The Houston Rockets are reportedly looking into the possibility of trading the No. 10 pick in next month’s NBA draft, according to Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports.
“League sources expect the Rockets to look into trading this pick, whether it’s a trade way up, a trade out for a star, or a trade out for a group of future picks similar to what the Spurs received from the Timberwolves when they moved up for Rob Dillingham last year,” he wrote.
The Rockets are on the rise after finishing second in the Western Conference standings with a 52-30 record. Houston took the Golden State Warriors to the limit before falling in a hard-fought seven-game first-round playoff series.
The question is whether the Rockets would be interested in adding a superstar to the mix to take a big step forward. The two obvious candidates are Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, both of whom have been the subject of trade rumors.
As far as that goes, though, it appears Rockets general manager Rafael Stone isn’t in a rush to make a blockbuster move.
“It’s a very high bar to do a transaction that changes things,” Stone told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon on April 30. MacMahon added that the comment was “emphasizing the optimism that the improvement of the young players already on the roster can fuel the Rockets’ continued ascension.”
Houston ultimately has the option of letting the young core, with some veterans sprinkled around them, grow. Or they can try to accelerate the process by adding a big-time name, like Giannis or KD.
As far as where the team stood after the season ended, MacMahon noted: “Stone, Udoka and Patrick Fertitta — are aligned in the ambition to allow this young group to grow together. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that there will be internal discussions at a minimum this summer regarding potential star pursuits in the trade market.”
We’ll see if anything there comes to fruition. If so, one can surmise that the No. 10 overall draft pick would have to be included in the deal. Regardless, though, it’s clear Houston is open for business regarding the selection.
