Houston Rockets Hunting Stars Like Kevin Durant & Jimmy Butler? + Final NBA Draft Predictions

Houston Rockets Hunting Stars Like Kevin Durant & Jimmy Butler? + Final NBA Draft Predictions
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) discusses the recent reports of the Houston Rockets interest in "star hunting" this offseason, why certain stars like Kevin Durant or Jimmy Butler don't make sense for the timeline of this team, how Paul George is the one star (for the right price) that makes a ton a sense, and final NBA Draft predictions and whether or not the Rockets take Donovan Clingan or Reed Sheppard with the 3rd overall pick.
#Rockets #NBA #Draft
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#HoustonRockets #Rockets #NBA #JalenGreen #AlperenSengun #JabariSmithJr #TariEason #AmenThompson #CamWhitmore #FredVanVleet #DillonBrooks #JeffGreen #JockLandale #ReggieBullock #BobanMarjanovic #AaronHoliday #StevenAdams

[@SeanAli-123]

Old Superstars. We will never learn. Y'all remember Barkley and Pippen.

[@TripUpDuo2]

As long as we keep Sengun and keep him busy we won't be in shambles if it all goes downhill. Hopefully we don't trade for anyone too egoistic like KD.

[@juniorgarcia9292]

giving the brooklyns picks back to try to get kevin durant is a super bad move

[@PatBlom]

And OKC still owns those nuts

[@Who-wg2nh]

Super bad idea to go after a player on the downside. Stay pat!

[@PatBlom]

Stone doesn’t care about this, he’s thinking about his job status. As an okc fan I encourage him to go all in

[@juniorgarcia9292]

kevin durant is almost 36 years old rockets fans dont want him lmao

[@David_Valerio]

YES! Nets traded Mikal Bridges to the Knicks. They are in full tank mode, and we have their picks. Let's celebrate!

[@clipcorleone_7thdayfamilia]

This guy gets it😂

[@framo9813]

lol

[@raaylooney1294]

lol you dont

[@MrOctober44]

And you traded the picks back to the Nets. ❤️🙂

[@aureliocorona1470]

Dumb gm gifted the even more valuable picks back to the nets

[@Moeradwan45]

KD,Butler, and Paul George are the worst 3. All old and injury prone players. No thanks. Bridges is best fit for rockets and no one else.

[@Wasif408]

Mikal Bridges all the way

[@devinddud3]

Anddddddd the idea of Mikal is gone…he’s a Knick now 😢

[@hoodieboygaming1685]

@@Wasif408Hn don’t want him either he doesn’t do anything for us

[@MaherAlame-ns8xi]

@@hoodieboygaming1685true

[@CCGTV337]

​@Wasif408 I worry if mikal bridges year was just that one . Will he regress inhis production

[@AkagiRedSun]

I don’t care about the pick that much, what I’m worrying about is which player that goes to Spurs could spell disaster for us and I just don’t want to see Wemby and Clingan in same team. Clingan at 5 and Wemby at 4 will be nightmare for any team to score inside. I’ve recently watched few last years games and we definitely need interior defense. Adam can help but he is not a pure rim protector at this point of his career

[@startraffick]

Zack Edey destroyed Clingan putting 40 pts on him. Clingan look good against backup in NCAA tournament bigs.

[@BLGClipsx]

I called it a few weeks ago. Let’s go get Devin booker for Jalen green, Dillion brooks, cap filler, 3rd pick, and future sun picks

[@BLGClipsx]

He’s the only young star “available” and he went to the finals before. And we can get the 22nd pick back in return

[@MaherAlame-ns8xi]

@@BLGClipsxno way are we trading any of the core 6

[@BLGClipsx]

@@MaherAlame-ns8xiDevin booker is still young and an all nba player. He’s a clear upgrade over Jalen Green. We wish Jalen Green would be as good as Booker. And do want to give Jalen a max contract next year?

[@user-fx8rm2bi2d]

Glad you’re not the GM😂😂😂

[@BLGClipsx]

@@user-fx8rm2bi2d ok, you want a cookie or something? Go jog along

[@rodricktownsend]

Let’s get it Jackson it feels like I’m about to watch the NBA finals!

[@braswellkeith59]

Knicks sending Bojan Bogdanovic, bevy of picks to Nets for F Mikal Bridges - WOJ This just came in a few minutes ago. ESPN

[@mr.b6629]

Lets trade for Wemby!!!

