Rockets GM Rafael Stone Reveals Thoughts on Roster: 'We Feel Good!'

The Houston Rockets are improving from last year, but they aren't satisfied yet.

Jeremy Brener | Dec 21, 2023

Rockets GM Rafael Stone Reveals Thoughts on Roster: 'We Feel Good!' /

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Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets are one game above .500 with 25 games under their belt, which is a far cry from where they were a year ago. However, it isn't the final destination as expectations have grown for the Rockets.

General manager Rafael Stone led the charge of the roster overhaul this offseason and he believes the team has made strong strides so far this season.

"We feel good about the progress we’ve made to date, but it’s just too early to tell where exactly we are. We’re a quarter of the way through the season, not at the end of the season," Stone said via Kelly Iko of The Athletic. "I think we’re happy with where the group has been to date. But again, the challenge is to make sure that we’re not complacent and that we keep improving because we do need to improve in all facets of the game."

Among Stone's top moves include the hiring of coach Ime Udoka, which led to the signings of Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet. On top of that, the team has added Aaron Holiday and Jeff Green to a bench unit that's been one of the better ones in the league.

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Now, the test for the Rockets is ensuring the team continues to make progress as December begins to turn into January.

The Rockets are back in action tomorrow night when they host Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT from Toyota Center.

Published Dec 21, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.