As part of a clear rebuilding plan, the Rockets have accumulated one of the NBA’s largest stockpiles of future draft considerations over the next seven years. Trades of prominent veteran players, including James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Robert Covington, allowed Houston general manager Rafael Stone to quickly gain needed draft assets.
The process of turning those assets into players began in 2021, when the Rockets added four first-round picks to the roster in the form of Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Usman Garuba, and Josh Christopher.
But in 2022, the process is far from complete. With one of the league’s worst records, the Rockets are poised to secure another high draft pick in 2022, and they have assets from other teams — namely, Brooklyn — on the way, as well. Any trade deadline moves involving veterans such as Eric Gordon and Christian Wood could further add to the stockpile.
Many of these picks will provide a further infusion of youth to Houston’s roster, while some could ultimately become valuable trade commodities as the Rockets pursue trades for more established players. On the other hand, Houston still owes draft capital to Oklahoma City in 2024, 2025, and 2026 from the ill-fated trade involving Westbrook and Chris Paul.
Through 2028, here’s a year-by-year list of the Rockets’ draft picks, as of January 2022. (The 2028 cutoff date is because NBA teams are only allowed to trade draft picks for the next seven years.)