Paulo Alves

You can't trade Kobe White as part of that package.

So you lose the salary slot as well.

Even in the worst case scenario, Jordan Finney-Smith is still an expiring contract this summer that can help you with trades.

So the absolute worst case scenario will be the Rockets trade DFS for Kobe White.

And then let's say DFS looks better by the playoffs and you don't even have the salary slot in the summer.

So that's what the Rockets are trying to balance here.

And that's that's a big part of this.

Like, yeah, you can question the DFS signing.

It definitely did limit them and they did know he had he had the ankle surgery.

But it's not as simple as saying just make the deal and get something rather than nothing.

Oh, there's a risk if you if you move him, too.

And I think that's important to keep in mind.

Someone in the chat, DFS is a negative asset going into the deadline, so Stone didn't want to sell low.

Bingo.

If you wait until the summer, he's at least going to be a neutral asset because he's an expiring contract.

If you tried to use him now, you'd be selling low.

He'd be a negative asset.

So you better get pretty good bang for your buck, which I don't think Kobe White is, especially now that he has a calf injury as well.

And so that's the point.

It's not to say that