Rockets defy odds to land third pick in 2024 NBA Draft lottery

The Houston Rockets entered the 2024 NBA Draft lottery on Sunday with slim odds of landing one of the first four picks decided by the lottery. And yet, somehow, they defied all odds and came away with a top-four selection for a fourth straight year.

Houston’s pick from Brooklyn (32-50), acquired in the January 2021 trade for James Harden, moved from No. 9 in pre-lottery odds to No. 3 overall in the first round. The pick had just a 15% chance of making the top three, and that’s now the highest of any team in the Western Conference. Only Atlanta (No. 1) and Washington (No. 2) are ahead.

The Rockets (41-41) lost their own pick at No. 12 overall, which was due to Oklahoma City (with top-four protection) in the July 2019 trade involving Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook. However, the impact of losing this No. 12 selection is obviously paltry compared to the Nets’ choice which goes to No. 3 overall.

The lottery was held in Chicago, where the league draft will take place for the remainder of this week.

Featuring the perspectives of media members and fans who closely follow the Rockets, here’s our roundup of early reactions and key takeaways related to Sunday’s 2024 NBA Draft lottery results.

THE #Rockets officially lose their pick to the OKC Thunder this year.

–Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) May 12, 2024

Houston (via Brooklyn), San Antonio, Utah and Washington are in the top four. It’s incredible.

– ClutchesFans (@clutchfans) May 12, 2024

The Houston #Rockets won 41 games and got the third pick in the draft.

IT’S SO OVER FOR THE LEAGUE.

– ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) May 12, 2024

Green Jalen
Alperen Sengün
Jabari Smith
Tari Reason
Amen Thompson
Cam Whitmore
#3 overall choice

Go ahead and stop talking about which team has the best young core in the NBA: It’s officially Houston #Rockets.

– ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) May 12, 2024

The Houston #Rockets (from BKN) get the #3 pick in the NBA draft. The James Harden trade continues to pay off for Houston.

– Chris A. White 🐻 (@fyrebear) May 12, 2024

THE #Rockets have already received Tari Eason and a No. 3 pick from the Nets for James Harden, and they still have three years of first-round assets remaining

Thank goodness Rafael Stone didn’t go the way of Ben Simmons

– Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) May 12, 2024

“Wait for Jazz? But they are in front of us
Wait
This must mean”

“And that means the Hawks and Rockets have moved into the top 4”

“AHHHHHHHHH”

-Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) May 12, 2024

#Rockets 3rd overall pick, highest of any team in the Western Conference

He had only a 15% chance of making the top three. Beautiful day

– Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) May 12, 2024

This Houston pick that made it into the top 3 comes from Brooklyn. It was obvious then and even more so now that prioritizing Brooklyn’s picks over Ben Simmons was the right decision.

– Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) May 12, 2024

You suck Sean Marks.

You’ll never win a ring like the Nets @JHarden13

Most hated owner in the NBA @joetsai1999

Cursed franchise, I fear.

– Brooklyn Netcast (@BrooklynNetcast) May 12, 2024

#3 overall pick. A young core of TALENTS. All the assets that Rafael Stone was able to acquire. The guys in the league want to play for Ime Udoka and his team. New practice center on the way.

THE @Houston Rockets there are A LOT of good things happening at the same time. pic.twitter.com/vpcR3R2S9p

– Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) May 12, 2024

Thanks James Harden, for asking to come out before being washed

Thanks Rafael Stone, for choosing the Nets package and not listening to my idiot

-Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) May 12, 2024

NBA draft order after lottery:

1. Hawks
2. Wizards
3. Rockets (via Nets)
4. Spurs
5.Piston
6. Hornets
7. The pioneers
8. Spurs (via Raptors)
9. Grizzlies
10. Jazz
11. Bulls
12. Thunder (via Rockets)
13. Kings
14. Trail Blazers (via Warriors)

– Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 12, 2024

A combination of James Harden and Eric Gordon now got the Rockets Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason and a top 4 pick in this draft.

And Houston still has more Brooklyn assets coming.

– Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) May 12, 2024

Reed Sheppard in the mock draft, what a great view

-Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) May 12, 2024

Unless they trade their pick, the Rockets will be a top-four lottery prospect on the roster for the fourth straight year, in the post James Harden era. I know this has been touted as an all-time draft, but it’s still exciting for someone who enjoyed watching the current…

– RedNinetyFour (@RedNinetyFour) May 12, 2024

The Houston Rockets can trade up to 5 first-round picks this offseason, including the third overall selection in the 2024 draft.

They were chasing big deals before the trade deadline. They are now even better placed to achieve one this summer.

–Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) May 12, 2024

Granted, some of Simmons’ health issues couldn’t have been predicted, but @espn_macmahon was about this at the time, as was Nate, and it turned out to be completely correct. The Rockets now find themselves in a very interesting situation this summer. https://t.co/tojS4K3y4h

– Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) May 12, 2024

I would even add the 2027 trade to further incentivize the Nets to take this deal.

This makes the Nets’ 2025 and 2026 picks invaluable and makes the Rockets much better for years to come. https://t.co/H9pG7idOFQ

-Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) May 12, 2024

Today, the Rockets had about an 80% chance of being selected in the 9-13 area of the draft.

No matter how weak the project is. It’s objectively much easier to talk about trading your pick in this range rather than the third.

– Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) May 12, 2024

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