[@Ryan_the_accuser]

No KD!!! Please, no.

[@ViiRaLx713]

Rockets every year at this time just gives off “who want me” energy

[@Who-wg2nh]

Jackson likes Donavan Mitchel. Even he is a flawed player. 50% of the game is defense. Injury prone. Someone limited shouldn’t take a lot of your cap space.

[@lanardm9836]

FV is our star. He got a chip 🏆 just give the core players time.

[@ss4key]

Bro Fred van fleet is no star

[@deebrown9263]

That man ain't never been close to a star at no point in his career, Green is more of a star

[@howardmann8689]

​@@ss4keyshut up

[@lanardm9836]

Y’all trippin go watch the Toronto series 🤐

[@ss4key]

@@lanardm9836 that was 5 years ago my guy. I don’t think he’s bad but I don’t think he’s the “star” player we need to be leading us unless we just content with being mediocre

[@MarkRichards-kf6zz]

Shout out from 3RD Ward,Texas draft Knecht or go after Klay Thompson

[@Bongo_Fury]

Not sure about PG because of his age and our timeline to win but if we don't have to give up any of our core 6 then im for it.

[@Dutchington_]

That was quick

[@trill711]

*_NOW WE'RE TALKING_*

[@Jack-ho9tr]

If hawks takes Clingan, wizards drafts sarr, rockets should draft rissacher and trade to SA to acquire more draft capitals, PG13 is aging and too expensive, better to chase up 3 point specialist like Buddy Hield, Donte DiVincenzo sort of guys

[@MrYirci]

They would be more happier to draft Sheppard.

[@Jack-ho9tr]

@@MrYirci Sure, if they trade to San Antonio for #4 and future draft assets, absolutely they can draft Sheppard anyway.

[@slickrick8046]

@@MrYirci I doubt that. Stone fell for the hype with Jabari…I doubt he falls for it again with Sheppard.

[@MrYirci]

@@slickrick8046 I think there is more hype for Risacher than Sheppard.

[@slickrick8046]

@@MrYirci There’s way more hype amongst the Houston fan boards over Sheppard than anywhere else. Which is possibly because we need a shooter. But Sheppard shot 33% to 35% from 3P range in high school with more volume. So what he did at Kentucky with less volume was probably an anomaly and won’t happen again. People did the same thing with Jabari and ignored his high school play/stats and thought he would be a great shooter coming into the pros.

[@sardonumspa6033]

7:33-7:46👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Thank goodness 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@AndrewManrique-ik5sg]

Love your show go rockets 🚀

[@noelconnell9094]

Draft at 3, stockpile talented young players with these Nets picks and use them down the road to trade for what you need. Look at OKC

[@baha07TR]

Risacher should be considered seriously if he is available @ pick #3. It will be Nice to have a joice Risscher vs Sheppard.. ...PG13 will also be great for Houston.

[@joinerdover943]

Let's go Rockets!

[@mahmudchowdhury7557]

We need a stop and pop type of guy, a straight shooter. KD is not a bad choice. Devin Booker and Grayson Allen also wouldn’t be a bad choice.

[@christianwatson2032]

Draft Reed..and trade the other picks for next year

[@jayopayke8846]

I don’t want to make a trade at all

[@devrickgrant5522]

Love your podcast. Who do think Rockets will pick @ pick 3 and pick 44? I would like Donovan Clingan at 3 and 44 Jamal Shead.

[@EF_HUTTON]

How bout Sheppard at 3 and move up to take edey or fillipowski

[@gg4l315]

WE DON'T WANT REED SHEPPARD

[@mvrqqzz]

@@gg4l315whos we

[@PatBlom]

As an okc fan I fully encourage Stone trying to save his job and sign a broken mid 30 yo on a sign and trade. Jackson said PG praised JG even though PG was trolling Green with his “king of Houston” comment

[@MrDrsogood]

I think people put way too much stock into that comment

[@PatBlom]

@@MrDrsogood PG was trolling him to see his mindset. Best answer from Green could have been talking about his team and saying he hasn’t proved anything yet but he took the bait bc he has the IQ of a rock.

