rockets – MDHQ http://www.mockdrafthq.com Updated Mock Drafts, Prospect Rankings, Scouting Reports Fri, 15 Jan 2021 03:45:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Here’s Why The Rockets Traded James Harden For Practically Nothing http://www.mockdrafthq.com/2021/01/heres-why-the-rockets-traded-james-harden-for-practically-nothing.html Fri, 15 Jan 2021 03:43:48 +0000 http://www.mockdrafthq.com/?p=11569 The NBA just had a huge trade go down that saw 4 teams trade players. In the deal James Harden was sent from Houston to Brooklyn, who received Victor Oladipo in return for Carius Levert who was routed to Indiana. The Rockets also got 4 first rounders and 4 pick swaps in return.

Why did the Rockets do this?

Very simple reason. It sets them up for success in a post Lebron/post Durant NBA.

The players that the Rockets got back are all on the last year of their contracts. They will not be there longterm. The Rockets can even flip them and picks now for a young star like Bradley Beal (though John Wall would probably not like that.)

The Rockets are playing the long game. They have expirings, picks that go until 2027, and get cap space in the immediate future. The Rockets can reboot and trade up for a Cade Cunningham in the draft, or just wait and build their team for the next six seasons as giants like Lebron, Curry, and Durant retire.

Details of the James Harden Trade

The NBA is a “win now” culture but there is something to be said for building for the future. Especially in a market like Houston where you will always attract free agents and young players will want to resign. If the Rockets play their cards right they can rebuild and be one of the teams on the rise in the second half of the 2020’s!

]]> Here’s Why The Wizards Traded John Wall For Russell Westbrook http://www.mockdrafthq.com/2020/12/heres-why-the-wizards-traded-john-wall-for-russell-westbrook.html Thu, 03 Dec 2020 02:26:53 +0000 http://www.mockdrafthq.com/?p=11530 The Rockets and Wizards finally completed the much rumored John Wall-Russell Westbrook trade. It is a lateral move for both teams but it gives the guys a fresh look.

Wall gets to play with his best friend BOOGIE (Demarcus) Cousins and Westbrook gets to go back to old Westbrook and control an offense. Bradley Beal gets to play off the ball and catch-and-shoot which he is going to be great doing.

Looks like this may be the rare win/win NBA trade.

Here’s the details on the trade:

]]> Rockets Unveil New Gray & Black Alternate Uniforms http://www.mockdrafthq.com/2015/09/rockets-unveil-gray-black-alternate-uniforms.html Wed, 16 Sep 2015 02:59:33 +0000 http://www.mockdrafthq.com/?p=8056 The Houston Rockets are looking for that elusive ring under the James Harden era. If they have anything to say about it, that ring will be coming to H Town sooner rather than later. The team has ramped up a new campaign titled “#Pursuit” along with the full blown social media and PR.

Part of the pursuit campaign are new black and gray uniforms which will be part of the Rockets’ alternates.

Let’s break these down.

Black Away Uniforms with White Numbers

These are pretty cool actually. I’m not a fan of the checkerboard and I have no clue if it has any Houston significance. These should sell well as they match a lot of shoes.

Gray Away/Home Uniforms with Black Numbers

These are…. interesting. I think Dwight Howard’s face in the photo says it all. Again, the checkerboard is there only more pronounced with white checks. What are those black lines for on the shoulders? Not to mention the God awful sleeves.

They may look cool in a video game but in real life…. ehh….

Red Away Uniforms with Yellow Numbers

Again, why do they continue to make this jersey without white numbers?!!! It’s like it makes too much sense just to do the right thing. The bold “CLUTCH CITY” text looks dumb too. Yeah, that will show them you mean business. We’ll splatter the word CLUTCH on our chests.

All in all these are pretty bad I won’t lie, but the black jerseys are cool. The Rockets in general have just a bad collection of uniforms.

It might be time for the Rockets to just ditch their whole current brand and relaunch.

]]> Dwight Howard Will Earn More Money With Rockets Due to California Taxes http://www.mockdrafthq.com/2013/07/dwight-howard-will-earn-more-money-with-rockets-due-to-california-taxes.html Wed, 03 Jul 2013 03:25:20 +0000 http://www.mockdrafthq.com/?p=5426 Dwight Howard has a really big decision to make. Will he ride it out with the Lakers and try to go down in history or will he go to a ready made championship team in the Houston Rockets?

Let’s not kid ourselves here, the only options are Houston and Los Angeles. Atlanta and Golden State are pipe dreams.

Well according to an accountant interviewed by ESPN, the decision may come down to the finances. Howard stands to net $2.6 million more dollars AFTER TAXES if he moves to Texas.

If you ask me, for any man rich or poor it’s an easy decision:

Howard could get only a four-year max deal by going somewhere else and would make $1.7 million less per season, but could still come out on top if he signs with the Houston Rockets or Dallas Mavericks and makes his home in Texas, a state that has no income tax. Over a four-year period, Howard would gross $94.4 million off a contract with the Lakers and $87.6 million from a contract with an NBA team in Texas, but Raiola says the difference in the state income tax between California and Texas would result in Howard netting $2.6 million more from a Texas-based team. That’s even including jock taxes, which are the taxes Howard would have to pay states when he plays on the road. “If Dwight signs with the Lakers, it would be ideal if he could play in California but not be a resident in the state,” Raiola said.

ESPN.com

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