With Houston owning the NBA’s worst record, the 2022 playoffs are already off the table for the Rockets. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to still watch for in the final month of the 2021-22 campaign.
Until the regular season’s conclusion on April 10, we’re regularly updating where the Rockets stand in relation to their closest competitors in the race for 2022 NBA draft odds and positioning.
Houston owns two picks in this year’s first round: Their own, and one from Brooklyn. For purposes of these updates, we’re going to focus on teams (at the time of publication) within three games in either direction of both the Rockets and Nets in the standings.
After a second straight season at the bottom of the West, will the Rockets land another elite prospect such as Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith or Paolo Banchero for their troubles? Scroll on for the latest updates as of March 18, along with information on odds and tiebreaker scenarios.
Lottery Race Update: Detroit struck first by sitting Cade Cunningham, but Orlando put the Pistons — and the entire NBA — on notice: They're capable of getting beat by anyone. Standings:
1. Houston 17-52
2. Orlando 18-53
3. Detroit 19-51
4. Oklahoma City 20-49
5. Indiana 23-47— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) March 18, 2022