Inside The Rockets

Trade Coming if Rockets Get No. 1 Pick?

The Houston Rockets will be watching the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery closely on Sunday.

Jeremy Brener

May 16, 2023; Chicago, IL, USA; A overall shot of the final four teams in the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery
May 16, 2023; Chicago, IL, USA; A overall shot of the final four teams in the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery / David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
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The NBA Draft Lottery is just days away, and the Houston Rockets are wondering where they will be picking.

The team has more than a 50 percent chance to end up at No. 9, but there's a 20 percent shot that Houston will land inside the top four, and a 4.5 percent hope that the team walks away with the No. 1 overall pick.

Adding a top selection to a group with so many young players could be tricky, which makes the No. 1 overall pick a potential barganing chip. Bleacher Report created a trade scenario for the Rockets if they got the No. 1 pick. The deal would send that pick, along with Dillon Brooks, Cam Whitmore and two future first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges.

"Houston already attempted to acquire Bridges, so clearly there is interest in expanding the talent base," Bleacher Report writes. "And while those initial efforts proved futile, maybe the addition of the No. 1 pick to its offer could change that. Remember, the Rockets are uniquely positioned to give the Nets control of their own picks, as they also own Brooklyn's 2026 selection and have swap rights for 2027. That feels like a hefty haul for Bridges, a 27-year-old who may have peaked a tier or two shy of stardom. However, if Houston feels it has enough rising stars on the roster, it could covet Bridges as a do-it-all defender who would bring consistency, efficiency and a pinch of creation as a tertiary offensive option."

It's hard to imagine a world where the Rockets would keep the No. 1 pick if they got it. A trade does seem likely, but this may not be the deal they seek if this were to happen. That being said, adding Bridges to the starting lineup with Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun does make a formidable fivesome that could challenge some of the best in the NBA.

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Jeremy Brener

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.