Moments after the Rockets earned the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft lottery, Houston general manager Rafael Stone met with local reporters and addressed the momentous day for his franchise.
The Rockets went into Tuesday night with a nearly 48% chance of losing their pick altogether, courtesy of a top-four-protected pick swap owned by Oklahoma City, and they exited the lottery with a top-two selection — which the league’s odds gave them only a 27% chance of landing. Among incoming rookies, candidates to be drafted at that slot include center Evan Mobley, as well as guards Jalen Green and Jalen Suggs.
In his interview, Stone answered media questions related to Houston’s three first-round picks (2, 23, and 24) and beyond. Topics included:
- Whether the Rockets will keep the pick or look to trade it
- What landing the No. 2 selection means, and doesn’t mean, for the timetable of Houston’s rebuilding plan
- Whether having the No. 2 pick affects Houston’s planning with regards to the rest of the roster and the 2021-22 salary cap
- Why the Rockets are likely to go best player available in the 2021 draft, rather than emphasize any specific position(s)
- The emotions of Tuesday’s lottery night, including how Stone was reading a book — rather than watching the countdown — when the pick order was revealed live
- What the draft preparation process is like for the Rockets, including the combine, workouts, and interviews
- The role of head coach Stephen Silas, and potentially of certain players on the Houston roster, in draft evaluations
- Reaction by owner Tilman Fertitta to Tuesday’s pick reveal
- Stone’s message to Houston fans about the rebuilding plan
The media session can be viewed below in its entirety, with a partial transcript available on YouTube.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPV_SPe1p9U
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