The Lager Line SportsTalk 790 (KBME-AM)

Bryan Kalbrosky, national NBA staff writer at USA TODAY’s For The Win, shares the latest intel and scouting analysis related to the Rockets and their No. 3 overall draft pick in the 2024 draft.

Topics in the May 23 episode — as always, hosted by our Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves — include a recent wave of Reed Sheppard rumors, as well as alternative options such as Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, trade scenarios, and more.

Monday’s episode features immediate reaction to the Rockets unexpectedly securing the No. 3 overall pick (via Brooklyn) in the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery.

Topics include plausible candidates (Alex Sarr, Donovan Clingan, Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham) to draft if Houston keeps its high first-round pick, as well as potential trade options to consider (Brandon Ingram, Mikal Bridges, Lauri Markkanen) if general manager Rafael Stone looks to trade the pick for more veteran, win-now help.

Though their 41-41 record was much improved from last season, Houston didn’t quite qualify for the 2024 NBA playoffs. Yet, among the teams competing, there are quite a few storylines that could become very relevant to the future of the Rockets.

On Friday’s show, our Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves dive into a wide range of Rockets-centric angles from the postseason. Topics include player and team comparisons; the encouraging implications of expensive teams going out early; and plausible trade options with those underachieving teams, such as a deal for Clippers star Paul George. 

The show wraps up with a preliminary look at internal decisions to come involving Houston’s pending free agents and players with 2024 team options. Those include Jock Landale, Aaron Holiday, Jae’Sean Tate, Jeff Green, Reggie Bullock Jr., and more.

The Rockets (41-41) finished 2023-24 at .500, and their 19-win jump from last season was the largest of any NBA team and the second-biggest annual increase in franchise history. Houston is just the fifth team in the last 30 years to follow up a 60-loss season with a non-losing campaign.

Given those clear signs of progress, owner Tilman Fertitta recently rewarded GM Rafael Stone and assistant GM Eli Witus with contract extensions.

With that in mind, Friday’s episode explains many of the factors pushing Fertitta in that direction. Other topics include offseason tidbits gleaned from Stone’s end-of-season press conference, as well as a preliminary look at storylines from the 2024 playoffs that could impact Houston.

In a loaded Western Conference, the goal of advancing to the 2024 postseason proved to be too ambitious for the young and improving Houston Rockets (39-40). Yet, with three games left to play, a more attainable goal of a .500 or better season is still on the table — and that’s a clear point of emphasis for head coach Ime Udoka.

With that in mind, Wednesday’s podcast explores the significance of Houston potentially recording a non-losing season for the first time in four years. Our Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves also break down recent improvements by Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. while analyzing how it could translate alongside Alperen Sengun (currently out due to injury) during the upcoming 2024-25 campaign.

Despite a 13-3 record from March onward, a 2024 Western Conference postseason berth is becoming increasingly unlikely for the Rockets (38-37). Thursday’s home game versus the Warriors (41-34), whose recent five-game winning streak has created separation in that race for the West’s final play-in tournament spot, could be Houston’s last hope of making a late charge.

Yet, even if the Rockets don’t advance, there’s still a strong case to be made that it was a successful season in Houston. With that in mind, topics on Wednesday’s podcast include the importance of finishing the year at .500 or better; more reasons to be encouraged by Jalen Green; questions regarding the future outlooks for Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson; and why Houston could climb up the West standings more quickly than some expect, starting this fall.