What to expect from Rockets, Thunder & Knicks in 2026-27 with Sam Amick

0:00Coming up on today's show, I get Sam Ann from the Athletic Talking about the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City in New York Mix as we continue by NBA entertainment rankings. And we also touch on Jalen Duren and how somehow he remains unsigned. Today's episode of the Kevin O'Connor Show is presented by Game Time. The Game Time app has tickets to live events, sports, concerts, comedy, and more that turn into unforgettable nights. It's the NBA offseason, so I'm busy looking through concerts to hit up comedy shows this summer. I'm trying to fill up this NBA offseason as much as I possibly came before we get to opening night. And then during the season, you can use the Game Time app to find any seats you want on any single NBA game. And what I'm finding using the app is it's super simple and easy to use. And I like how they have a seat view where you have a panoramic view from the seat in the app before you buy. So get your friends together, get the tickets and tell them it's Game Time. So download the Game Time app, create an account and use code KOC for $20 off your first purchase.

1:04Terms do apply again, create an account, redeem code KOC for $20 off. Find live events on Game Time, download the app today. All right, join me today to continue my NBA entertainment rankings from the athletic San Ana Xam. What's up? Devon, what's up sir? Nice to see you. Thanks for having me. Good to see you as well, man. Let's start off with number nine on my NBA entertainment rankings. The Houston Rockets, Houston last year they win over 50 games despite not having Stephen Adams. No Fred Van Bleet and as as a chaotic years it was Kevin Arant with the alleged burner accounts talking about his teammates. A lot of ups and downs with the teams on the floor. They still win 50 plus in the West without Adams without Van Bleet. So what's critical as I've been as this team sometimes I look back. I'm like, wait a minute. I actually under rating what they were and what they can be this year.

2:06So where are you at with Houston Sam and assessing where they kind of line up in the Western Conference this year? I would say fascinated. Kevin, I mean, like you said on paper they have an impactful regular season. All things considered with those injuries playing a massive part. The thing that I'm admittedly surprised by in terms of their planning has been the commitment to this short window with Kevin Arant. As you know, one of those teams that has had the types of assets that if they wanted to go out and really get into the discussion for you honest or some of these other guys that have been out there, they haven't really done that and they have committed to this late stage Kevin Arant, you know, see what we can do plan. And with that in mind, this year feels like very much an all or nothing year because they are betting on, you know, with Fred coming back with Stephen coming back. They are betting on that formula being the thing. And I honestly, I get it like you could argue the sanity of committing to the short window.

3:10But in terms of this season, you know, Fred's absence was massive because yes, you know, Kevin can get a shot whenever he wants. They thought him and Thompson was going to be more of a playmaker. Stephen Adams, what he brings on the glass, which was absolutely elite, especially on the offensive side of the floor. They lost all of that. If they get it back, but you know, then they're going to be a problem. But Stephen's not a young man either. Fred's not a young man. So, you know, I'm here to see if they can roll the dice and see if it works. But I think there's some risk involved. You said how this could be an all or nothing year for the Houston Rockets and their actions not going for you honest, not putting assets on the table for an older veteran, all NBA guy like him. I would imagine that's a signal and indicator that if this year doesn't go as planned for Houston, that they're not going to be a team that's putting Reed Shepherd and Amen Thompson on the table to add veterans. They're a team that would be putting the veterans, Adams, Durant, Van Vleet on the table to sell.

4:11Is that a fair assessment given their actions? Yeah, I think so. I mean, Kevin's got the player option for next year. You know, he's going to be 38 later this month, I believe. And we got to see first of all with all of these grades who are in their late 30s as amazing as they are. Like that cliff can come. So how does Kevin look? And yes, in terms of like what happens if it isn't going well, I think that's the direction they go. You know, they didn't get an extension done just yet with Amen. So you have his future somewhat still, you know, undetermined on that front. You know, he is a guy they're building around. The read thing, as you know, has been tricky because he just got absolutely exposed at times during that playoff series with the Lakers. You know, I ended up writing later in the postseason about how the, you know, the Stefan Castle love a fair that he made. Doca had during the draft and how I player like that. It was, you know, it was probably more to his liking. You know, and then Reed has just got his weaknesses. So can he take a step up?

