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5:18 PM ET After an offseason of major change for the Houston Rockets, the team's new general manager and head coach emphasized that the franchise's primary goal remains the same: Chase a championship with a roster that features perennial MVP candidate James Harden as the franchise centerpiece. "For the last eight years or so, our goal has been to win a championship because we had James Harden," general manager Rafael Stone, a longtime Rockets front office employee promoted after Daryl Morey's resignation, said during a virtual news conference to introduce recently hired head coach Stephen Silas. "We've still got James Harden. Our goal is still to win a championship, and if you've got him, you're halfway there. "It's incumbent on me and Stephen and the whole team to figure out the rest of the whole, but the key piece is there." Silas, 47, whose two decades of experience as an NBA assistant coach include most recently serving as R...

Kobe Bryant was one of the most influential players to ever step foot on the basketball court. Even after his tragic passing back in January, NBA fans will never forget his legacy. Athletes from all around the globe loved Kobe. One prime example of that is the players’ collections of Kobe’s sneakers. P. J. Tucker is unarguably known as the sneaker king all around the league. However, according to Tucker, it’s not him who has collected most Kobe sneakers. He revealed the name in a recent interview with the ‘Better Generation’. “ Isiah Thomas takes it over. Every time he gets his (Sneakers), he’ll hit me up. I’ll be like why you put so little bro I need those. He got some crazy, especially the ones he got when he was with the Lakers.  “ DeMar DeRozan for sure the number one Kobe fan… He’s like a Kobe F like DeMar is crazy like I am crazy Kobe (fan). DeMar is like another level, he’s another level. When it comes to Kobe like straight Kobe is DeMar for sure for sure. DeMar’s got mo...

If you like cases that raise big questions of foreign policy and contract law, then boy do I have a runner-up for you!: U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla in Manhattan on October 16 found that Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA has to pay up after it defaulted on $1.68 billion in bonds in October 2019. The judge rejected PDVSA’s claims that the bonds were invalid and found that the underlying contracts, which were negotiated and executed entirely in New York, are governed by New York law. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and Latham & Watkins co-led the matter for MUFG Union Bank and GLAS Americas, the trustee and collateral agent respectively for bondholders. During a four-and-a-half hour video conference hearing, Paul Weiss partner Walter Rieman argued federal law and New York law issues, and Latham & Watkins partner Chris Clark argued issues of Venezuelan law. If you like cases that raise big questions of foreign policy and contract law and sport...

Winslow Townson (USA Today) The Houston Rockets are in a fairly dire situation. They just got decimated by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the playoffs. They'll have a new coach and a new general manager next season. They owe two first-round picks and two pick swaps to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their two superstars, James Harden and Russell Westbrook, are now in their 30s and have hefty contracts still on the books. That isn't uncommon for Houston. They owe their top five players almost $120 million, and will almost certainly pay the luxury tax next season.  The future is not particularly bright in Houston.  With that in mind, there is an argument to be made in favor of kickstarting a rebuild now. Trading Harden would still net a significant return, but the longer they wait, the less likely that is to be true. Wait too long, and they might be stuck with aging versions of Harden, Westbrook and Eric Gordon that are no longer capable of contending. For now,...

Houston Rockets Russell Westbrook James Harden (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) Newly promoted Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone will have to immediately get to work, as the Rockets have several pressing decisions that need to be made. With the 2019-20 NBA season officially in the books, the next chapter for the Houston Rockets is the 2020 offseason, which has been an eventful one thus far. The Rockets were dealt a sizable blow in the front office, as longtime general manager Daryl Morey decided to step down, opting to maximize on quality time with his family, and rightfully so. Morey becomes the third front office member to leave the Rockets within the past year, as Monte McNair departed for the Sacramento Kings’ front office vacancy earlier in the offseason, which comes a year after Gersson Rosas joined the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Rockets promoted Rafael Stone to fill Morey’s position and promoted Eli Witus as Stone’s assistant GM. The Rockets had a fairly s...

