Before Tuesday’s 2021 NBA draft lottery, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Rockets could be “very aggressive in perhaps putting those picks in trades to bring back young veterans or All-Star-level players to accelerate their rebuild,” should they land a top pick.
After defying the odds to land the No. 2 overall pick, Houston general manager Rafael Stone certainly didn’t dismiss the possibility.
“It’s not necessarily that you’re looking to do that, but you shouldn’t foreclose any option,” Stone told reporters following the lottery. “You have to do the work. You have to use the allotted time. You have to have the discussions. You have to go through the process.”
Assuming Cade Cunningham goes at No. 1 to Detroit, as most expect, options at No. 2 could include guards Jalen Suggs and Jalen Green, as well as center Evan Mobley. Potential trade options aren’t yet clear.
“We have to figure out if drafting is the right thing,” said Stone, who noted that he would have had the same approach, even if Houston had landed the No. 1 overall pick (and a clear shot at Cunningham). “The easiest way to make a mistake is predetermining what you will do.”
“We’re going to get a good player in some way, shape or form,” he said. “We’re going to build something special here over time.”
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