For the 2023-24 Rockets, the most important short-term implication of Wednesday’s home game versus the Brooklyn Nets was securing a win and improving to two games over .500 (17-15).
Houston has clear ambitions of competing for a play-in tournament spot, or earning an outright playoff berth this season.
Longer term, there’s also a major benefit to hanging a loss on the Nets (15-20), who have now lost 10 of their last 12 games.
Owing to the blockbuster James Harden trade in January 2021, the Rockets control Brooklyn’s first-round NBA draft capital through 2027. With the Nets on the verge of tumbling out of play-in tournament range in the Eastern Conference standings, it’s becoming increasingly possible — if not likely — that Houston will receive a lottery selection from the Nets in the 2024 draft.
That could add a significant asset to an improving young core that already includes Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Green, Tari Eason, Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore.
Granted, it’s not all rosy for the Rockets and their future draft outlook. Because of its own ill-fated trade under previous general manager Daryl Morey, Houston will likely lose its own 2024 first-round pick to Oklahoma City as part of the Chris Paul-Russell Westbrook deal from 2019. (The pick is top-four-protected, but that protection is increasingly unlikely to kick in, since the Rockets are quickly approaching the midpoint of the 2023-24 season and still above .500.)
Even so, the unprotected pick the Rockets will land from the Nets is likely to be higher in the order than the one Houston will probably lose to Oklahoma City. Thus, current general manager Rafael Stone has to be pleased. Here’s a look at implications and reaction to that Brooklyn pick, which projects to be at No. 10 in the draft order.