A Comprehensive Guide to the Rockets' Future Draft Picks

A complete guide to Houston's future pick stash, including details on how each pick was acquired along with its protections.

Despite making a significant jump in the 2023-24 season, the Houston Rockets are still a few pieces away from contention. Whether that next step comes via drafting another franchise cornerstone, or by packaging picks to acquire a proven star, Houston has flexibility. Not only do the Rockets have the majority of their own future first-round picks, but they also have the rights to other selections as well.

Thanks to the James Harden trade to Brooklyn in 2021, the Rockets have a plethora of future draft capital via the Nets. As such, GM Rafael Stone will have the luxury of being a playoff team while also having a shot at selecting in the lottery at certain points over the next few years. This is the perfect place to be for a young team that should be breaking out in the near future.

Houston's core is already extremely solid, with players like Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Jalen Green and Tari Eason. With that in mind, the next wave of young pieces will be equally as important as this current group gains experience and need pieces around them to maintain success.

Houston Rockets Future Draft Picks

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The NBA Draft will continue to be a key piece in the Rockets getting back to contention. While it's become clear that Houston wants to be back in the playoffs sooner than later, don't be surprised if the front office looks to offload one of its core pieces along with some of this draft capital to land a big star. At this point, it seems that type of move would easily put the Rockets back in the postseason picture of the Western Conference as early as next season.