Roosh

NBA talk. Host of Rockets Talk Podcast. Home of the 1994 and 1995 NBA Champions. Texas Ex.

[Roosh @RooshWilliams]

Found some footage from a show I did opening for Mac Miller in February 2011. Pretty sure it was his first or second show in TX ever (when he was touring off KIDS). Thought it would be cool to share. RIP Mac Miller.

[RedNinetyFour @RedNinetyFour]

Here is a list of all of Rafael Stone's draft picks:

2021 - Jalen Green (2)
2021 - Alperen Sengun (16)
2021 - Usman Garuba (23)
2021 - Josh Christopher (24)
2022 - Jabari Smith Jr. (3)
2022- Tari Eason (17)
2022 - TyTy Washington (29)
2023 - Amen Thompson (4)
2023 - Cam Whitmore (20)
2024 - Reed Sheppard (3)
2024 - Pelle Larsson (44)* [picked by Heat]

1. Taking Jalen Green at #2 was obviously the original sin and biggest misstep of the rebuild.

2. Trading for Alperen Sengun at #16 was probably the best move of the rebuild, which is ironic for reasons I've touched on recently.

3. I personally think that the jury is still out, but I think that 99% of people outside of Houston at this point would say that Reed Sheppard over Castle was a huge mistake.

4. Despite Jabari being incredibly underwhelming for a #3 pick, Amen, Jabari, and Tari were all good picks, but they were all also just a case of taking best player available. You could also probably argue, with the benefit of hindsight, that trading down from #3 might have been better value than taking Jabari outright.

5. Garuba, Christopher, TyTy, and Cam were all complete busts and wasted picks. The 44th pick in 2024 (which became Pelle Larson) was also traded to Miami for A.J. Griffin who subsequently left basketball before ever even suiting up for the Rockets. Another wasted pick.

6. To unload Garuba and TyTy, Stone traded second round picks in 2025 and 2028 to Atlanta to clear cap space for Brook Lopez who ultimately played the Rockets and returned to Milwaukee. Those of us who expressed concern over this train of events at the time were mocked as "asset management Twitter." Meanwhile, guys like Ajay Mitchell and Jaylin Williams are making major contributions on a contender while the Rockets fill their rotation with glorified cheerleaders like Jeff Green and Jae'Sean Tate.

7. Some notables picked after the Rockets' picks:

2021 - Quentin Grimes (25)
2021 - Herb Jones (35)
2021 - Miles McBride (36)
2021 - Ayo Dosunmu (38)
2022 - Andrew Nembhard (31)
2022 - Jaylin Williams (34)
2024 - Jamal Shead (45)

And unless you're a Jae'Sean Tate or Daishen Nix fan, the Rockets also haven't had any notable undrafted free agents. (Yes, the same Daishen Nix that Stone infamously called a "lottery pick talent.")

Once the Rockets' season unraveled, most of the discussion centered around the team's bad luck with respect to landing top tier talent. And it's true - they had historically bad luck missing out on Wemby and Cade. But what has been more concerning to me has been Stone's inability to find talent at the margins - talent evaluation at the cheap end is something an organization can actually control and not subject to lottery luck.

Even if the Rockets are eventually able to land top end talent, either through a panicked trade this offseason (Giannis? Jaylen Brown?) or from lottery luck in 2027, I'm curious how anyone can look at the list above and have any confidence that Stone can build out a roster to compete with the league's elite teams.

[David Astramskas @redapples]

@getnickwright Barkley in Houston

[Andy Bailey @AndrewDBailey]

Charles Barkley in his four seasons as a Houston Rocket: 16.5 points, 12.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 4.0 box plus/minus

Draymond Green’s last four seasons: 8.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.5 box plus/minus

[nick wright @getnickwright]

Aside from the fact that this is awful, awkward television, it’s also just ahistorical.

In his 4 years in Houston, Chuck averaged 16-12-4, including averaging 18 & 12 during a run to the Western Conference Finals.

Draymond continues to recreate history.

[The Bradeaux & Will Show @BradeauxAndWill]

NEW POD FT. @RooshWilliams

KEVIN DURANT SEASON REVIEW

- Should the Rockets keep KD
- Burner allegations?
- Best Rocket since...?

https://t.co/4jDE0G6oQ2

[ᵂᴵᴸᴸ @BiasedHouston]

Talked about the good (there’s a lot), the bad, and the burners with Kevin Durant’s Rockets tenure with my brother @RooshWilliams.

Tap in 👇

[Roosh @RooshWilliams]

@Doc_Texas @covergirl53 Windows down no AC

[Roosh @RooshWilliams]

May 1st in Houston: worst weather of the year

May 2nd in Houston: best weather of the year

[Roosh @RooshWilliams]

@RyanGHarrison Amen…they play totally different roles tho

[Roosh @RooshWilliams]

If the Rockets give Amen Thompson a max contract, it will cripple their future. Excellent player. Championship-caliber player. Not a #1 or #2 option on a contender and therefore not worth max money.

[SleeperRockets @SleeperRockets]

Amen Thompson is expected to sign a 5-year, $250 million extension with the Rockets this offseason, per @sam_amick

Fair price for Amen?

[Roosh @RooshWilliams]

@camperry21 @AllHowdy82912 Rockets fans would lose their mind over this, but yes Ben Simmons was better than Amen at this point in their careers.

[Roosh @RooshWilliams]

@HorryForThree $30-35M with incentives.

[Roosh @RooshWilliams]

@just_a_fan_yo 🫡

[Roosh @RooshWilliams]

@MuellerAndrew93 I’m not making that gamble

[Roosh @RooshWilliams]

@cxnbxnn Correct. Not every championship-caliber player is worth a max contract.

[Roosh @RooshWilliams]

@Keepsmiling115

[Roosh @RooshWilliams]

@Mrstriker815 Yup

[Roosh @RooshWilliams]

@magic33number It’s ok lol you don’t have to do that. But we’ll see.

[Roosh @RooshWilliams]

@j0n517 Completely agree.

[Roosh @RooshWilliams]

@magic33number I think it might.

[Roosh @RooshWilliams]

@SeanTPendergast We must abolish all use of that phrase moving forward