Rockets GM Talks Possibility of Trading No. 3 Pick in 2024 NBA Draft After Lottery

Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said the team is more likely to keep its No. 3 pick in next month’s NBA draft rather than trade him, according to Clutch fans.

Stone said the team would likely prioritize the available player at No. 3 over possible trade options, but “it’s always possible” that another team would be willing to make a high offer for a player that she wants to take number 3.

The Rockets are in the top five in the NBA Draft for a fourth straight year following Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery. The Atlanta Hawks have the No. 1 pick and the Washington Wizards have the No. 2 pick.

Houston should have plenty of talented options available at No. 3. While this year’s group may not be as stacked as the 2023 class that included players like Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller, there are still a handful of potential stars left.

One of the Rockets’ young stars, Jalen Green, was a product of the NBA’s G League Ignite, and Houston could find another Ignite gem in this draft.

Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report considers Ignite forward Ron Holland to be the top prospect in this year’s class, and Holland could very well be there for the Rockets at No. 3. Holland, 18, has a 20 average, 6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game and makes a strong case for being one of the best players on the board.

In the college ranks, Kentucky duo Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham could be solid draft targets for the Rockets, or they could pursue a big man like UConn’s Donovan Clingan. European stars like Nikola Topić, Alex Sarr or Zaccharie Risacher also stand out as quality options for Houston at No. 3.

The Rockets will likely focus on a few prospects in this week’s NBA Draft and begin to determine what their best move is.

Houston is looking to land a potential star with the No. 3 pick to help turn things around after missing the playoffs the past four years. The Rockets showed improvement in 2023, increasing their win total from 22 to 41, but there is still plenty of work to do. Standing out in the draft would help them in their quest to return to glory.