The Houston Rockets are coming off a second consecutive exit in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that a major win-now transaction is coming in the 2026 offseason.
On ESPN’s latest Howdy Partners show, Tim MacMahon and Michael C. Wright indicated that a longer-term vision remains in place.
Houston has five first-round picks on its roster from the 2021 through 2024 draft classes (Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Reed Sheppard), and the focus is on what the team hopes is an extended window of contention.
Even with Kevin Durant turning 38 years old in September and still in All-Star form, it’s the young core that reportedly remains the priority.
On Thursday’s show, MacMahon and Wright said:
Wright: If you’re surveying the landscape and seeing what these juggernauts (around the NBA) have done, and how they’ve built it, I think the patient approach is probably the best way to go. But you know how it goes, these billionaire owners want to compete. You want to get there as quick as you can, and maybe you can get there, but then your window is shorter.
MacMahon: They have Rafael Stone and Patrick Fertitta, Tilman Fertitta’s son. They have preached patience to Tilman. When you talk about ownership with the Rockets, Tilman is the owner, but Patrick is the day-to-day presence. He’s the guy who is really hands on, at the practice facility on a regular basis, and with the team. He’s the one who’s running the team, side by side with Rafael Stone. I can just tell you, Patrick has a very patient approach, which is a little surprising. He’s in his early 30s.
Going back to the (James) Harden trade and the painful rebuild and all that, he’s the one who has really been able to convince his dad, ‘We have to be patient. We have to take a long-term view.’ I can just tell you, he’s not wavering off of that.
Wright: That’s great to hear because that’s a little security for Rafael, and I really like the way he’s done things. He’s exercised some restraint. They’ve got some young talent that looks like it can be something, but they’ve got to cultivate it. It’s up to them to develop it.
MacMahon: It’s up to the young guys.
Elsewhere in the show, the hosts named Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell — but not Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo — as someone the Rockets could be aggressive to try and land via trade, should he become available.
Mitchell, 29, is more than two years younger than Antetokounmpo. He also has significantly less injury history and will make a bit less money next season ($50.1 vs. $58.5 million).
With Mitchell as just one example, it’s clear that Fertitta and Stone haven’t foreclosed the possibility of a major move this offseason. It’s just not something they’re desperate to do, and it’ll likely require the right player coming available at the right price point, in terms of assets.
The complete episode can be listened to here.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: ESPN: Rockets’ Patrick Fertitta ‘not wavering’ from patient approach
Reporting by Ben DuBose, Rockets Wire / Rockets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
