It's the NBA offseason. The story of the Eastern Conference is how weak and vulnerable it is. The story of the Western Conference, however, is the escalating arms race between the seemingly endless list of teams eager to topple a nascent dynasty.

One reason the Rockets are comfortable with their current guards is a belief that 2024’s No. 3 overall pick Reed Sheppard is ready to take on a larger role. “Reed’s just going to have to be really good for us, period,” Stone said ( YouTube link ).

Another guard on the roster, Reed Sheppard, is expected to continue to grow as well. Stone shared a quick challenge during that interview with the media on Sheppard. “Reed (Sheppard) is just going