Ben DuBose

It's not as simple as it used to be.

Because one-on-one, especially with the way the games are officiated, with how quick, especially perimeter players are, almost any defender in the league is going to be in a bad spot.

It's about the interconnected nature and how all the pieces fit together.

That's what we're talking about.

I think the Jose Alvarado thing could potentially have some legs.

I don't know if there's any like traction on a deal, but I do think he's a type of player that they like.

I think his archetype, you know, the hard-nosed intensity that he plays with defensively has annoyed the Rockets at times in the past.

But I think it's also something that Emei Udoka wants the Rockets to do to other teams.

So if he's available for cheap, I could see the Rockets exploring something like that.

But I haven't gotten any sense that anything big is in the works.

I saw that comment, too.

Someone said, Giannis, I have not heard anything inside Toyota Center that makes me think that anything like that is anywhere close.

I think the brackets, they feel like they still have a chance this season, but that they're set up to be good for a very long time.

And every conversation I have, they mention the length of the window.

And...

Right now, you're set up to be a sustainable contender, which is what they've said for years, Dave.

I'm sure you've had the same conversations that I have.

And so anything that changes the timeline dramatically, they acquired Kevin Durant, but it didn't change the timeline.

Not saying they would never change the timeline.

If the price is low enough, you can't rule it out.