5:11But yeah, I mean, again, it's all in on the vets and to see if they can chip away at the OK season this person. And if not, you know, pivot, I think. I mean, look, with the read shepherd thing, 39% on 7 3 point attempts per game. They played all 82 games last year. Obviously he has his weaknesses as an on ball defender, but he also has his strengths as an offball guy as a K as a chaos, chaos creator on the defense of end of the floor. So I look at email Doca and I'm like, this guy doesn't give him consistent opportunities. Sometimes I think he wants him to be something that he's not instead of leaning into what he is. And that's why I was read shepherd and this younger roster, some of the guys, I'm in Thompson, read shepherd, Tari, Easton, Jabari Smith. There's a lot of Alperan Shengu and there's a lot of good young talent on this Houston rocket's team. And to me, it feels like a mismatch between a coach who's very veteran oriented who wants the guys he can trust. I think this year's team, it feels like there's the two timeline thing going on here with a bunch of young guys who have a lot of talent and promise.

6:15And then an older guy older group of guys who just might not be good enough to actually be a finals contender in a head coach who just leans towards the ladder instead of the development aspect with the younger players. I think that's all fair and obviously I think to your point, it puts the fair amount of pressure on him, going into this year because you know, this drives the rockets crazy when we use this word. With their team, but the vibe check matters a ton as you know, that was just a big part of the discussion last season, whether it was the Twitter situation, you know, whether it was like the Shengu and KD on court. Dynamic at times, you know, where the mics would catch clips where Kevin was getting frustrated with choices that Shengu was making Shengu and having a bit of a, you know, decline at times where you wonder if if Kevin's presence is, you know, changing his trajectory. Like those are the types of things that make locker rooms challenging. That's where the coach has got to be front and center and leading and maybe like you said, kind of, you know, reconciling with some of the imperfections of this roster that he doesn't love, whether it's read or or even Shengu, who, you know, has been fantastic, but is it offense first player and email loves his defensive guys. So yeah, I think there's pressure on email and this whole group to make this happen.

7:35All right, objects in the NBA entertainment rankings number eight, the Oklahoma City Thunder, they come in at number eight in my rankings here. This offseason for OKC, they make some moves from cost cutting moves, they make some draft picks at Die Mara, taking him in the lottery, trading up on drafts, I had to get Bennett Sturts, but for the most part, this roster looks very similar minus Lou Dord, Isaiah Hartnstein, Chad Honger and J Dub, case and Wallace, SGA and the starting lineup. With OKC, I feel like there is basically no chance this team is going to be crappy. I think even if SGA misses a lot of time, I think this team is still going to be really competitive, like they're just so deep with so much talent. But this team like still overall, there's still final stakes, they still have reasons to tune in with stars. They still have a very, very bright future with all the young players. The product on the floor is very good. With Oklahoma City, if something does go wrong this year, what would it be Sam? What could possibly go wrong for OKC this year?

8:43Well, what's crazy Kevin is that we saw like when Jaylen Williams was out for most of the year, you would think that would be like, is that happened again? That would be disastrous. They showed that they can withstand something like that. So I will pick for it's the middle class of this group. It's the role players that they lost and the question of, you know, with Lou Dorden. As they show when those guys being gone, it's it's canager Mitchell, case of Wallace, you know, and those guys actually step up because as we know, as amazing as SGA is, NJ, dub and chat, you know, even playoff struggles, notwithstanding, it's the depth of this team that has made it dominant and dangerous. And that did take a bit of a hit in the summer. Now, granted, there's levels to this right like they can take a hit with depth and still have far more of it than the vast majority of the NBA. And if you wanted to spin a positive, as you know, I mean, AJ in particular had stretches last year, where he looked like a guy that they could average 20 in this league. And so does this open opportunity for him.

9:43Narrative lives, which is not the type of stuff that the Thunder pay attention to, but I do think, you know, to see Sam Presley, you know, conduct a public interview, after some of these choices were made and seemingly, you know, highlight the financial motivations of the roster moves. I thought was one that it's like worth monitoring in terms of just how's the energy in the building. Is there any feeling that they're letting this window slip a little bit? They're going to be dominant the regular season. Nothing they do is going to matter until they're looking at Wembe and the Spurs on the other side or some of these other contenders. You know, they're still, you know, Vegas is going to have them as one of the top title favorites. So they're in a great spot. But when you get into the nuance, you know, you just kind of wonder if they pay a prize for some of these moves that were made. I mean, I do think with drafting a dimara, retaining heart and Stein, Chet Homegren, Thomas Sorber, they drafted last year, another big Jalen Williams, J Will coming off the bench as well. They have different types of bigs that they now can throw against Wembe. And I think you nailed Sam like until they're facing Wembe in the regular season and a potential seven game series in the playoffs.

