Rockets exploring trades with third overall pick?

Earlier this week, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reported during a video broadcast of his mock draft that the Rockets were listening to trade offers for the third pick in the draft. O’Connor reported that Houston was talking to the Brooklyn Nets about a trade involving Mikal Bridges and the Memphis Grizzlies about a trade for the ninth overall pick in the draft.

If the Rockets were to drop six spots in the draft, Memphis would really need to sweeten the pot, either with future draft assets or existing role players on their roster. While this was considered a weak draft by scouts, there are several intriguing prospects to consider starting at No. 3, including big man Donovan Clingan, sharpshooter Reed Sheppard and versatile wing Stephon Castle. Perhaps the Rockets don’t believe they can find playing time on their roster for another rookie, given the relative youth of the team’s existing core, and would prefer to drop the box later for a later asset ?

Would the Grizzlies be willing to trade veteran guard Marcus Smart in a trade? Smart, now 30, played under current Rockets head coach Ime Udoka while with the Boston Celtics. Smart is listed in 2024-25 for $20.21 million and is scheduled to make $21.59 million in 2025-26 before becoming an unrestricted free agent the following summer. Would the Rockets be interested in such a transaction? Smart would add toughness to Houston’s backcourt, but there already aren’t enough minutes to play with Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green both expected to return, and sophomores Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore need more playing time.

As for Brooklyn, Houston’s interest in Bridges has been long reported and widely speculated and now only fueled by the Rockets’ jump in the lottery to third place with Brooklyn’s draft pick. (Brooklyn passes its 2024 pick to the Rockets following the 2021 trade that sent James Harden to the Nets.)

Bridges’ inclusion in the Rockets’ lineup is undeniable, as he would give Udoka another versatile defender and help space the floor for budding star center Alperen Sengun. But both teams would have to agree on the value to reach a deal. It seems unlikely the Nets would agree to trade Bridges, the most attractive trade chip on their roster, in exchange for the third pick in the draft. But how many additional assets would Rockets general manager Rafael Stone agree to include?

After a spectacular walk in which he earned Western Conference Player of the Month honors, the Rockets are unlikely to trade Green for more than the third pick. And Houston’s most valuable asset, trading the rights to Brooklyn’s 2025 pick, would likely be out of the picture as well. (Next year’s draft is considered particularly strong by scouts). The Rockets also owe Brooklyn a 2026 pick and also trade rights in 2027, following the same Harden trade in 2021. Could either of these assets be in play?

This is a development worth monitoring ahead of the draft in late June.