Rockets LaunchPod

The NBA’s 2026 free agency window is now open for business, and the Rockets quickly reached agreements to sign both Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanović. In Wednesday’s show, Ben DuBose reviews the basketball and salary cap implications of both deals while also exploring the implications for the remainder of Houston’s roster and the rest of the offseason.

Support our partners and sponsors! Also, please subscribe and leave a positive review at your podcast home of choice.

As the NBA’s 2026 free agency window opens, the Houston Rockets suddenly find themselves with more veteran insurance in the backcourt. Fred VanVleet officially opted into the final year of his previous contract, while Lakers guard Marcus Smart looks to be on the way as an external addition.

Featuring Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, Tuesday’s show breaks down all the key implications of those moves while also providing additional analysis on recent draftee Bruce Thornton.

Support our partners and sponsors! Also, please subscribe and leave a positive review at your podcast home of choice.

This week’s NBA draft concluded with the Houston Rockets adding Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton (second round) and North Carolina State guard/wing Quadir Copeland (UDFA) to their 2026-27 roster. In Thursday’s show, our Ben DuBose reacts to the implications of both additions.

The episode also looks ahead to the June 30 launch date of 2026 free agency, including internal contract considerations for Fred VanVleet and Tari Eason and analysis of why a major external trade (Jaylen Brown?) could be difficult to execute.

Support our partners and sponsors! Also, please subscribe and leave a positive review at your podcast home of choice.

Tuesday’s SportsTalk 790 interview features insight from Ben DuBose on what the Rockets are likely to do and consider during this week’s NBA Draft. Topics include players that could be on the trading block; whether Houston could move into the first round; and considerations for the team’s two second-round selections at No. 39 and No. 53, overall.

Support our partners and sponsors! Also, please subscribe and leave a positive review at your podcast home of choice.

Hosted by Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, Thursday’s show features insight and analysis pertaining to the 2026 NBA Finals, and specifically those Spurs-Knicks storylines with implications for the Rockets.

The initial segment explores what fans should (and shouldn’t) take away from Stephon Castle’s stated preference to land in San Antonio — and not Houston — in the 2024 draft. The episode then transitions to a discussion of what the Spurs and Knicks have shown us regarding team-building strategies, as well as New York’s unique tactical blueprint to try and slow Victor Wembanyama.

Support our partners and sponsors! Also, please subscribe and leave a positive review at your podcast home of choice.

Championship yellow is back, as is the Dunkstronaut! Jose Lopez, senior creative director of the Rockets, and Taylor French, director of marketing operations, speak with Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty regarding Houston’s new look for the 2026-27 season and beyond.

Discussion topics include the intentionality behind changing the logos, jerseys, and uniforms; the process of working with the NBA, Nike, and other key stakeholders; feedback from players and ownership; and what the new look will mean for fans and the organization over the years ahead.

The complete press release announcing the changes, along with photos and videos of the new threads, can be read at clutchfans.net.

Support our partners and sponsors! Also, please subscribe and leave a positive review at your podcast home of choice.

After a few years of relative parity, the Spurs and Thunder appear to be entrenched juggernauts atop the West standings. As San Antonio and Oklahoma City square off in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, each features an MVP frontrunner and other young stars who should all remain in elite form for years to come.

So, what does that mean for those teams a few slots beneath them, including the Houston Rockets? With a eye toward long-term roster planning, Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves mull over all the scenarios in our latest podcast.

Topics include the merits of a “strategic step back” this offseason; why “all-in” transactions are becoming increasingly undesirable; and whether Houston has the right leadership in place to execute a longer-term plan built around drafting and developing young players.


Support our partners and sponsors! Also, please subscribe and leave a positive review at your podcast home of choice.

To quote Rockets general manager Rafael Stone, a “frustrating and disappointing season” concluded with Friday’s series-ending loss in Game 6 versus the Los Angeles Lakers. For a second straight year, Houston went 52-30 in the regular season before bowing out in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

With that in mind, hosts Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves react to all the latest developments surrounding the Rockets, including an intriguing end-of-season press conference held by Stone and head coach Ime Udoka. Topics include the reasons for Houston’s bouts of offensive ineptitude in the playoffs; whether Kevin Durant meshes with the team’s young core; the complicated on-court fit of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard; offseason trade possibilities; and much more.

Support our partners and sponsors! Also, please subscribe and leave a positive review at your podcast home of choice.

Today’s episode features Matt Thomas, radio play-by-play voice of the Rockets, calling the second-half highlights of Wednesday’s thrilling Game 5 victory in Los Angeles. 

With the Lakers now up 3-2 in the series, Game 6 is Friday night in Houston. The Rockets are hoping to become the first team in NBA playoff history (0-160) to overcome a 3-0 series deficit to win, and they are already one of only 16 teams to push a series to Game 6 after losing the first three games.

Support our partners and sponsors! Also, please subscribe and leave a positive review at your podcast home of choice.

No NBA team has ever won a playoff series after trailing 3-0. Can these Houston Rockets, who remain without injured star Kevin Durant, somehow pull it off against LeBron James and the Lakers (who still have a 3-1 lead)?

Ahead of Wednesday’s pivotal Game 5 in Los Angeles, Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves are joined by ClutchFans’ Dave Hardisty to explore the lay of the land. Topics include the outlook for Durant; key players to watch for; and the potential for major offseason changes, should Houston still lose its first-round series.

This episode can also be viewed in video form here.

Support our partners and sponsors! Also, please subscribe and leave a positive review at your podcast home of choice.