HOUSTON, Texas -- Former Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey took out a full-page advertisement in the Houston Chronicle on Sunday to thank the numerous people who helped him during his 13 seasons with the team. But he saved his most effusive praise for Rockets star James Harden, writing, in bold, "James Harden changed my life." "An entire page could be dedicated just to James," Morey wrote. "He not only transformed my life but also revolutionized the game of basketball -- and continues to do so -- like almost no one has before. The game is played differently because of James, and on every playground in the world, the next generation of talent is studying and imitating his game." Morey brought Harden to Houston in an October 2012 blockbuster trade. The deal was one of 77 trades that Morey conducted as Rockets general manager. Harden went on to win the 2018 MVP award and the past three scoring titles while making eight straight All-Star teams a...

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 06: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors speaks to the media after Game Three of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on June 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 110-102. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) The 2020-21 NBA season should be a good one. We’ll have the Los Angeles Lakers going for a repeat, the Los Angeles Clippers looking to avenge their postseason collapse, the Golden State Warriors likely back in contention and Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving trying to dominate out east. Warriors star Draymond Green recently discussed the 2020-21 NBA regular season. He identified one team he thinks people will be sleeping on too much. That team: Houston. The Rockets aren’t your typical “sleeper” team – they have James Harden and Russell Westbrook, after all – but they will have a new head coach and a new GM. Also, people are probably growing tired of picking Houston to go deep in th...

L et’s call it a family affair as Tilman Fertitta clan’s hospitality empire teams up with the legendary King Ranch family to introduce a new Houston restaurant. King Ranch Texas Kitchen is set to open before the holidays at 1605 Post Oak Boulevard. As might be expected from a Lone Star ranching dominion, the bigger-is-better menu will be heavy on beef. Consider, for example, The Beast, a five-pound Texas Wagyu-X braised beef shank which is accompanied by a do-it-yourself taco service. “We worked diligently with King Ranch to translate their brand into a culinary experience unlike any other,” executive chef Carlos Rodriguez says in a statement. “As a legendary part of Texas history, we are thrilled to bring their vision for the first-ever King Ranch branded restaurant to life.” Ranch favorites that will be highlighted on the diverse menu include King Ranch nilgai (antelope), King Ranch fried quail, Heartbrand Akaushi Smoked Vaquero Tacos and a two-pound Texas traditional Smoked Big B...

The New York Knicks have been linked to just about every veteran star believed to be available on the trade market this offseason. Chris Paul and Victor Oladipo have already made their way through the rumor mill, and now, we can potentially add another name to that list: Russell Westbrook. According to SNY's Ian Begley, NBA agents believe that the Knicks "would poke around" on a possible Westbrook trade should the Houston Rockets make him available.  At this time, there is no indication that the Rockets plan to make Westbrook available. However, it should be noted that the Rockets aggressively denied rumors that they would consider trading Chris Paul in 2019. We all know how that turned out. On paper, there are a number of arguments in favor of a Westbrook trade. The best are financial. The Rockets owe around $118 million to only five players next season: Westbrook, James Harden, Eric Gordon, P.J. Tucker and Robert Covington.  While the extent of it is not fully kn...

Former Houston Rockets guard Kenny Smith provided advice that could prove to be difficult for the NBA commissioner Adam Silver to accept. The Houston Rockets‘ 2020 postseason experience was unconventional, to say the least, as the NBA playoffs were held on the Wide World of Sports campus. NBA commissioner Adam Silver was forced to adapt to the challenging and disparaging effects of the novel coronavirus, which initially forced the sports world to shut down. The Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder’s March 11th matchup was postponed, as Jazz big man Rudy Gobert became the first of many NBA players and athletes to contract the virus, putting the remainder of the 2019-20 season in limbo. Silver and the Players Association sought to find a way to crown a champion, and were the first major sports league that was able to not only resume, but to also successfully finish. But the league is facing similar challenges heading into the 2020-21 season, as it’s been reported that they’re targetin...

