four, they’ll have to send it to the Thunder in exchange for Miami’s first-round selection. Houston also owes two more future first-rounders to Oklahoma City, in 2024 (top-four protected) and 2026 (top-four protected).
However, the Rockets have acquired several other first-round picks and swaps in various trades, including the James Harden blockbuster — they’ll have Portland’s and Brooklyn’s first-round picks this year, as well as first-rounders from the Nets, Pistons, Wizards, and Bucks in future drafts. Fertitta expressed a willingness to be patient waiting for those extra selections to pay dividends.
“It could be 2027 that we get a top-five pick that ends up being the next greatest player,” Fertitta told MacMahon. “We don’t know, but my people have shown all they’ve done so far is made the right decision, and I’m proud of all of them. I’m proud of the basketball ops people and I’m proud of Silas, because they keep showing me they’re doing the right things.”
Fertitta specifically credited Stone for the acquisitions of Christian Wood and young building blocks like Kevin Porter and Kenyon Martin Jr. He also praised Silas for the work he has done dealing with adversity this season and developing those young players. The Rockets’ owner added that he doesn’t have a specific timeline in mind for the club becoming a legit contender again.
“I can tell you this: I’m going to be patient,” Fertitta told ESPN. “I know my basketball guys know what they’re doing. We’re not going to go do something stupid to try to get into the playoffs next year that then will prevent us from competing for a championship in a couple years. … I think we’ll be much better next year and we’ll be much better the following year and then we’ll be much better the following year.”
I’ve got no love or hate for the Rockets (the hate disappeared once Harden was dealt) but I really hope Silas is given a fair chance.
People would normally expect the coach for a team with the worst record in the NBA to be on the hot seat, but Silas will be given every opportunity to succeed in Houston. It certainly has been a rough start for his head coaching career, but like Fertitta said there’s a lot to look forward to in the future.
A budget team needs a budget coach … Daignault has already proven to be a NBA coach when Silas is a mistery
Hanging any of this season on Silas would be pretty shortsighted IMO.
That said, my leash on Stone would be shorter. Planning to win in 2027? Even I could do that. It’s difficult to find success without accountability.
Losers celebrate the failure because of nba draft awards.
4 consecutive years nba draft picks
76ers
1
1
3
3
Lakers
2
2
2
4
Russell
Ingram
Ball
…
It’s amazing how good it made him feel to see the lack of future financial commitments and not paying the tax yet again.
I was about to say that. He is more excited about not being asked to go past the luxury tax than trying to compete for a title.
He’s a business owner. Is it your money being spent on a luxury tax for a losing team? Give me a break
@TJECK109 – If you’re saying that business owners have a right to manage their business as they see fit, I agree.
If your argument is that Fertitta needs to manage his operations to turn a profit every season, I couldn’t disagree more. Operating at break-even or even a slight loss makes all the sense in the world when you consider asset appreciation.
If the Warriors are worth $4.7 billion, it’s because they’re a winning team with great endorsement deals, a ticket price premium, and valuable broadcast rights in a big media market.
The Houston media market is nearly as big as the San Fran/San Jose media market, which means that Fertitta could turn his $2.2 billion investment into a $4+ billion asset if he could build a winner.
So, yeah, not paying the luxury tax to maintain a great team is incredibly short sighted.
Just a scammer like almost all pro sports team owners are. Not one care about winning, only money. I preferred it when owners didn’t view their teams as a revenue stream and instead a way for them to win a title without being a player.
It’s a BUSINESS. You don’t buy a business without the intent of making a profit.
@TJECK109 – You must not be familiar with venture capital.
Traded a generational talent in Harden for Kelly Olynk and some late first rounders, what a forever loser Tillman is. What kind of name is Tillman anyway?
“Makes fun of name. Spells it wrong.”
Imagine respecting a billionaire sports team owner enough to spell his name correctly, couldn’t be me. I will never lick boots like that.
Woo! Yeah! Making fun of a name by spelling it wrong shows how independent you are!
It’s the name of a multi billionaire. I’m sure you are much more successful.
All multi-billionaires stole their money, I am more successful in what I do, and I do it morally – I dont create homelessness and poverty by hoarding wealth, ergo, me > Tillman Fritata
the point is…who cares what his name is dude.
It’s okay to be a billionaire as long as your team is winning and your last name rhymes with Jacob
You clearly have no idea how Tillman made his fortune. He was a local kid from Galveston who grew up working in his fathers restaurant. He opened his own business with his own money and bought his way into a restaurant chain which he ended up taking over. From there he expanded into real estate and many other ventures. He given millions to local universities and charities. Solid dude.
What’s funny is I bet he’s given money to Tillman without even knowing it.
Rockets have no future unless they tank for draft picks
Rockets GM does not know trade market
John Wall likes Houston
Other free agent superstars don’t like Rockets owners
Rockets won’t sign any FA proven young stars next 6 years
“I never thought I could feel this good…but I am super drunk.”
Sadly, Tillman and Stone are here to stay.
He’s going to save money not paying for postseason play.
Fertitta may be one of those guys who need to come back from down so he can prove his mettle and seek the glory of redemption.
Or so’s the plan. It fits now anyway.
In a couple of yrs. Rockets will be back in the lottery. And Tilman will be celebrating not paying Wall anymore. Marty doesn’t lick boots. Only Currys shorts.
Funny but Dolan throws money to fix Knicks. Yet never gets it right. I’m still worried he will step in any day now. And just mess all this rebuilding up.
It really don’t matter if HOU gets great picks, generational talent coming in… they will never ever compete, so what is the point?
It don’t matter the talent you have Mr Frittata, if you are not gonna go over the lux tax your team will never compete seriously!
To win in this league you gotta spend, if you don’t you might be a competitive team but you will never be on the convo as a possible winner!
So just get your hands on your wallet or sell so someone else can do justice to such a great team like HOU!
I think the headline could have just as easily been “Rich Idiot Says Something Idiotic”.
I wonder if James Dolan feels threatened?