Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta talked with Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle Monday about the state of the team and gave a window into its decision making. Fertitta has caught a lot of criticism these past couple weeks for Houston’s trade deadline maneuvers that put them under the luxury tax for the 2018-19 season.

“That had no bearing whatsoever on any decision that was made,” Fertitta said. “If we could have gotten another player, somebody we were trying to pick up last week that didn’t work out for us, it would have put us back over (the luxury tax). I still don’t know that we’ll be under when it’s all said and done.”

The Rockets traded Brandon Knight, James Ennis, and multiple draft picks at the trade deadline in exchange for swingman Iman Shumpert and a significant amount of cash savings. The moves have been read from the outside as a clear attempt to get under the luxury tax for this season, but Fertitta insists the team is working hard to land another significant player on the buyout market, and that the luxury tax will not factor into their decision making.

“Daryl (Morey) and his team are working it hard,” Fertitta said. “Remember, not only do we have to want somebody, somebody has to want to come here. Some of these guys, they want to know what kind of minutes they’re going to get. We’re not going to tell somebody they’re going to get a lot of minutes if they aren’t.”

Rockets center Clint Capela is expected to return from his right thumb injury after the All-Star break and according to Fertitta, the Rockets have lofty goals once the team is fully healthy.

“I think the next 25 games will tell us a lot. We want to win 50 games this year. We have to go 17-8. We’d love to chase down and get that three spot.”