The Houston Rockets have several first-round draft assets in 2023: Their own pick, one via Milwaukee, and pick-swap rights connected to those selections from the Nets and Clippers, respectively.
Milwaukee (43-17) enters March and the home stretch of the 2022-23 regular season with the NBA’s worst record, so it’s very likely that Houston will be using its newly obtained right to swap that first-round pick with one from the Los Angeles Clippers (33-30).
As of today, that right — obtained from the Eric Gordon trade — would move Houston from No. 30 in the first round to No. 19 overall. However, because that swap right is top-six protected, there is a very small possibility that if the Clippers miss the playoffs and win one of the four draft-lottery selections, the Rockets would instead get the Milwaukee pick and a Los Angeles second-round pick.
On the other hand, it’s unlikely that Houston (13-47) will use its right to swap picks with Brooklyn (34-26), since the Nets are higher in the standings. However, because of the league’s flattened lottery odds, it can’t entirely be ruled out. Here’s a look at the four scenarios to watch for as the regular season nears its April 9 conclusion.