3 Times Rockets' Rafael Stone has fleeced another team in a trade

Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone has a mixed reputation.

He seems to be respected by his peers. Stone received votes for Executive of the Year this season. Still, some fans have a different view.

That's an inevitable consequence of tanking. Some find the process distasteful. They'll never accept a general manager who willingly loses games.

Here at SpaceCityScoop, we're not so conscientious. We think Stone has done a remarkable job of stacking this team with young players and assets. We also think he's come out on top in a few transactions during his time with the team.

Here are three deals where Stone fleeced a rival GM.

3. Rockets send Christian Wood to Mavericks

This one could be controversial.

Wood was the subject of trade rumors for a long time before Stone finally dealt him. Some of those rumors had the Rockets receiving a big return. At one point, some fans were convinced that he could get Jonathan Kuminga for the beleaguered big man.

Consider us dubious. The Warriors have shown a hesitancy to move Kuminga in deals for bigger names than Wood. It's possible that Stone could have gotten a better deal for Wood if he'd moved him sooner, but we need to look at the deal he got. We should also look at it relative to similar deals that happened at the same time.

The most valuable asset that Stone got for Wood was the 26th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. The Pistons traded Jerami Grant to the Blazers in the same offseason and received a future first by way of the Bucks. Since the Bucks are contenders, that pick was projected to land somewhere in the same vicinity.

So, the Rockets got about as much for Wood as the Pistons got for Grant. Wood is barely in the NBA anymore, and Grant is paid handsomely for fringe star production.

We'd call that a fleece job.

2. Rockets flip picks for more picks with Nets

Every GM in the league looks to negotiate from a position of strength. When Stone made a deal with the Nets this summer, their backs were against a wall.

You might say they were stuck between a Stone and a hard place.

The Nets knew they had to rebuild. The Rockets owned their picks. So, in summary, the Nets sent the Rockets more picks in exchange for fewer picks, because their picks had particular value to them.

Imagine someone sells you a watch for $50. They contact you later and say they've come to realize the watch had sentimental value for them - they'll give you $100 for it. That's roughly what happened here.

Time will tell how Stone handles these assets. Some people were upset that the Rockets removed themselves from the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes. You could even count us in that group. Still, we'll give the man credit for getting more for less - that's textbook trading.

1. Rockets acquire Alperen Sengun for next to nothing

So far, this deal is Stone's magnum opus.

Heading into the 2021 NBA Draft, there were mixed opinions about Alperen Sengun. Some analytics models said he was the best player in his class. Still, concerns about his athletic profile deterred some of the league's GMs.

So far, it looks like we should have trusted the analytics models. Sure, Sengun has limitations as a defender. Still, some would argue that he's been the best player in what was supposed to be a loaded draft class. Best of all, the Rockets got him in a steal of a trade.

They sent the Thunder two heavily protected first-round picks in exchange for the 16th overall selection. Each of those picks has rolling protections until 2027, at which point they convey as second-rounders. So far, that's what they're on pace to do.

Meanwhile, Sengun is on pace to make All-Star teams. Even if each of those picks landed in the middle of the first round down the line, this would be a good trade for the Rockets. If they're a pair of second-rounders, it's a heist.

However you feel about Stone, you can't deny the brilliance of this deal.