Rockets Pre-Season Presser

[78#]

Hello everyone.

Last season was a good season winning 54 games and winning a very tight first round series against a very good Blazers team. Then we matched up with the 74 win Nuggets and ended losing 4-2.

This offseason we came in trying to improve the roster with the added cap space in free agency. With the draft, we had a late first round pick and we got Gerasim Khristich from Russia by way of Mississippi St. We look his length, his athleticism and potential to score. He needs to get stronger if he wants to get playing time, but we do like his potential long-term.

With restricted free agency, we sent several bids and we signed both Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart. We really didn't have a realistic change to do a sign and trade with the Hawks for Kuzma, but we were able to reach a deal with the Thunder to obtain Hart by trading a future first. We like Hart's upside with his scoring and athleticism and we now we have time to let him develop though he is getting a nice salary.

In unrestricted free agency we still had cap room to make further moves. We sent several bids and first landed wing scorer Desean Hawkins. Despite his criminal past, we needed his scoring to pair up with Keith Pfeffer and also make us patient with Josh Hart. Then we were able to re-sign All-Star Frank Garden and Desus Mero due to having bird rights. We then rounded out our roster re-signing Timothy Kilmer, Linwood Yamato, and Jonathan Treat to help complete our rotation.

Training camp went well overall. Non of our major veterans were hit and despite Josh Hart not having a great TC, he was protected so he actually improved and kept his potentials.

Our DC will look like this:

Center - starting James McCormick with Kilmer as the backup
Power Forward - Frank Garden and Kilmer as the backup
Small Forward - Desean Hawkins with either Hart or Treat as the backup
Shooting Guard - Keith Pfeffer with Treat or Hart as the backup
Point Guard - Desus Mero with Yamato as the backup

We feel excited for the upcoming season and hope we can build off of last season. Thank you. We're taking questions now.

[false9]

You’ve spent heavily this offseason. What would you define as a successful season?

[JNR]

GWR: Are you excited for the chance to challenge the Nuggets for the division?

[78#]

You’ve spent heavily this offseason. What would you define as a successful season?

I’m not sure. Hopefully improve in the win total and compete for a conference title.


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[78#]

GWR: Are you excited for the chance to challenge the Nuggets for the division?

I miss my old division rivals, but dealing with the Nuggets is a new challenge and I hope we can compete for the division


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[digiskunk]

Desean Hawkins has undoubtedly been the biggest pickup for you this offseason. What sort of impact should we expect him to make on the starting lineup?

[Eazy P]

What role will Josh Hart play on your team and will you miss our division rivalry?

[WigNosy]

What did you see that led you to select Gerasim Khristitch with your late pick over players who arguably had more potential?

[garbageman]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: Gerasim Kristich is an interesting prospect. Tell us a little about whether he'll see any playing time this year and also about his journey...how does a Russian basketballer make the transition to Mississippi State of all places?

[78#]

Desean Hawkins has undoubtedly been the biggest pickup for you this offseason. What sort of impact should we expect him to make on the starting lineup?

A big impact especially with scoring.


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[78#]

What role will Josh Hart play on your team and will you miss our division rivalry?

Not much. He didn’t improve much.

Well not this season since your team is stacked


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[78#]

What did you see that led you to select Gerasim Khristitch with your late pick over players who arguably had more potential?

It’s not common you see an Afro-Russian guy so I was intrigued


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