Paulo Alves

So one reason the Rockets were boxed in at the deadline, one big reason.

So they went into the first apron hard cap.

They used their non-tax payment level to sign DFS.

And to this point, it hasn't worked out.

Hopefully, you know, he didn't look good today, missed a lot of open shots.

I did think he was moving a little bit better, but on the balance, certainly not a positive game for him.

And so hopefully he's only been playing about five to six weeks.

And so hopefully by the end of the season, he's closer to the guy he's been the last couple of years.

And he was clearly a positive role player for, uh,

the Lakers and the Nets.

But if it doesn't work out, there is something to be said for mitigating the damage.

And so, yeah, the Rockets, by limiting their flexibility, if not for signing DFS, they wouldn't have been hard capped at the first apron.

You could have used the disabled player exception that you got for Fred Van Vliet.

So, yeah, the DFS signing to this point has absolutely hurt them.

It's a big part of why they were boxed in.

But if you trade him at the deadline, and he was the most movable piece from a salary perspective, especially because now you need Clint Capella as your primary backup center with no Steven Adams.

If you move DFS at the deadline for a pending free agent, which that's most of the players getting dealt, like a Kobe White,

And it doesn't move the needle.

You're probably not going to win a championship with Kobe White.

And then you go into the offseason and you need a big trade.