[@PatBlom]

@@MrDrsogood he show his ego come first before anything. Hook line and sinker. Baited

[@MrDrsogood]

@@PatBlom again people put to much stock in pg podcast which is structured and presented as a very laid back podcast not like bro was Larry king lol

[@BossNerd]

I think the soonest we see any big trades will be at the trade deadline. I think they draft Sheppard(I think Stone has to see that Sheppard is the better prospect). They might use the MLE on a big man. You might see a trade at the deadline involving Dillon, Tate, Landale, etc. - I suppose PG13 would be an option. I do think roster consolidation needs to begin next year but they really aren't under much pressure to do anything. They are supposedly "star-hunting" but I think they will be patient and wait for the right player. Did the Nets just trade Mikal Bridges to the Knicks & trade with us for the Suns picks? I may have to rethink everything.

[@johnmcclure5228]

If pg forces a trade id be okay with 3 2nds, brooks, 1 of the young small forwards and tate. But i would hold onto #3.

[@devrickgrant5522]

Don't need a 1 year rentals. We need players who will for the long hall.

[@harryallen6806]

The proven best way to win a championship in the NBA is with the guys you draft. See Boston, Denver, Golden State. See the 1994 Houston Rockets who had a rookie in a key roll. Greed and impatience always ends up in disaster, says a soon to be not a Rockets Fan!

[@mirisarawak1931]

HELL NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. CORE 6 are UNTOUCHABLE at the moment

[@Juan-gq2du]

god nooooooooooooo these old geezers ain’t moving no needles

[@PatBlom]

So untouchable yet none have shown any potential as stars?

[@juniorgarcia9292]

almost feels like the suns are gonna fleeced the rockets tomorrow during the draft ...are the rockets really trading a bunch of assets for an old kevin durant WOW!!!!!

[@terrimitchell5236]

They can always do sign and trade to get paul George.

[@johnnytran2019]

Ya go ahead and kill me after what Stone did

[@samueldeblaw9677]

Good pod Jackson. let me be the one to drive a stake through the heart of that PG idea. you say PG will be 3rd option on this team? would you pay 50 million a year for a 3rd option? that's what PG wants for 4 years. he also puts a roadblock in front of our young players. not worth that IMO. YES he is better than Dillion, but Dillion don't cost us 50 million either. in fact we would be paying 50 million for PG and we only own Dillion 60 million for the next 3 years. taking on that salary kills our flexibility for future moves. father time will overtake all players in time. how do we know PG's contract won't be an anvil for those last 2 years? point is HE DOESN'T FIT OUR TIME LINE. I don't want a star that is on his declining years searching for one last ride to glory. we can do better than that. he may help us in the short term, but we will regret it inside of 2 years IMO.

[@andreapolesso1261]

I don't like the trade. I prefer the Nets picks. They are so bad in the future. Today stay at 3 and take Clingan!!! much ❤ to Rockets from Italy!!!!!!

[@robertthornhill5747]

I really don’t like giving Brooklyn 1st round pick back in 2025, even without the Knicks trade that pick was still going to be a lottery pick. I don’t want to trade a ton of assets for a 36 year old KD, a 34year old PG-13, or a 35 year old Jimmy Butler.. I’m certainly glad we didn’t ship out 5 picks for Bridges, that was to rich for me. I don’t see how everyone thinks the Knicks won that trade. Only big game hunting i like, are long shots at this point, but I would be all in on Booker, or D Mitchell. Or if we can get a decent deal, I wouldn’t be mad at Bi, or buy low on Levine, and I mean very low. If we miss out on trading for a star, what do you think about signing OG outright? Sorry I’m just trying to think what Stone/Udoka is actually trying to do, because trading a bunch of 1st rounders, or lord forbid they trade both picks, and 1 of our core 6 for a aging star isn’t my ideal of big game hunting, and would rather the rockets trade up to #1 and get the kid they want, even though that’s probably a bad idea too. I guess we will have to just wait till tomorrow, my brain is hurting now, trying to figure out what Stone/Adoka is trying to cook up. 🤯 Come on Rockets, yall see what the Texans did in 2-3 years, now yall need to shown yall can do it as well. ASTROS 1 game under .500, and only 4.5 games back of 1st in the division. 🙏 🚀 yall make the right decisions.

[@brodiesinhtownrockets5280]

I would rather get Brandon Igram than old KD.

