Kelly Iko

Up until you make a blockbuster move, then you're fully in phase three. If they had gone out and gotten a Jimmy Butler, if they had gone out and gotten a Kevin Durant, now you're putting yourself in phase three. But I think after this playoff period coming up in a few months, they'll have enough data to see, okay, this is what we have. This is what should stay.

This is where that could possibly go. If we look to go bring in a bona fide A1 Alpha, And I think this summer, potentially, you could do that because as far as flexibility goes, you're under the tax right now. Next season, the extensions kick in. Jones kicks in. Alperin kicks in. You're going to be over the tax. You start to have to look at flexibility down the line.

This is where that could possibly go. If we look to go bring in a bona fide A1 Alpha, And I think this summer, potentially, you could do that because as far as flexibility goes, you're under the tax right now. Next season, the extensions kick in. Jones kicks in. Alperin kicks in. You're going to be over the tax. You start to have to look at flexibility down the line.

This is where that could possibly go. If we look to go bring in a bona fide A1 Alpha, And I think this summer, potentially, you could do that because as far as flexibility goes, you're under the tax right now. Next season, the extensions kick in. Jones kicks in. Alperin kicks in. You're going to be over the tax. You start to have to look at flexibility down the line.

And then you look at Jabari's potential extension, Tari's, and you look at Ben Thompson. You have to deal with all that. It's in the near future. So I think if you can get ahead of it and go bring in a guy that can come in, now you're putting yourself farther along that timeline of trying to chase a Western Conference to try to get to pass the second round series.

And then you look at Jabari's potential extension, Tari's, and you look at Ben Thompson. You have to deal with all that. It's in the near future. So I think if you can get ahead of it and go bring in a guy that can come in, now you're putting yourself farther along that timeline of trying to chase a Western Conference to try to get to pass the second round series.

And then you look at Jabari's potential extension, Tari's, and you look at Ben Thompson. You have to deal with all that. It's in the near future. So I think if you can get ahead of it and go bring in a guy that can come in, now you're putting yourself farther along that timeline of trying to chase a Western Conference to try to get to pass the second round series.

Because as currently constructed, this is a fun team. This is an exciting team. But I don't think anybody's actually looking at them as a potential threat.

Because as currently constructed, this is a fun team. This is an exciting team. But I don't think anybody's actually looking at them as a potential threat.

Because as currently constructed, this is a fun team. This is an exciting team. But I don't think anybody's actually looking at them as a potential threat.

I think as long as you can hold on to at least three of them, then you have the makings of... you know, a title contender, right?

I think as long as you can hold on to at least three of them, then you have the makings of... you know, a title contender, right?

I think as long as you can hold on to at least three of them, then you have the makings of... you know, a title contender, right?

Like, if you have their core six that they call it, you know, the last six first-round picks, Amin, Cam, Tari, Jawari, Jalen, Alperin, if you can keep half of those guys, you know, obviously, I don't think Amin will go anywhere, but if you can keep half of those guys, now you really start to think of a team that can go far in the West Carolina.

Like, if you have their core six that they call it, you know, the last six first-round picks, Amin, Cam, Tari, Jawari, Jalen, Alperin, if you can keep half of those guys, you know, obviously, I don't think Amin will go anywhere, but if you can keep half of those guys, now you really start to think of a team that can go far in the West Carolina.

Like, if you have their core six that they call it, you know, the last six first-round picks, Amin, Cam, Tari, Jawari, Jalen, Alperin, if you can keep half of those guys, you know, obviously, I don't think Amin will go anywhere, but if you can keep half of those guys, now you really start to think of a team that can go far in the West Carolina.

Because obviously, if you're going to give up a star player, an A1 player, you're going to ask for one or two of these guys, or even three, and then multiple to the first-round picks. Everybody's not going to be Nico Harrison and give you one first-round pick and send you on your way. So it's going to cost you a premium to acquire one of these guys. So it's going to take some time.

Because obviously, if you're going to give up a star player, an A1 player, you're going to ask for one or two of these guys, or even three, and then multiple to the first-round picks. Everybody's not going to be Nico Harrison and give you one first-round pick and send you on your way. So it's going to cost you a premium to acquire one of these guys. So it's going to take some time.

Because obviously, if you're going to give up a star player, an A1 player, you're going to ask for one or two of these guys, or even three, and then multiple to the first-round picks. Everybody's not going to be Nico Harrison and give you one first-round pick and send you on your way. So it's going to cost you a premium to acquire one of these guys. So it's going to take some time.

That's a good question. The way I see it, the Rockets don't see anybody as like a building. They have a lot of talented young guys on their roster that they're developing at the same time. Until one of them clearly outperforms the rest of the pack, then you still have to keep them all on that same tier of good guys to keep an eye on, but no one has broken that shield yet.