This is the second of two mock drafts, I will hit you with before June 23rd when the selections are made. The Rockets were 20-62 last season, and landed the 3rd selection in the draft via the draft lottery. It's not quite a consensus that the first two players selected will be Jabari Smith & Chet Holmgren, but it's darn close. I'm a believer that will be the case and the Rockets will have their pick of every other player on the board at three.
In my opinion, there are only two players they'll consider - Paolo Banchero from Duke & Jaden Ivey from Purdue. I'd say it's a near certainty the Rockets will take Banchero and for some analysis on Banchero - check out my mock draft 1.0 writeup.
The decision that comes with much more uncertainty is their second first round selection and now their reported 3rd first round sleection at no. 26, which would be acquired via trade from Dallas, along with four veteran players in exchange for Christian Wood.
I sent out a twitter poll this past week asking the fans what they would prefer the Rockets do with these three selections and here are the results below.
In my initial mock draft, center Tari Eason was the selection for the Rockets at no. 17. In mock draft 2.0, he was already off the board. In that case, the Rockets then go out west to nab Jalen Williams, who has reported been moving up team's draft boards with his offseason work.
At no. 26, again under the premise that they keep the pick, which in my opinion is unlikely, I have the Rockets selecting forward Kendall Brown from Baylor. Brown averaged 9.7 points and 4.9 rebounds in 27.0 minutes per game in his lone season at Baylor.
Here's my mock draft 2.0. Hit me with your feedback. @adamjwexler