[@kcd263]

Clingan will end up a Jason Collier

[@EricW-zn5pz]

I’d take any of them if they were 35 mill or less but mid 30’s players for 50 mill a year is crazy plus all future draft picks. However I would take jimmy for a max contract

[@dgm199]

Do not want old stars if it cost us. Draft Reed and see how this year goes and then decide what we need. It will all depend on what Jalen does. If he is a success great, if not that could be our position of need. If all works out year after next we have an excellent squad of players with more experience and ready to do something more.

[@baha07TR]

Which philosophy's results look more succesfull till now? Stone's high potantials: Jalen & Jabari or analytics department's Alpy & Tari ? That is the question? Than you can answer Sheppard or Clingan easily ...... Rafael shoul trust the professionals and definitely Udoko.

[@EF_HUTTON]

I doubt stone would take a player who is the right size to play their position its always undersized or something weird

[@Daniel_9_verse_9]

Don't do it don't!

[@anthonyskero7020]

We trying to get kD . We just swapped picks with Brooklyn and got all of the picks that Brooklyn got for the KD deal from Phoenix.(which Phoenix wants back if they can't keep KD)🤷

[@PatBlom]

This isn’t your window Houston. 3 years from now maybe

[@aureliocorona1470]

Rockets shouldn't be going after the older players 😂

[@alexandreazevedo9906]

KD not gonna happen... Booker in 1/2 years...very very likely

[@RoxFan247]

Go Rockets!

[@ChaldoEman]

LETS GO ROCKETS

[@TimothyDavis-fe4yy]

Go Rockets ❤

[@jalenjohnson0339]

The answer is no there no point going after these guys that are 35 years old why rush the process that’s how you end up like the Bulls. Even though I’m not high on Donovan Mitchell at least he still in his prime KD Paul George Jimmy Bulter they are all old and George and Bulter has injury history. So pass on all of them stay the course build around our young guys and if a star that’s in his prime like Devin Booker becomes available then you go out and get them

[@AkagiRedSun]

Those guys don’t even wants to come here anyway. Were couple good years away from even contending so fortunately they’ll go to other place like Sixers or Mavs

[@viciwo3396]

I hope these are just rumors. Houston needs to draft just like the Spurs and OKC and take time to develop their players and compete in the future. Look at Tatum and J.Brown? Celtics was patient with them and allowed them to develop. Houston will trade talents away and few years from now they want to trade for same players after another team has taken time to develop these prayers.

[@breonmitchell2443]

Kd 36 why trade Jalen green for him hell nah😂😂😂😂

[@gg4l315]

36 & still better than the young fella 😂

[@garybankston9319]

I'd rather have Bridges than Booker or KD. To me, this is showing Stone's weaknesses. He was good at tearing down the team and drafting, but to build by trading? I imagine Rafael is in a hospital right now having Ime's foot removed from his ass.

[@PatBlom]

Stone wasn’t good at any of it. Asset management has been awful

[@peterdaynos5214]

2025 pick swap, got even better with mikal to Knicks report

[@kingmoz]

Why give up anything to clippers for PG? Can’t we just clear salary by cutting non guaranteed salaries and dumping brooks to someone like Detroit? At a cost of course. And then just sign him to 4yr max?

[@kingmoz]

Kd is the only star I’d hunt. Jimmy doesn’t elevate us enough

[@PatBlom]

Temporary window just trying to keep up with the big boys in the conference

[@VictorSanchezVS13]

Mikel bridges to Knicks. We're stuck with Brooks for now

[@MaherAlame-ns8xi]

😂😂😂

[@PatBlom]

You knew that from the signing. Net negative asset now. Enjoy

[@Omaromex99]

Go rockets!

[@jihadmuhammad9491]

Get OG Anunoby and call it a day. None of these other guys are coming here

[@PatBlom]

How are the Rockets able to create that imaginary cap space

[@jihadmuhammad9491]

@PatBlom Attach Dillon Brooks to the 3rd pick and Trade him. They're targeting KD, I'm sure they can find the cap space for OG.

[@braswellkeith59]

I really do think we need to pass on Paul George.

[@jeremykass4597]

Go rox!

[@Lee-sn2dp]

Reeed is simply too small. Dude is gonna get cooked by bigger guards on defense. If the Hawks want Clingan and knowing the Wizards aren't interested in Clingan why not give them a few 2nd rounders to move up and take Sarr since Clingan will be there at three.