10:52That's what what really the ultimate test is for the Oklahoma City Thunder. And you look at what they did this year. Some of the bigs they have are about trying to have different ways of playing against him when Wembe is on defense, but also defending him when he's on offense. But also the other aspect that I'm intrigued by is how could change the way they operate on the offensive end of the floor because with door. The spacing sometimes he was the guy you could help off of Isaiah Joe was a excellent three point shooter, but not a great guy off the dribble. So they draft a dimara. A big man who provides size against the Wembe, but also provide some creation. You could run a little bit of offense through him. They trade up to draft Bennett Sturts, who in college was one of the highest usage pick and roll creators in all of the nation. And so they have Jared McCain. They have AJ Mitchell. They have these different types of ballhammers. And then in July, the team, the team candidate head coach comes out and says that SGA asked the play more off the ball.

11:56Is it possible that the thunder perhaps could be undergoing a very subtle shift in the way in which they play on the offensive end of the floor. Have you heard anything about that because I think their actions at least indicate that there might be a shift between SGA. Heavy on ball and maybe adding a little bit more airs to other creators on this team. No, I haven't heard it, but you're I do think your analysis is spot on. I admittedly I missed the Canadian coaches commentary. And I think that is for sure worth highlighting. I mean, the evolution of what they do. If it does go that direction would be fun to see because that first of all, you know, if you're not moving your diet, there's some version of that. And that's something they know. And the guys you mentioned, especially Jared with the run that he had in the playoffs, like you have a ton of pop between AJ and Jared, you know, in case on the other end of the floor. You know, giving those guys the breathing room to do their thing that the big man breakdown that you had, Kevin, I like to because as you know, if you don't quickly do it a side, if you come out of the playoffs and we all saw how much shed struggled against when we like they were never going to give up on shed. Everybody knows that.

13:07But you had to do something you had to shore up that part of the attack that had been exposed against the spurs and this is an imperfect comparison, but it makes me think of. You know, the dynasty warriors when stuff was at his best offensively, they were self aware enough to know that they needed to help him defensively right. So Clay is going to guard the other teams best guys such and such. And that with chat. It's like it is what it is like that one on one matchup against when the is not going to go in your favor and it's probably not going to go in your favor for the next 15 years. So you have to find ways to diversify and help him out. Yeah, and I think ultimately that's what all this lineup flexibility is going to be able to do. I mean, they're an interesting team, man. Like I think I think with OK, see, that's the number one thing I'm going to be watching for. Do they tweak their style of play. But then again, I might just be reading way too much into the team candidate head coaches comments. And it might just be he wanted to chill a little bit. No, I mean, I'm not. But you know this like on balance. It you can't go five years.

14:08Plan Lucas style basketball in Dallas or even the Lakers version, you know, that that's for SGA for his longevity and his. Where in tears, especially with Jada being out last year, we saw like Shay having to do it every single night. And it would make sense. And it would be natural to say, all right. Back to back MVP, you had this individual peak of powers era, you know, let's mix it up a little bit and get you some help and get you off the ball. For sure. I mean, ultimately there's just so many other guys on this roster, even I didn't even mention case in Wallace and turning contract year for him. He was a point guard growing up. Not just a 3 and D role player. And I don't know if he has that in this bag at the NBA level. But if SGA is willing to stand in the corner and be a spot out 3 point shooter at a 40% clip more frequently and give Jada Ben Wallace and McCain and Mitchell and Bennett Sturts and Nicola Topech. I didn't even mention Topech. There's just so many guards and wings on this team that can create. And then a dimara and then Thomas Sorber these bigs that can facilitate and do dribble handoffs and all that and chat who can attack closeouts and heart and shine who can, you know, do a little bit of D.H.O. stuff as well. There's just so many sources of creation.

15:23I wonder if SGA as you said after playing Lucas style ball for so long realises, woo. This is where and on me. It's hurting my efficiency when it comes to playing in late May and into June. If I conserve over the course of the season and empower my other teammates and ends up being a better overall team and so I think with OK. See, I look at them. I don't think there's much of any chance. This team is entering a chaotic year. I think this team is still going to be high level even if guys miss time they proved that last year. But the stakes for them are still a 10 out of 10. And there's also just the fact that as amazing as they've been there's still a chance that with SGA and that other layer that they can end up being even better. The New York mix won the NBA finals and they come in at number seven in my NBA entertainment rankings this year. I think in terms of product of play.

