Houston Rockets’ third pick reportedly ‘for sale’

Be careful before ruling out a possibility.

Of course, this possibility may not immediately appeal to you. Sit on it anyway. Over time, you might feel differently.

The Houston Rockets appear to be following this advice. Will they trade the third overall pick in the upcoming draft? We are not sure:

But they don’t seem to rule out this possibility.

At least that’s what Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman is hearing.

“Rival teams say the No. 3 is for sale. There isn’t much room on the Houston Rockets’ roster for another young project, and the team plans to exit the rebuilding phase to move up the rankings. Adding another veteran or even a future pick in a perceived better draft might seem more attractive to Houston than No. 3 in 2024.”

– Jonathan Wasserman

Color us intrigued. Of course, we’ve been hearing these whispers for some time. Additionally, “rival teams” are not reliable sources. They have every interest in spreading disinformation.

However, the closer we get to the draft, the more weight these rumors carry. There is so much smoke surrounding the possibility of the Rockets trading this pick that we have to believe there is a fire burning somewhere.

Should the Rockets really trade this pick?

We’re not sure.

We will reject the idea that “there is not much room” for a young “project” in the Rockets roster.

Firstly, not every young player is a “project”. Reed Sheppard is likely to play a significant role from day one. Donovan Clingan would likely find himself on the back of the bench to start his career – the Rockets have depth at center – but he should be ready to contribute if his number is called.

If the Rockets drafted a draft player, they can stash him in the G-League. There is always room for a blue-chip prospect.

That said, if the Rockets don’t see a bluechipper in this class, they could easily justify trading this pick for a solid contributor and freshman for the future. This would help them pursue their immediate winning goals and help them recruit young talent in the future.

The Rockets must therefore evaluate the situation. If a team offers them, for example, an unprotected first pick in 2027, they should ask themselves if a later pick in a stronger draft has more value than the third pick in that class. Who can say?

Don’t rule out either possibility.