Wednesday’s NBA draft-eve rumors: Rockets intel for June 21

Amen Thompson looks increasingly like the #Rockets frontrunner at No. 4 overall, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo. As the pre-draft period enters its final hours, here’s where things stand.

Held in Brooklyn, New York, the 2023 NBA draft is one day away on Thursday night, June 22. The start time from Barclays Center is at 8 p.m. Eastern time, or 7 p.m. Central.

With that in mind, big boards are being finalized across the NBA as the lengthy pre-draft period enters its final hours.

In Houston, the top priority for general manager Rafael Stone is making the correct decision with the No. 4 pick. Be it making the selection, trading up or down in the first-round order or trading out for a veteran, the Rockets need to maximize the premium asset as they enter the next phase of a franchise rebuild.

The leading option, if they stay put, appears to be point-guard prospect Amen Thompson of the Overtime Elite.

Here’s a roundup of Wednesday’s news and notes related to the Rockets. With rumors reaching a crescendo on the NBA’s annual draft week, we’ll do this each day leading up to Thursday’s big day.