12:03 AM ET As far as Austin Rivers is concerned, he proved himself right with his career-high 41-point performance in the Houston Rockets' 129-112 win on Sunday over the Sacramento Kings. "You continue to tell yourself, 'You can do this, you can do this, you can do this, you can do this,' for nights like this," said Rivers, who had the most points by a Rockets reserve since Sleepy Floyd in 1991. "I believe I'm a premier scorer. "That's just how I feel, but I'm on a team where that's not required of me every night. I play with the best scorer in the NBA, and I play with the other one of the best scorers in the NBA, in Russell Westbrook and James Harden. So you've got to play a role and buy in. That's what winning basketball is, and that's what I'm a part of, so that's what I do. But make no mistake, I know I can score the ball. When you get in that zone, there's nothing better than that. It's just different....

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 30: A general shot of a Spaulding basket ball on the court during the game between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on October 30, 2014 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Knicks defeated the Cavaliers 95-90. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) A photo of a U.S. Senator’s customized NBA jersey is going viral on social media this weekend. Josh Hawley, a United States Senator from Missouri, has been a vocal critic of the NBA and the league’s relationship with China. It was Hawley who received the “f–k you” email from ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski. Hawley had sent a letter criticizing the NBA for its relationship with China. The U.S. Senator isn’t backing down in his criticism of the league, either. Hawley recently ordered a customized NBA jersey. Hawley ordered a Houston Rockets jersey with “Free Hong Kong” on the back nameplate. He said the jersey is a tribute to Rockets GM Daryl Morey, “ maybe the only person in NBA world wi...

On their own, few countries are powerful enough to stand up to bullying by China, and the existing security alliances upon which the world’s major democracies depend weren’t built to address the economic threats now emanating from Beijing. This spring, shortly after Australia called for an international investigation into the origins of COVID-19, the Chinese ambassador to that country threatened an economic boycott, declaring that the Chinese public could go without Australian wine and beef, among other products. Since China is Australia’s largest export market, this was no small threat. Subsequently, China blocked imports from major Australian meat producers and placed tariffs on Australian barley. More and more, China is using its massive economic weight to threaten countries that challenge its actions, criticize its leaders, or express sympathy for people whom it considers dissidents or separatists. In April, Chinese officials threatened the European Union with unnamed repercussi...

The final piece to the 15-man roster for the Houston Rockets at the NBA “bubble” in Florida is reportedly getting closer to his arrival. Veteran forward Luc Mbah a Moute, who signed with the team earlier this month, is expected to arrive “soon,” reports Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle . Mbah a Moute has been away from the team since signing his contract due to an undisclosed reason. But the Rockets have expressed confidence throughout the process that Mbah a Moute would eventually rejoin them. Furthermore, Monday’s decision to include him on the final roster for the upcoming restart would seem to be a clear signal of their confidence in his availability to play. Russell Westbrook was scheduled to arrive Monday and rejoin the team after a temporary delay due to his positive COVID-19 test. That makes Mbah a Moute the last to arrive among players on the final roster. Head coach Mike D’Antoni said Monday that he still did not have a precise timetable on Mbah a Moute, who playe...

HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 30: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Houston Rockets and James Harden #13 react in the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Toyota Center on November 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) Earlier this week, there were rumors two Houston Rockets superstars had not yet traveled to Orlando for the NBA bubble. Those rumors were proven true on Saturday. James Harden and Russell Westbrook are not in the Orlando bubble, yet. Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni confirmed the rumors himself on Saturday afternoon. It’s unclear why James Harden and Russell Westbrook opted not to travel with the team to Orlando. All players have arrived in the bubble as a team, as the Rockets did earlier this week. But both Harden and Westbrook were absent from the travel. Rockets fans have no need to worry, though. Mike D’Antoni informed reporters both Harden and Westbrook will be joining the team in just a few days. Each will travel to the NBA’s Orlan...

