Rafael Stone: Rockets haven’t made final decision on No. 2 pick in draft

According to Houston’s general manager, the Rockets are still holding evaluations and conversations regarding the No. 2 overall draft pick.

With the 2021 NBA draft just over a week away, Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said Wednesday that Houston has yet to lock in on a final decision regarding the No. 2 overall selection.

Top options for the Rockets with that high pick are believed to include G League Ignite guard Jalen Green; University of Southern California (USC) center Evan Mobley; and Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs. Some media reports have also suggested that Houston is interested in trading up with Detroit to No. 1 to draft Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham.

As of Wednesday, which is eight days beforew the July 29 draft, Stone says evaluations and conversations are continuing within Houston’s front office. Here’s a sampling of what he told reporters:

I think the right approach is to do the work, work as hard as you can and use every minute, and keep every option open. It’s still not guaranteed we’re picking, or that we’re picking in that spot. It’s more likely than not, it always is. The NBA is a very illiquid market. You should never bet on any transaction, you should always bet on the status quo.

But not withstanding, it’s our job to figure out what possibilities exist. If you lock yourselves in, that has real consequences. It locks in your thinking. So, I don’t do that. If they said we had to do it (pick) in five minutes, we would be prepared. We’ve done the work. But I don’t want to tell you, or anybody else, that it’s pre-determined. That’s not the right path.

Stone and head coach Stephen Silas spoke to reporters as part of a a company-wide volunteer day at the Houston Food Bank.

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