With Houston owning one of the NBA’s worst records, the 2022 playoffs are already off the table for the Rockets. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to still watch for as the 2021-22 campaign winds down.
From now 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 who are currently (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 7, along with information on odds and tiebreaker scenarios.
Though the Rockets did win themselves, Sunday was otherwise another positive day on the 2022 NBA draft front, headlined by the 54-point explosion by Boston’s Jayson Tatum in a win over Brooklyn. The Nets are below .500 for the first time since they were 2-3 and have fallen into a virtual tie for the East’s No. 10 seed — which boosts the odds of an incredible scenario where Houston lands two 2022 lottery picks.
Technically, Brooklyn's first-rounder became a lottery pick today, but that's only determined by the results of the play-in tournament.
Record over the last 20 games:
Houston Rockets 3-17
Brooklyn Nets 3-17Houston fans who love the Draft are living the dream right now. https://t.co/elmG1lqxKT
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) March 6, 2022