Well they didn’t have to chase the aforementioned targets. Those minutes could’ve gone to Cam. You would have to believe in Cam enough to choose him over someone like DFS though. And Houston apparently doesn’t.

Don’t get fooled by fake accounts today: x.com/i/lists/890007…

Give it a second. They don’t want to lose 2nd round picks just to get the news out 5 minutes earlier lol

DFS is a good complimentary piece. The contract is good (slightly less than the full MLE). I don’t like the likely implications for Cam Whitmore, but in a vacuum, this is an objectively good value deal for Houston.

Houston’s depth chart is insane right now.

Houston has a much older roster than two weeks ago, but goddamn, it's good.

I don’t understand the Clint Capela signing other than I guess Steven Adams insurance/maintenance. Or something else….

Just had a passing thought: Could part of this be Houston pre-emptively loading up for a future Spurs team that has Giannis and Wemby?

New Red Nation Hoops episode w/ Forrest Walker: Rockets free agency wrap up rednationhoops.com/p/can-the-rock…

Said it on Red Nation Hoops: While I understand the logic, I hate that Houston is giving up on Whitmore. This price in particular, feels meager. I think he's going to blow up in Washington.

So the Rockets have essentially locked in on the young core they want to keep (for now): Alperen Sengun Amen Thompson Jabari Smith Reed Sheppard Tari Eason

Pros for HOU moving Cam: -No path for minutes/can't be showcased -Makes the long-term financials easier -He doesn't want to be here Cons for HOU moving Cam: -If he becomes an All-NBA talent, the above points are irrelevant If he tops out as an All-Star, it stings a lot less.

Okay this DFS contract takes A LOT of the sting out of the Cam Whitmore trade. It's incredibly team-friendly and will likely turn into a valuable trade piece down the road for Houston. If the price of this deal was Cam's place on the team, I'm more okay with how it went down.

By February, the Rockets will have over $40 million in tradable salary that doesn't include Fred VanVleet, Kevin Durant, or any of their young pieces. Incredible work by Rafael Stone.

The Rockets have managed to keep a large sum of non-essential salaries on their roster throughout their entire rebuild (last year they had $45 million). This has given them a ton of flexibility in trade negotiations for potential star trades should opportunities come up.