The trade package the Houston Rockets received for James Harden has come under scrutiny since the trade deadline in which they received very little in return for Victor Oladipo. Rafael Stone, however, continues to believe in the trade package he selected. 

The Rockets received three first-round picks from the Nets, a first-round pick from the Bucks, and the option to switch draft position in four drafts in exchange for Harden. Houston also essentially chose to take on Oladipo instead of Caris LeVert. 

“Given the types (of draft picks) we got back like, it feels like you can’t possibly know how you did for multiple years, like five, something like that,” Stone said. “But I feel good about it. I would for sure 100 percent do that deal again. There’s literally no part of me regrets doing that deal. I am not second-guessing it for a moment.

“Being in a position to not have to be bad, there’s some other things we’ve done to help that, too, but it’s primarily that deal that’s allowed us to say, ‘Hey, we want to compete on a slightly quicker time frame.’ We’re not going to go down this path of trying to intentionally lose games for years on end.”

Stone also pushed back on the narrative that any of the deals was directed by Tilman Fertitta.

“No offense to my boss, he doesn’t really have (a role) in a deal like this,” Stone said. “I do my very best to be a constant contact with Tilman, telling him about the direction we’re trying to go in … and I want him to feel very, very comfortable about our processes. Tilman is a deal guy. He’s super valuable to me as a resource.

“In terms of actual players? No. He leaves that up to us.”

Stone also talked about Houston's pursuit of a title over the past several years has contributed to their current state.

“I’m completely unapologetic about that,” Stone said, “Organizationally, for the last five or six years, maybe the longer, we’ve been all in every year, and given the players we’ve had, the place that our roster has been, the team construct we had, I think we did the right thing.

“That’s how we find ourselves in the position where we are today. There’s consequences to that. We’re kind of living those consequences.”

The Miami Heat have agreed to acquire Victor Oladipo from the Houston Rockets for Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk and a pick swap in 2022.

Oladipo has been linked to the Heat for months with him keeping an offseason home in Miami.

The Rockets acquired Oladipo in January as part of the James Harden trade.

The New York Knicks and Miami Heat have been linked with Victor Oladipo, but neither team appears to have the appetite to send a significant trade package to the Houston Rockets at the deadline for him.

Both teams could sign Oladipo outright in the offseason and the Knicks may not even have any interest in doing so.

"I don't sense the interest in a future partnership with Oladipo is significant with the Knicks," said Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Rockets may find themselves having to trade Oladipo to a team that views him as a possible rental.

The Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic have had serious talks on a potential Aaron Gordon trade, sources tell Zach Lowe.

Houston would likely need to send multiple picks to the Magic to consummate a trade.

It is uncertain what type of situation Gordon would prefer to end up in, or if he has the power to influence that part of trade talks.

Gordon can become a free agent after the 21-22 season.

Victor Oladipo will likely be traded by the Houston Rockets before the deadline on Thursday.

The Miami Heat and New York Knicks, who each could sign Oladipo outright as a free agent this offseason, are reluctant to offer a premium trade package to the Rockets. Oladipo is in the final season of a four-year, $85 million deal he signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

There are teams who don't project to have cap space who are bidding with combinations of a first round pick and a young player.

"The Rockets are increasingly comfortable with the offers on Oladipo in the marketplace," reports Adrian Wojnarowski.

Oladipo and the Knicks have "a mutual interest."

The Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic have discussed a trade involving Victor Oladipo and Aaron Gordon.

Oladipo would have no future with the Magic, so a third team may have to be involved.

The Rockets had been looking for a first-round pick in return for Oladipo, and would have to part with more assets to acquire Gordon.

The Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Portland Trail Blazers have all had trade talks with the Orlando Magic over Aaron Gordon.

The Magic are looking for a first-round pick and mix of young players for Gordon.

Gordon is averaging 14.8 points and 6.8 rebounds on the season. 

The Houston Rockets had a tense team meeting following a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 12th when it was decided James Harden would stay away from the team until a trade was consummated.

Sources tell Kelly Iko and Sam Amick that P.J. Tucker came away from the meeting with the belief he would be included in any Harden trade, whether it was to the Brooklyn Nets or Philadelphia 76ers.

Tucker was ultimately not included and spent two more months with the Rockets before he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Tucker also became open to a buyout in late February, which would have given him the freedom to choose his destination. The Rockets, however, had no interest in negotiating a buyout as they sought a trade.

The Orlando Magic have received interest from a number of teams on a potential trade for Aaron Gordon.

The Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves have expressed interest, while the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets are also potential landing spots.

Orlando is seeking a young player or players and a draft pick for Gordon.

Gordon is shooting a career-high 36.8% from 3 on 4.1 attempts per game.

Victor Oladipo is a candidate to be traded before the deadline as a pending free agent on a rebuilding team in the Houston Rockets.

Oladipo hasn't returned to his All-Star form and has largely struggled this season and will be seeking a lucrative contract in the offseason.

"I think he's going to be prominent in conversations this week," said Adrian Wojnarowski on his podcast. "I think there's a lot of teams with interested in Victor, but the question is going to be 'What price?'"

Tim Bontemps suggests there will be interest in Oladipo, but teams are bearish on his play.

"I think a lot of teams are going to be reticent just from the simple fact he has not looked like the player he was before and there hasn't been a lot of evidence, combined with him being a free agent, that you would want to pay a heavy price to bring him in."