Thursday is Dec. 15, and each year, that date is the unofficial kickoff to NBA trade season. It is the date most players who signed new contracts in the offseason become trade eligible, and it opens many more trade possibilities, since each team has a much easier path to meeting salary matching rules.
So, what does that mean for the Houston Rockets and third-year general manager Rafael Stone? It might not mean much, since they likely will not want to jeopardize the significant salary cap room they’re in line to have in the 2023 offseason.
Even so, some situations may need resolving, such as Eric Gordon and KJ Martin, whom recent reports addressed. Thursday’s episode of The Lager Line podcast (sponsored by Clutch City Lager of Karbach Brewing) explores the likely outcomes and what the path forward should be for Stone and the Rockets.
The show also features reaction to Houston’s recent upturn in play and its five-game home winning streak, along with insight on how fans should balance those short-term improvements versus any potential detriment to their 2023 NBA draft lottery odds.
Thursday’s full podcast can be listened to below. With Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves as hosts, each episode of the weekly show is also available via flagship radio station SportsTalk 790, as well as to all major podcast distributors under “The Lager Line.”
