Stone and Ime Udoka speak about this past season and the future of the team.
The Houston Rockets recently concluded their 2023-24 season with a road win over the Los Angeles Clippers, finishing the season 41-41, a 19-game improvement over the previous year. Even though the Rockets came up short of their goal of making the NBA Play-In Tournament, they did exceed most preseason expectations.
The Rockets had already scheduled a press conference for Monday afternoon for head coach Ime Udoka and general manager Rafael Stone. However, we received breaking news before the press conference on Rafael Stone’s future with the Rockets.
ESPN Sources: Houston Rockets GM Rafael Stone and assistant GM Eli Witus signed multi-year contract extensions earlier this season. The combination of drafting and developing franchise’s young talent, free agents acquisitions, Coach Ime Udoka’s impact and ultimately the league’s… pic.twitter.com/5LDtmZdcfW
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 16, 2024
Rafael Stone was entering the final year of his contract. Stone took over for Darryl Morey following the 2019-2020 season. Here is a recap of the Rockets’ year-end press conference.
Press conference
During the press conference, Rafael Stone and Ime Udoka spoke about this past offseason, expectations for next season, possible extensions for Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, and more.
Stone spoke about that possible extension, and here is what he said.
Rafael Stone was asked about possible extensions for Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun.
“We will definitely talk about them” also
“Well have conversations and see what makes sense for us and them” pic.twitter.com/gLigvC8yjO— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) April 16, 2024
Stone didn’t say that the extensions would happen this offseason, but did open the door for them to happen. He also said they will have the opportunity next season, so they aren’t necessarily rushing into anything now.
The Rockets will have, at the very least, a top-nine pick in the upcoming draft, so I asked Stone if having so many young players already on the team influences his decision to trade the pick or not.
I asked Rafael Stone how much the fact that the Rockets already have several young players on the roster factors into whether they keep their upcoming top-10 pick.
Stone mentioned that if they believe there is a player who has star potential, they will take him but the fact that…
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) April 16, 2024
It seems the Rockets wouldn’t have a problem drafting another player in the upcoming draft, but they also realize that minutes may be hard to come by in the future with a roster practically already set for next season. The pick could move up depending on how the lottery picks fall, so that a higher pick could change this decision.
Coach Udoka was asked if he would work with any players this offseason.
Ime Udoka on working with his players throughout the offseason
“We might be over at Turkey at some point or wherever else in between” https://t.co/cpiIIwH01S pic.twitter.com/n3aAEJLv7g
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) April 16, 2024
Before his first season, Coach Udoka spoke about working out with several Rockets during the offseason to build a foundation with the players. It seems that will be the case again this season, even going as far as to say he will also travel to Turkey to work with Sengun.
Ime Udoka on working with his players throughout the offseason
“We might be over at Turkey at some point or wherever else in between” https://t.co/cpiIIwH01S pic.twitter.com/n3aAEJLv7g
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) April 16, 2024
We also saw several players working out together throughout the offseason, and that seems to be the plan again this offseason. A funny moment happened after Coach Udoka was asked if he had any parting words for Jalen Green after his strong second half of the season.
Coach Udoka was asked did he have any parting words for Jalen Green after his breakout late season improvement.
With a smile he said
“Do it earlier”Went on to say how proud he was of him. pic.twitter.com/IzJTge7eu5
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) April 16, 2024
He went on to express his pride in Green for sticking with it all season despite a slow start.
Conclusion
Listening to Coach Udoka and Rafael Stone, it seems that they are happy with the team’s direction and are not looking to make any major moves anytime soon. Of course, things can change, but it seems the Rockets realize they have Tari Eason coming back and a healthy Steven Adams to add to a team that won 41 games.
I don’t think we see any extensions this offseason, and I feel the Rockets will keep their top 10 pick and try to build depth behind their core players.
Head over to the Rocket Fuel YouTube page for the entire press conference.