Kelly Iko

When you have that, you have a guy in Alper and Shanguna who's so crafty around the basket. He has great footwork. He wants to get guys open looks. These guys aren't great shooters. They're inconsistent shooters. So I was surprised that the Rockets didn't – that they weren't more aggressive around the trade deadline.

When you have that, you have a guy in Alper and Shanguna who's so crafty around the basket. He has great footwork. He wants to get guys open looks. These guys aren't great shooters. They're inconsistent shooters. So I was surprised that the Rockets didn't – that they weren't more aggressive around the trade deadline.

When you have that, you have a guy in Alper and Shanguna who's so crafty around the basket. He has great footwork. He wants to get guys open looks. These guys aren't great shooters. They're inconsistent shooters. So I was surprised that the Rockets didn't – that they weren't more aggressive around the trade deadline.

It seems like everything that was coming out of their books was they're confident in this group. They want to ride the momentum out to the playoffs. But as you've seen over the last two weeks, that can only get you so far. So – Prior to the trade-in, I thought that this is a group that could make a run to the Western Conference Finals.

It seems like everything that was coming out of their books was they're confident in this group. They want to ride the momentum out to the playoffs. But as you've seen over the last two weeks, that can only get you so far. So – Prior to the trade-in, I thought that this is a group that could make a run to the Western Conference Finals.

It seems like everything that was coming out of their books was they're confident in this group. They want to ride the momentum out to the playoffs. But as you've seen over the last two weeks, that can only get you so far. So – Prior to the trade-in, I thought that this is a group that could make a run to the Western Conference Finals.

Now, if you ask me today, if they lost in the first round, I wouldn't be surprised.

Now, if you ask me today, if they lost in the first round, I wouldn't be surprised.

Now, if you ask me today, if they lost in the first round, I wouldn't be surprised.

Yeah, I think so. I think if everything building up to this moment has been about accumulating data, I do think that once you have a playoff series under your belt, now you're almost along that cycle of... I remember a couple years ago, they had the whole thing about phase one, phase two, whatever. And I call this phase 2.5 because...

Yeah, I think so. I think if everything building up to this moment has been about accumulating data, I do think that once you have a playoff series under your belt, now you're almost along that cycle of... I remember a couple years ago, they had the whole thing about phase one, phase two, whatever. And I call this phase 2.5 because...

Yeah, I think so. I think if everything building up to this moment has been about accumulating data, I do think that once you have a playoff series under your belt, now you're almost along that cycle of... I remember a couple years ago, they had the whole thing about phase one, phase two, whatever. And I call this phase 2.5 because...

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.

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.

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.