[@connorbuckingham2431]

Lol relax our current starting point guard and former NBA champion is 3 inches shorter than Reed

[@deebrown9263]

@@connorbuckingham2431but he was a pit bull on defense, n having him with Reed would be even worse

[@AkagiRedSun]

He will be playing behind FVV and we used Aaron Holiday for significant minutes and he is about same size. Reed might even have better defensive upside than Holiday. Only few team can play guys like Reed and Rockets are one of the few thanks to Amen and Tari who can basically switch 1-4

[@kingmoz]

Chris Paul and Stockton were smaller PGs and very good defenders. Reed is very good on defense. Being small isn’t a negative when you have defensive skills which Reed does. Not to mention a generational shooter. We would be idiots to pass on him.

[@josephflores2957]

Reed is a combo guard and can play the 1 and 2. Amen will guard the bigger guards on defense. A backcourt of Amen and Reed could be amazing!

[@chirocket4791]

By trading the Nets picks for the Suns picks, the target appears to be KD.

[@chirocket4791]

Or Booker?

[@SeanAli-123]

I hope it's Booker and not KD

[@brodiecahill1115]

KD was far better than Booker this season. Healthier, better defense. Possibly should have been first team all NBA but was second. Can't believe the hate KD gets make fans so dumb

[@PatBlom]

Okc is loving this trade

[@cliftonbrisby5531]

Why ?are we trying bringdoes has been player. We in control now. after those pass bad trade through the years Run it back!!!! Don't like pg to Broke down

[@mblackman1170]

Jimmy Butler doesn’t give any effort during the season. Don’t want him

[@user-vu5yd2kg9f]

3 for paul gorge

[@longride7234]

Expect the unexpected

[@ronaldouriasmendoncajunior4130]

Mikal to the knicks

[@viciwo3396]

It's very hard to be a Houston Rockets fan. Houston management needs to learn how to take time and develop their players. They're sacrificing development of new talents to hunt for aged stars that are injury-prone. How can this organization not learn from the failures of organizations such as Phoenix, Brookly and other teams. They can give away all new talents and get Durant and they will never win anything. Durant never won with Kyrie and Harden. Durant did not win with Booker and Beal. What makes anybody think Durant will win with a depleted Houston Roster? Few years from now, OKC, Spurs and others will be competing, and Houston would have mortgaged their future with these old-tired-legs. I'm glad there's Mavericks and Spurs in this state of Texas. Just watch what OKC and Spurs are doing with young talents.

[@TyrillCelestine]

Go rockets

[@strawhatchriis]

bridges to knicks

[@PatBlom]

Jackson is throwing in garage sale players for a PG trade. Sooooo funny

[@PatBlom]

That bid Jackson is saying for PG is a pipe dream. Many teams can do better. Just enjoy mediocrity and development for now

[@iam_nell]

Stone is clueless 🤷🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️

[@user-vu5yd2kg9f]

Move to the east playoffs

[@PatBlom]

I smell desperation.

[@Leo63847]

Go rockets?

[@htowndj2024]

Wow! Why not try to get LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard? Hell...James Harden might come back! TNT is losing the NBA, Charles Barkley & Shaquille O'Neal might be looking for a part-time gig! LOL Damn, Rockets! We're better than this!

[@chirocket4791]

Trading down.

[@futventurelab]

Suns will not trade either Book or KD..... Bradley Beal for Jalen Green seems a good fit for both teams but Beal is not leaving Suns voluntarily......

[@mahmudchowdhury7557]

Klay Thompson would not be a bad pickup for us

[@user-wo6je8iw7g]

Pg to old and won't do nothing here

[@TheRealTruth533]

Rockets stay away from Durant. He is poisonous and a complete trash can. Stay away.

[@PatBlom]

Okc fan here encouraging this to happen

[@brettdryburg8857]

Go Rockets!

[@Who-wg2nh]

Jackson likes Donavan Mitchel. Even he is a flawed player. 50% of the game is defense. Injury prone. Someone limited shouldn’t take a lot of your cap space.

[@djmill8000]

That's why I say trade Sengun

[@johnnytran2019]

Ya go ahead and kill me after what Stone did

[@PatBlom]

Funny how many rockets fans say Stone is playing chess. Meanwhile Presti is waiting to make his next move

[@PatBlom]

You haven’t realized after last year he doesn’t care about the Rockets but only his own job?