Bleacher Report Predicts Houston Rockets to Retain Third Place Overall

Rafael Stone has decisions to make. The Houston Rockets general manager is playing with a unique situation. If the team goes back, it can count on the development of its young core to catapult itself into the playoffs. If they make trades, they can work to extend a potential championship window. Either way, Stone is poised for a career-defining offseason.

The team also earns the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, courtesy of the Brooklyn Nets, who entered the draft lottery. Whether they trade the pick to strengthen the roster or use it to draft a player to fit the team’s playoff hopes remains a big question.

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Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report used the latest rumors and buzz around the association to make some predictions for this offseason. The first of the predictions Bailey made included the Rockets and the No. 3 overall pick, as he claimed they would stick with it and use the selection themselves.

The reason the Rockets are sticking around isn’t really because they’re going to make a difference with the pick, but because the value of the pick in a “weaker” draft might not yield the return that’s worth it. Houston leaves such a project. high draft pick.

“If Houston could retain at least two or three of the most important members of the young core while adding a difference-making veteran, it would certainly be tempting to do so,” Bailey wrote. “But this draft has been described as historically bad, so that third pick might not take the Rockets too far. And this roster has a chance to organically grow into something special.”

Having the Rockets lose the third overall pick wouldn’t be the end of the world, but doing it for little gain in return just wouldn’t be worth it. It will be interesting to follow where Stone goes with the draft pick and who manages the current talent on the roster.

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