Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green Extensions are the confirmation of Rafael Stone

When Rafael Stone took over as general manager of the Houston Rockets just before the start of the 2021 season, he was coming to a team headed for collapse. After a disappointing loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the 2020 playoffs, it looked like the team’s championship window had closed.

They didn’t know it at the time, but this began the rebuilding era for the Rockets. In September 2020, Mike D’Antoni, the head coach of the Rockets for four seasons, decided that he did not want to return as head coach for the 2020–21 season.

The subsequent significant development was that GM Daryl Morey stepped down on November 1, 2020 to spend more time with his family. Although reports of his decision surfaced several weeks earlier, it became official on that date. However, More’s hiatus from basketball was brief as he accepted the job with the Philadelphia 76ers just one day later.

During that time, the Rockets faced the challenge of hiring a new head coach following D’Antoni’s departure. Morey’s departure from the team complicated that task, meaning Stone had to take over while managing several significant changes simultaneously. The Rockets would hire Stephan Silas to try to navigate a rebuild while still trying to win games.

It didn’t stop there because, during the Covid-shortened offseason, Russell Westbrook was said to want a change of scenery after just one year with the Rockets. Stone, only a month into the job, now had to find a business partner for the former MVP.

In January 2021, James Harden, the franchise’s second-best player of all time, was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. The deal included three first-round picks, four first-round pick trades, guard Dante Exum and a 2022 first-round pick from Cleveland. The rebuild was now in full swing.

This rebuild saw the Rockets finish 17-55, making them the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft. The Rockets were now in full rebuild mode, and the 2021 draft would be the Stone’s first draft and biggest moment yet.

That second pick became Jalen Green, and later that night, the Rockets traded two future first-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Alperen Sengun. With any rebuilding team, especially one with multiple players under 20 at the time, the Rockets had one of the worst records in the league from 2021 to 2023.

Last season saw significant changes with the hiring of Ime Udoka and the addition of notable free agents like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. The Rockets posted a league-best improvement with 19 wins and all but clinched a playoff spot.

The new addition did make a difference. Still, a big reason for the difference in turnover was Sengun’s All-Star-level play since the start of the season and Jalen Green’s play in the second half of the season, especially the difference in march

Last season’s success appears to have been the turning point in the Rockets’ belief in their two young potential stars, and that confidence was borne out by the extensions given to both players on Monday afternoon.

The 2021 NBA draft was Stone’s first chance to show everyone his vision for the Rockets going forward. While neither player has taken the league by storm yet based on expectations and where the Rockets were a few years ago, it would have to be said that Stone passed his first test with flying colors.

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