Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone noted numerous times the stakes of the 2023-24 season when speaking with the media Monday at the Toyota Center.
Houston's lead decision maker knows his franchise is at a unique place in the league hierarchy entering next season. No team across the last three seasons has lost more games than the Rockets (177), and while other franchises also hold the hope of landing Victor Wembanywama in June's draft, no other lottery bound team sports as grand of free-agent hopes as the Rockets.
Stone detailed his hopes for a "materially better" team in 2023-24 compared to recent seasons, adding he will look to infuse "external talent" into Houston's young roster.