16:26In terms of the stakes this team is top one top two top three. But the reason why they fall in the rankings is in part because I'm grading from different categories. I'm grading with stakes star gravity futures, the younger guys on the team, the product on the floor and chaos potential. I don't see much chaos potential with the nicks. Also their youth doesn't stack out against some of the teams ahead of them like the spurs and the sixers in the table. So with the nicks they come in at number seven with this roster. Are they going to be the first back to back team Sam that we've seen in eight years now. Because this is very similar of a roster and they finally found themselves in the middle of that first round against Atlanta. If that carries over. Couldn't this team be the one that ends up actually taking a step forward after winning the NBA finals instead of a step back. They could well first of all fittingly Kevin as I sip the water on the side here. This is from the finals round. We have the old nicks. You know from there we go. There we go. Shout out getting their respect.

17:30They could they yes what I picked the field over the next yes. They're certainly capable. But we keep seeing even these past couple years that even the most dominated teams. You know IE the thunder are not able to pull off the old back to back. And so they could do it. What they found in those last eight weeks seven weeks whatever it was was as special as anything I've seen in 20 plus years covering the league. And then to see it at the end when you know I had covered mostly the western side of the ledger. And I was around the spurs and they just had so much momentum after beating OKC and look like the team that I thought was going to win the whole thing. And to see the next pick them apart and to see the next chemistry and be around their team more. And see how special that was was extremely impressive. All of that being said. And you know the parodies and the name of the game in today's league. So I would pick the field. I do wonder in terms of just you know I love how you break it down with chaos potential.

18:33I don't know what number you put on it. But you know the carl Anthony towns lack of an extension you kind of want to monitor that make sure that he's in a good headspace because you would not blame that guy whatsoever for waking up every day right now saying. And I don't know if you deserve every penny based on what we did and that's just not how today's economics typically go in the association so that's the first one that jumps out to me but they're going to be dangerous and they'll be there. Would that extension is there any indication that the next are trying to really aggl hair with him. I just think they've been prudent with all of their stuff for the last couple of years. And I think a part that I certainly can't and wouldn't speak to is exactly how Carl sees. You know the jail and Brunson choice to leave so much money on the table is such a it's a great story and it had everything to do with their championship. But we don't talk about as much as the domino effect of that choice on other players and even beyond the next it's the pressure that gets applied to create this narrative that if you do that you're the good guy and you help the collective.

19:40You know toward shared success and if you don't then you're the bad guy it's just not that binary so I think it really comes down to what would make Carl feel respected as far as the next and how they're moving I just think. You know I mean we saw what Jim Dolan said right after they won the title that he was not going into the second apron you know for anything and and the actions have indicated as much and so the numbers are just challenging when it comes to that situation. It's definitely challenging and they lose their long time center Mitchell Robinson goes to the Boston Celtics they end up bringing in Andre drummond and with drummond we'll see how he performs I think you could make the argument that New York's front court with cat. And OG and Josh Hart in the starting lineup and then Andre drummond is a backup and Modio are there they're young rookie last year who mixed fans were unwilling to talk about all season long because I didn't want attention put on him with how well he shot the ball on the flashes he showed as a as a long like big wing 696 10 guy.

20:42I do think the argument can be made with drummond as the elite rebounder who somehow now shoot spot up freeze and Modio are getting more opportunities the art the argument can be made that it could give them different layers to the way they can play rather than Mitchell Robinson being just the you know rebounder lob guy. So in some regards I get it Sam when it comes to avoiding second apron also change in the complexion of how your bench works. No I'm with you there on the offensive side and cat as a shameless plug for my company that employees me but cat did a fascinating interview with the New York Times Daily show where I don't know if you caught it where he he talked about the mid playoff choice in the Atlanta series you know to start going through him a whole lot more as opposed to to the next. As opposed to you know really we talk about SGA as opposed to jail in and that SGA Luca approach that the next had employed for so much of the year and what I thought was fascinating in terms of foreshadowing this season was the interviewer had said well does that mean that you should start next season running the offense that way and he said no I worked pretty well the way you know it did last year but I'm dying to see how does Mike Brown handle that aspect because that created some strain at points of last year.

22:05Without question you know cat wanted to play one way Mike didn't always see it that way they found a way to to meet the middle and raise the trophy in the end but that element in terms of their offensive identity is still there. I mean it's very interesting that he brought that might I'd answer that interview but the fact he did bring it up and the fact that they did that Mitchell Robinson walk walk to arrival the sign Andre drumman who he's not a facilitator in the way Carl ethically sounds could be but he can be relying on a little bit of the same. Maybe rely on a little bit more to make the right passes to handle a triple hand off and maybe they do want to continue to play that way and why wouldn't they though I mean like that saves Brunson's legs over the course of the season two when you have him off ball a little bit more and empowers bridges and empowers OG and empowers all these other guys they have McBride Clarkson there's so much depth on that team in the back court position so I don't know why they wouldn't it turned into one of the things that I'm going to do is I'm going to do that. It turned into one of the best playoff runs we've ever seen in the history of basketball why would they not carry that into this coming regular season and reverberate back to you know Brunson iso iso iso pick it all pick it all pick it all.

