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Here's what the Houston Texans must avoid at all costs heading into next season
Jan 11, 2023, 5:59 pm
Moving on from Davis Mills would be best for both parties involved. Composite image by Jack Brame.
The Texans have secured the number two overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft coming up in April. Fans and some media members are upset that they “failed to lose” and secure the number one overall pick. The only thing they “lost” was the ability to control each round by picking first. The need for a franchise quarterback didn't vanish. The reason the Texans require a franchise quarterback is that the guy they tried to give a shot to didn't take the reins of the job. Davis Mills thinks otherwise:
Mr. Mills, have several seats sir! Not only do I not want Mills back as the potential starter or competition for the incoming rookie, but I also don't want him around as the backup! A better idea is to get rid of him and find a veteran who can mentor the rookie. What will Mills offer him? How to skip a seven-yard out route? How to complete a post flag throw to the strength coach on the bench?
Seriously, Mills has not shown the ability to be a competent NFL quarterback on a regular basis. Did he have a talent deficiency around him? Yes. He also failed to instill any confidence in his abilities. Why else would Jeff Driskel, the guy they moved to tight end then back to quarterback, get playing time? I saw one too many skipped passes and overthrows for me to feel confident in him moving forward. His completion percentage dropped almost six percent from his rookie year to last year (66.8% to 61%). Quarterbacks nowadays need to hover around 65% or better to be considered good.
I know this opinion will upset some Mills truthers who believe this guy should get a fair shake. Truth is, no one gets a fair shake in the NFL. Things will go wrong. Injuries will happen. Talent and God-given abilities will fade. Organizations will be poorly run. The one constant in all those situations: talent will prevail. If you're good at football, that'll stick out in a sea of sore thumbs. Mills looks like any old average quarterback a team can draft late or sign off the street.
The number two overall pick will more than likely be the team's next franchise quarterback. He will need all the help and support to make him successful. I suggest bringing in a vet who has experience in the new offensive coordinator's system. That way, the rookie will have a guy in the room that can help him learn the offense, and the team will have a guy that can run said offense should the rookie get hurt. Let Mills go find another team that he can compete for the backup role on. I don't see a future here in Houston, and I pray that the Texans feel the same way.
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Astros keep doing this, and it’s getting hard to ignore
Jun 25, 2025, 10:01 pm
While the rolling Astros have a week of possible World Series preview matchups against the Phillies and Cubs, it’s the Rockets who made the biggest local sports headline with their acquisition of Kevin Durant. What a move! Of course there is risk involved in trading for a guy soon to turn 37 years old and who carries an injury history, but balancing risk vs. reward is a part of the game. This is a fabulous move for the Rockets. It’s understood that there are dissenters to this view. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, including people with the wrong opinion! Let’s dig in.
The Rockets had a wonderful season in winning 52 games before their disappointing first-round playoff loss to the Warriors, but like everyone else in the Western Conference, they were nowhere close to Oklahoma City’s caliber. While they finished second in the West, the Rockets only finished four games ahead of the play-in. That letting the stew simmer with further growth among their young players would yield true championship contention was no given for 2025-26 or beyond.
Kevin Durant is one of the 10 greatest offensive players the NBA has ever seen. Among his current contemporaries only Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic make that list. For instance, Durant offensively has clearly been better than the late and legendary Kobe Bryant. To view it from a Houston perspective, Durant has been an indisputably greater offensive force than the amazing Hakeem Olajuwon. But this is not a nostalgia trip in which the Rockets are trading for a guy based on what he used to be. While Durant could hit the wall at any point, living in fear that it’s about to happen is no way to live because KD, approaching his 18th NBA season, is still an elite offensive player.
As to the durability concern, Durant played more games (62) this past season than did Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith, and Tari Eason. The season before he played more games (75) than did VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Alperen Sengun. In each of the last two seasons Durant averaged more minutes per game (36.9) than any Rocket. That was stupid and/or desperate of the Suns, the Rockets will be smarter. Not that the workload eroded Durant’s production or efficiency. Over the two seasons he averaged almost 27 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the floor, 42 percent from behind the three-point line, and 85 percent from the free throw line. Awesomeness. The Rockets made the leap to being a very good team despite a frankly crummy half-court offense. The Rockets ranked 21st among the 30 NBA teams in three-point percentage, and dead last in free throw percentage. Amen Thompson has an array of skills and looks poised to be a unique star. Alas, Thompson has no credible jump shot. VanVleet is not a creator, Smith has limited handle. Adding Durant directly addresses the Rockets’ most glaring weakness.
The price the Rockets paid was in the big picture, minimal, unless you think Jalen Green is going to become a bonafide star. Green is still just 23 years old and spectacular athletically, but nothing he has done over four pro seasons suggests he’s on the cusp of greatness. In no season has Green even shot the league average from the floor or from three. His defense has never been as good as it should be given his athleticism. Compared to some other two-guards who made the NBA move one year removed from high school, four seasons into his career Green is waaaaaay behind where Shae Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Devin Booker were four seasons in, and now well behind his draft classmate Cade Cunningham. Dillon Brooks was a solid pro in two seasons here and shot a career-best from three in 2024-2025, but he’s being replaced by Kevin Durant! In terms of the draft pick capital sent to Phoenix, five second round picks are essentially meaningless. The Rockets have multiple extra first round picks in the coming years. As for the sole first-rounder dealt away, whichever player the Rockets would have taken 10th Wednesday night would have been rather unlikely to crack the playing rotation.
VanVleet signs extension
Re-signing Fred VanVleet to a two-year, 50 million dollar guarantee is sensible. In a vacuum, VanVleet was substantially overpaid at the over 40 mil he made per season the last two. He’s a middle-of-the-pack starting point guard. But his professionalism and headiness brought major value to the Rockets’ kiddie corps while their payroll was otherwise very low. Ideally, Reed Sheppard makes a leap to look like an NBA lead guard in his second season, after a pretty much zippo of a rookie campaign. Sheppard is supposed to be a lights-out shooter. For the Rockets to max out, they need two sharpshooters on the court to balance Thompson’s presence.
For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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