When he arrived at this week’s 2021 NBA draft combine in Chicago, general manager Rafael Stone didn’t know the full scope of Houston’s options among rookie prospects. Courtesy of past trades, the Rockets knew they had the No. 23 and No. 24 picks in the first round from Portland and Milwaukee, respectively — but a third was up in the air.
If Houston had landed at No. 5 in Tuesday’s draft lottery, which had a nearly 48% chance of occurring, that selection would have fallen to Miami’s spot (at No. 18 overall) courtesy of a pick-swap right owned by Oklahoma City from the Chris Paul-Russell Westbrook trade. It would have been a bitter pill to swallow, coming off a year in which Houston finished with the league’s worst record. But because the Rockets won the No. 2 pick, they will keep it, since that swap right was top-four-protected.
That finally gives Stone clarity in the final weeks before the July 29 draft. In Tuesday’s post-lottery press conference, Stone told reporters that to date, Houston has primarily worked out and focused on players who will potentially be available at No. 23 and No. 24. After all, that’s the only range that the Rockets were confirmed to be in.
Stone says the Rockets intentionally frontloaded their draft preparation work on the 20s as they knew they were going to draft there regardless of what happened tonight.
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) June 23, 2021
Now, however, the Rockets will have the ability to draft in nearly the highest tier possible — with options likely to include center Evan Mobley, as well as guards Jalen Suggs and Jalen Green.
“We’re likely to get someone really talented if we keep the pick,” Stone told reporters. “We have three first round picks, and we do expect to come away with a more talented roster.”
In the latest mock draft by For The Win’s Bryan Kalbrosky, he has Houston picking Mobley at No. 2; guard Nah’Shon Hyland at No. 23; and guard Sharife Cooper at No. 24. With the draft combine taking place now, along with more workouts and interviews over the coming weeks, Stone and the Rockets will gradually narrow their focus for each pick.
Stone’s entire press conference from Tuesday can be viewed below.
