Houston Rockets Get Lucky and Land No. 3 Pick in 2024 NBA Draft

Luck is notoriously fickle. She gives and she takes away.

Yesterday, she was particularly generous towards the Houston Rockets. They were expected to land the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Instead, they were lucky to get the third overall selection.

A .500 team to land the third pick had a rare opportunity. The draft is designed to help the NBA’s worst teams improve. This does not apply in this case. The Rockets received this pick via the Brooklyn Nets.

Now they have the embarrassment of riches. They could use this choice to improve themselves in the short term, or continue to build on their future.

Before coming in third, there were rumors that the Rockets wanted to trade this pick. It seems that Rafael Stone would like to reverse this choice for additional assets.

It’s always an option. It may even be a more attractive option than before. The third overall pick should have plenty of value on the open market.

At the same time, you have to be tempted to make a choice. The Rockets found some money here.

How should they spend it?

It should be noted that this class is considered weak.

In all likelihood, the Atlanta Hawks will select Alex Sarr with the first pick. Sure, they have great center depth with Clint Capela and Onyeka Onkongwu on the roster. None of these players have enough upside to justify Sarr’s move.

After that, this project gets wild. The Washington Wizards have the second selection. They might need a leader. Will they select Nikola Topic? Zaccharie Risachar is the consensus pick, but the Wizards are (relatively) wing heavy.

Next we have the Rockets. As a team that nearly reached the playoffs in 2023-24, they will likely consider a wider range of options than teams before them.

They are certainly lucky to have these options.