4 names to consider in the Rockets’ assistant GM search

Houston Rockets target #2: Travis Stockbridge

Travis Stockbridge is easily the least recognizable name on this list, as the other three involve former players who became favorites within the Houston Rockets fanbase. But just because Stockbridge isn’t well-known doesn’t mean that he isn’t qualified, as the Rice alum has been with the franchise since 2012, and has operated and thrived in many different roles.

Stockbridge started as a Basketball Operations intern, under then GM Daryl Morey, and his first year with the organization coincided with the same year the Rockets made their biggest trade in franchise history, in which they landed James Harden. Stockbridge ascended to the role of Basketball Operations Coordinator in 2016, after just four years as an intern.

The time-frame is worth noting, as the fact that he remained in an intern role for four years shows how valuable he was to the Rockets’ front office, in addition to how impressed the franchise was with him. Stockbridge was named the GM of the Rio Grande Vipers by the time he turned 25, making him the youngest GM in Vipers history and second-youngest GM in the history of the G-League.

Stockbridge had been involved in roster construction and game preparation prior to being named GM of the Vipers and his work with the Rockets has been focused primarily on scouting. The Rockets have a history of promoting from the Vipers to the Rockets’ front office, as former assistant GM and current Minnesota Timberwolves GM Gersson Rosas got his first general manager experience with the Vipers also.

Stockbridge has worked alongside Rosas, Morey, former Rockets assistant GM Monte McNair and more importantly current general manager Rafael Stone, which is quite the quartet to learn from. With Stockbridge’s time with the franchise and his youth, he deserves considerable for the assistant GM vacancy.

Next: No. 1