If nothing else, the Rockets are never dull. It has been 25 years since they won the second of their consecutive championships (coming out of the sixth seed, where they sit heading to Florida,) but they are never just another team in the pack of playoff hopefuls. Some of that comes from the parade of stars and celebrities they have employed in the years since, some from having the fourth-best record of the past 10 years. They make big trades, run toward large gambles and aspire greatly. They have also tended to zig when others zag, especially this season, which will put them in the spotlight brighter than would seem headed toward a team that will begin play in the NBA restart tied for fifth in the Western Conference. The Rockets were among those inspiring conversation and debate when the season was stopped March 11 because of the coronavirus pandemic. That’s what comes with a backcourt of former MVPs and a daring move to use a unique playing style. They will remain one of the more...

HOUSTON – The Houston Rockets’ revised schedule is loaded with some of the top opponents in the NBA. The team will play on national TV six out of the seven games in Orlando with game 8 against the 76ers, also likely to be played on TV. Here’s a look at the Rockets’ schedule: July 31 - Dallas Mavericks One of the Rockets’ natural rivals and division rivals have been revived by superstar guard Luka Doncic, but the Slovenian star has been called “out of shape” by his trainer. The Mavs are 1.5 games behind the Rockets in the West and will be hungry for a win. August 2 - Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks have the best record in the NBA and the league’s reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. This one will be heated after James Harden and Antetokounmpo took shots at each other. August 4 - Portland Trailblazers The Blazers are on the outside looking in for the playoffs and need to make a run to overtake the Memphis Grizzlies. Guard Damian Lillard will be hungry in this game. August...

Hosts: Jeremy Brener, Michael Brown Jeremy and Michael discuss the opening of the NBA Transaction Window, and how it pertains to the Houston Rockets and their roster. Harden My Take is on iTunes: Click Here to Download . Click here for the direct RSS feed. Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes. Send all feedback, comments, and questions to jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com. Please leave any request to add the RSS feed to any other podcast another site here as well. Huge thanks to @kblampson for name suggestion and Alec Greenberg for logo. This podcast has no affiliation or likeness to the Pardon My Take podcast on Barstool Sports. Please leave any questions for next week’s podcast in the comment section.

In recent voting from staff members at The Ringer , Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey was ranked No. 2 among all NBA executives. Morey has led basketball operations for the Rockets since his promotion to the GM role following the 2006-07 season. In 2018, he was voted by his peers as the NBA’s Executive of the Year after those Rockets finished with the league’s top record (65-17) and the best in franchise history. During his time in charge, the Rockets have not had a losing record and have advanced to the playoffs 10 times, headlined by a pair of trips to the Western Conference Finals in 2015 and 2018. Prior to those years, Houston had not advanced that far in the NBA playoffs since 1997. Here’s how The Ringer characterized Morey’s tenure: In similar fashion to [Boston’s Danny] Ainge, Morey is the kind of executive whose reputation — or at least his publicized reputation — precedes him. What the internet has made Morey out to be has become muddled with what Morey actually is as an e...

The decision isn’t yet final, but Mike D’Antoni could be a step closer to continuing in his role as Houston Rockets head coach upon the NBA’s July restart at a neutral “bubble” complex near Orlando. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says adults over 65 years old are at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and D’Antoni is now 69. Other head coaches in that category are San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich (71) and Alvin Gentry (65) of New Orleans. As such, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently suggested that “certain coaches” might not be allowed to coach from the bench upon the league’s restart. During games, NBA coaches frequently interact with players inside of the CDC’s physical distancing recommendation of six feet. But Silver walked back those comments within hours, and Rockets GM Daryl Morey subsequently said that D’Antoni will continue in his usual role as head coach of the Rockets. D’Antoni has said he wants to coach, although he...