Houston Rockets Land Third Pack in Upcoming NBA Draft

After what can only be considered a very successful season for the Houston Rockets, in which they won 41 games, the franchise was blessed with some very good luck on Sunday afternoon. The pick the team owes the Brooklyn Nets following the blockbuster 2021 trade that sent James Harden to the Nets has moved from ninth to third in the lottery. Entering the lottery, the Rockets had just a 20.3% chance that this pick would go into the top four. Houston will now have one of the top four picks in each of the last four drafts. In 2021, the franchise used second-round pick guard Jalen Green; in 2022, they used the third overall pick on forward Jabari Smith Jr.; in 2023, they used the fourth overall pick on guard Amen Thompson.

Speculation now begins on what Houston would look to do with the pick. At a press briefing later Sunday after the lottery results, Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said he felt the top of the draft was strong but there were no picks consensual. Stone added that it’s very difficult to evaluate players who are 18 or 19 years old.

It was reported earlier in the week that the Rockets might consider trading the pick. This option would likely remain on the table. The likely names at the top of the draft are center Alex Sarr, forward Zaccharie Risacher, center Donovan Clingan and guards Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham.

Houston already has a glut of young talent with the three aforementioned former lottery picks, as well as Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason and Cam Whitmore all still under contract on their rookie contracts. Even before Sunday’s results, it would have already been difficult to find minutes for another young prospect. Houston’s 41 wins and near play-in appearance in 2023-24 argue in favor of trading the pick for an established player.

The Rockets’ pick landed at No. 12 and will be shipped to Oklahoma City following the 2020 trade that sent Chris Paul to the Thunder for Russell Westbrook. This bond had top four protection.

In a move widely criticized at the time, Stone opted to trade Harden for a package comprised primarily of future draft picks. Already, Houston used the 17th selection in the 2022 draft on Eason, who led the team in net rating among its regular rotation players. Houston still owes trade rights in 2025 and 2027, as well as Brooklyn’s outright pick in 2026.

According to the Rockets’ press release, this would mark the third time in franchise history that the team will have the third overall pick. The Rockets selected Jabari Smith Jr. in 2022 and Rodney McCray in 1983. Dating back to 2001, the third pick produced 11 future All-Stars: Pau Gasol (2001), Carmelo Anthony (2003), Deron Williams (2005) , Al Horford (2007), James Harden (2009), Bradley Beal (2012), Joel Embiid (2014), Jaylen Brown (2016), Jayson Tatum (2017), Luka Doncic (2018) and LaMelo Ball (2020).