In the end, the recent trade of second-round draft assets to Memphis for veteran center Steven Adams was the only February 2024 move for the Houston Rockets. While Adams is a reliable big man who has started for playoff teams throughout a strong career, the 30-year-old will not be available until next season due to a knee injury.
Despite several rumors going into Thursday’s in-season deadline day for 2023-24 NBA trades, none came to fruition in Houston.
With the deadline transaction window complete, general manager Rafael Stone took questions from reporters prior to Monday’s matchup versus New York (Houston’s first post-deadline home game). First and foremost on the agenda was addressing the completed deal.
“I think we got a really high-level basketball player, a guy who’s been a dominant rebounding force in the NBA for the last five, six years, one of the best defenders in the NBA,” Stone said. “We obviously feel great with Alperen [Sengun], but I just think now we have truly two starter-level centers next year. Depth is just extraordinarily important. But on top of that, he’s just a very different player, and I think will be a good complement on and off the court for our group.”
Topics in the extended Q&A session included motivations for the Adams deal and his health outlook for the 2024-25 campaign; why no other trades got to the finish line this month; and how Stone views the path forward as the team moves through its rebuilding phases.
Here’s our roundup of what Stone told media members on Monday.
Rafael Stone interview tidbits, Feb. 12
Rockets GM Rafael Stone said the team explored things that would help the team now and in the future, but ultimately decided it was best to stand pat at the trade deadline.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 12, 2024
Rafael Stone on Steven Adams: “I think we got a really high-level player. One of the best defenders in the NBA.”
Says Houston now has two starting-level centers pic.twitter.com/xnhA2AlMVG
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 12, 2024
Rafael Stone on Jalen Green:
"Jalen has been, and continues to be on paper, a great fit with us. He has a skillset that isn't really replicated on our roster."
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 12, 2024
Steven Adams (per Rockets GM Rafael Stone:)
-surgery went well
-ahead of schedule on rehab
-passed his physical
-they anticipate him being ready for next season.— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) February 12, 2024
#Rockets GM Rafael Stone: "We have left a bunch of wins on the table this year through all kinds of mistakes."
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) February 12, 2024
Rafael Stone tells me the Steven Adams acquisition makes it "very, very likely" the #Rockets will operate above the salary cap this summer https://t.co/yLvCEAFU2A
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 12, 2024
Rafael Stone says he and Ime Udoka reached the same conclusion on "every single deal" they reviewed together at the trade deadline
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 12, 2024
Rafael Stone says Steven Adams passed his physical and is ahead of schedule with his knee rehab. #Rockets expect him to be fully ready for training camp.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 12, 2024
“Growth is expected and demanded here.”
–@HoustonRockets GM Rafael Stone
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) February 12, 2024
#Rockets GM Rafael Stone says Steven Adams is ahead of schedule in rehab and he anticipates that the 30-year old center will be ready to go for camp in 2024-25. pic.twitter.com/sRcgKD709L
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 12, 2024
Rafael Stone says the #Rockets are pleased with the growth of Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun and the young players that have been in the organization for a couple years, but, "I want to be clear: We're demanding. Growth is expected and demanded here."
"None of them are finished… pic.twitter.com/ZnHCjBLNZR
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 13, 2024
I asked Rafael Stone if the Rockets will be active in the buyout market
“Will look at the buyout market and if something makes sense we might do something but primarily we are focused on the guys currently on the roster”. pic.twitter.com/A8oEhGnVvP
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) February 12, 2024
Here Rafael Stone talks about the development of Jalen Green
“He has a skill that isn’t really replicated on our roster”. pic.twitter.com/Erj6IMDDwI— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) February 13, 2024
.@HoustonRockets GM Rafael Stone speaks on what veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks bring to the floor pic.twitter.com/ToRVbnEKQ4
— Connor McGovern (@ConnorDMcGovern) February 13, 2024
.@HoustonRockets GM Rafael Stone says he’s excited for Cam Whitmore’s future pic.twitter.com/KncGFYxGb7
— Connor McGovern (@ConnorDMcGovern) February 12, 2024