23:16To me I think they finally found what a lot of the expand were hoping for over the course of the whole regular season and it happened turn into great success turning into a trophy why wouldn't they continue doing that. Now I hear you I think the counter to that and I'm not sure which side of the argument I land on here but cat did in his defense he was defending my brown and framing it as if it was almost like you know the poker game where you don't want to show your best hand. To early and he liked the idea that they brought it out late and defenses didn't necessarily know what to do with it if you feature that from November to April you know does the rest of the league you have that much more time to tinker and figure out how to attack it. But but I'm with you I mean it was incredible they're going to go back to it is just a better win and how they employ it. Yeah I mean he didn't like it on opening night remember remember what was it before the first time at the season I don't know my role I don't understand. Oh I was rough. Yeah. But you remember December. Yeah it was mid December I think they came through my part of the country and I went to one of their shoot around it and that energy was still there you could just tell I mean that part always gets lost in the wash when a team.

24:26When the championship is is what they had to go through and and as long as you figure out you know out how to operate together in the end it's fine but but yeah they had growing pains in terms of the personal dynamics. Yeah it's I mean look I remember I had Jonathan Macker from mixed home school in my pod and I don't know I think the day after they're one of the finals or something like that I forget when it was and he's like you know nicks fans were Quote clips of him and March when he's like I'm sick of this team you know I can't wait till the whole things up the summer that was in March. Yeah I mean we were gauging as you know Mike Brown's job security heading into the playoffs and the question of what if they lose in the first round is he out what if they lose in the second round and that's a guy who's signed a five year contract that's kind of all you need to know in terms of you know the amount of pressure that was there. Yeah and I mean ultimately with Mike Brown it's he proved a lot man he proved how flexible and versatile he could be as I had coach. Adapting taking different styles playing different ways and I think to me like that was why they ended up firing Tom Tibito and going towards Mike Brown because there's no way Mike Tom Tibito would have been going with Jose Alvarado and Jalen Bronson down the stretch of an NBA finals game.

25:34There's no way it would have happened after not doing that all year long but Mike Brown was a type of coach willing to do something that he never had done before because he had feel in the moment and I think he proved to himself to be one of the best head coaches in basketball and I think for the New York Nixis coming year as you said I'd take the field over the mix repeating it's just so hard to repeat but ultimately with how strong this roster is from top to bottom with how great their head coaches and I do think the upside of Dio R.A. and Drummond and you know some of these guys off the bench. There's something to this team with the magic that they captured April May and June that hey I want to roll it out I would not roll out the Nixis actually being the team that finally breaks the streak of teams that aren't going back the back but I would take the field ultimately just based on how the league is nowadays and just how hard it is to back the back. Not to put you on the spot because I don't know if you've already shared this but if it wasn't the Nix or the field are they your team if you're picking one team to win the title next year.

26:39If it wasn't Nix or the field. Yes but you have to pick one team or just one team. No I wouldn't I wouldn't take the Nix. I haven't I haven't thought too hard about it yet but I would pick against the team going back to back but ultimately everything the Nix or the ingredients to do just that that's coming here but the East is so much better this year with the way in which Miami gets Yannis and you know Cleveland should be a bit better Toronto assuming they get Kawaii Leonard should be better like the East is just so much stronger and like the pistons will see the Jalen Duran are we going to get news this week or this month what is it going to happen. I got to make a few calls but that that's another you know contender that is not to go in the right direction but yeah that one's a little strange as well. So if you're not going to sign in trade on what's the what's the weight here very very interesting with with Jalen Duran Sam people can find your work over at the athletic thank you so much for joining me today man.

27:43Thank you Kosli appreciate you then. Thank you again to Sam and for joining me on today's episode thank you to Sarah and the team for producing today's show we'll be back on Tuesday next week because Monday is Labor Day so we're going to have a Tuesday Thursday week next week on the Kevin O'Connor show. So stay tuned for Tuesday's episode as we continue talking about the NBA might even look ahead a little bit to the NFL season as well on Tuesday. Thank you Sarah again for producing today's episode we'll be back again Tuesday. Have a good week.