Ben DuBose

And I know the Mavs still aren't good, but you can see a pathway within a couple of years for them to be a very good team.

And so maybe the Rockets just want more bites at the apple.

They already have some.

They've got the Brooklyn Swap in 27, the Phoenix Picks in 27 and 29, the Dallas Pick in 29.

And so...

Maybe there's a case to be made, you know, it's not a pleasant conversation, but you're good enough at center with Steven that you just get more bites at the apple.

But is it quality or quantity?

Some of that's going to be to be determined based on the rules changes.

It may be a situation where it makes more sense.

You know, to get just the highest quantity of picks that you can possibly get if the odds get more and more flattened, as opposed to, you know, it used to be try and pick out the team that's most likely to be bad.

And so project your ability to get higher in, you know, a draft in 27, 29, whatever it may be.

um those aren't pleasant conversations to be had but i'm just trying to talk about it within the confines of this ridiculous thunder team the spurs team that's way ahead of schedule uh the nuggets now they're getting their own gordon back we'll see what they look like these aren't fun conversations because we wanted to believe going into this year the rocket had a chance to contend for a championship but

Just in terms of the realistic roadmaps for how do they get there under Ime Udoka, these are things that you may have to at least consider.

We can talk more specifically when we get to the offseason, we can incorporate how they play in the playoffs, and we could also incorporate what any rules changes are as far as the NBA Draft Lottery and its implications for future picks.

All right, last segment, and I'll try to make this quick because we're already almost an hour in.

We spent most of the pod talking macro.

I want to finish talking micro, because if you believe that the Rockets can figure something out over these final 19 games, it would be very convenient to start the next couple of nights.

Schedule is not easy.

Home against a Toronto team that I believe is eight games over 500, and then a tough game, night two of a road back-to-back in Denver against the Nuggets.

If you win, you split the season series.