Ben DuBose

It was to help them move forward in the process, but it wasn't title or bust is the way that I would put it.

They went for KD because he fit within their existing core and the timelines, and so...

they're not going to go out of their way unless it's a move that truly moves the needle.

And what I mean by that is, you know, a trade for Kobe White or any salary of significance, the Rockets are hard capped at the first apron.

So they have to send out close to as much money as they take in.

Well, who are they sending out?

It's not easy to send out Clint Capella anymore because there's no Steven Adams.

So if you want to win a title, you need at least two reliable centers.

So Clint's suddenly much more important.

Yes, and that's the other point.

If it's not Capella, then I see a lot of Fred, Stephen, or Dorian Finney-Smith used as matching salary.

And I said this with Fred early in the year, and I'll say the same thing with Stephen and DFS.

Even though DFS is playing, he's basically, you know, I'd say like a partial participant at this point because he's clearly limited coming off the ankle injury.

The Rockets believe in these guys long term.

In October, the Rockets fully believe that all three of those guys, Fred, Dorian and Steven, are going to be full of participants in training camp.

They're 32 years old or younger, and they are going to be good rotation players next season.

Now, you can say assuming health, but that's quite literally true of any NBA player.

So from the Rockets perspective, any move they make.

as far as moving one of those guys for a Kobe White or anyone else that gets brought up, it would be just for this season.

Going into next season, they feel good about their rotation.