Entering Tuesday’s 2023 NBA draft lottery, the Houston Rockets had a 14% chance of selecting No. 1 overall in the first round. That was followed by 13.4% odds of the No. 2 pick; 12.7% for the No. 3 selection; 12.0% for the No. 4 pick; 27.8% for No. 5; and 20.0% for No. 6.
Unlike 2021 and 2022, when Houston gained one of the best-case outcomes at No. 2 (Jalen Green) and No. 3 (Jabari Smith Jr.), respectively, the Rockets did not have the same luck in 2023. This year, they drew the No. 4 spot as the fourth and final lottery winner.
That means the rebuilding Rockets will not be drafting Victor Wembanyama, the historically talented French big man who is now expected to be drafted by San Antonio at No. 1 overall.
However, the Rockets will still have a number of talented options to choose from. The list potentially includes guard Scoot Henderson of the NBA G League Ignite, guard Amen Thompson of the Overtime Elite, forward Brandon Miller of Alabama and many more.
Houston also owns the No. 20 pick in the first round, which they acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in the Eric Gordon trade. With both slots confirmed, here’s a post-lottery look at who draft experts have going at No. 4 and No. 20 in their latest mock drafts.
Projections for No. 4 overall in 2023 first round
Bryan Kalbrosky, For The Win (5/16), No. 4: Amen Thompson
(Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle (5/16), No. 4: Amen Thompson
(Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
Jonathan Givony, ESPN (5/16), No. 4: Amen Thompson
(Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
Sam Vecenie, The Athletic (5/16), No. 4: Amen Thompson
(Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation (5/16), No. 4: Brandon Miller
(Alabama: Forward, 20 years old, 6-9)
Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer (5/16), No. 4: Amen Thompson
(Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report (5/17), No. 4: Amen Thompson
(Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
Krysten Peek, Yahoo Sports (5/16), No. 4: Amen Thompson
(Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY (5/16), No. 4: Amen Thompson
(Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
Michael Scotto, HoopsHype (5/16), No. 4: Amen Thompson
(Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
Kyle Irving, Sporting News (5/16), No. 4: Amen Thompson
(Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
Brett Siegel, ClutchPoints (5/16), No. 4: Amen Thompson
(Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
Chinmay Vaidya, DraftKings (5/16), No. 4: Ausar Thompson
(Overtime Elite: Wing, 20 years old, 6-7)
Brad Rowland, Dime on UPROXX (5/16), No. 4: Amen Thompson
(Overtime Elite: Guard, 20 years old, 6-7)
Check out Tankathon’s latest 2023 NBA draft big board for statistics and additional information on these prospects and beyond.
Projections for No. 20 overall in 2023 first round
Bryan Kalbrosky, For The Win (5/16), No. 20: Olivier-Maxence Prosper (Marquette: Forward, 20 years old, 6-8)
Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle (5/16), No. 20: Dereck Lively II
(Duke: Center, 19 years old, 7-1)
Jonathan Givony, ESPN (5/16), No. 20: Brice Sensabaugh
(Ohio State: Wing, 19 years old, 6-6)
Sam Vecenie, The Athletic (5/16), No. 20: Dariq Whitehead
(Duke: Wing, 18 years old, 6-6)
Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation (5/16), No. 20: Gregory “G.G.” Jackson
(South Carolina: Forward, 18 years old, 6-9)
Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer (5/16), No. 20: Rayan Rupert
(New Zealand Breakers: Wing, 19 years old, 6-6)
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report (5/16), No. 20: Brandin Podziemski
(Santa Clara: Guard, 20 years old, 6-5)
Krysten Peek, Yahoo Sports (5/16), No. 20: Maxwell Lewis
(Pepperdine: Wing, 20 years old, 6-7)
Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY (5/16), No. 20: Leonard Miller
(NBA G League Ignite: Forward, 19 years old, 6-10)
Kyle Irving, Sporting News (5/16), No. 20: Nick Smith Jr.
(Arkansas: Guard, 19 years old, 6-5)
Brett Siegel, ClutchPoints (5/16), No. 20: Rayan Rupert
(New Zealand Breakers: Wing, 19 years old, 6-6)
Chinmay Vaidya, DraftKings (5/16), No. 20: Brice Sensabaugh
(Ohio State: Wing, 19 years old, 6-6)
Brad Rowland, Dime on UPROXX (5/16), No. 20: Jordan Hawkins
(Connecticut: Wing, 21 years old, 6-5)
Check out Tankathon’s latest 2023 NBA draft big board for statistics and additional information on these prospects and beyond.
2023 NBA draft lottery results
The 2023 NBA Draft Lottery order is SET 🔥
Thoughts on where your favorite team ended up? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/AbNMJTiRlN
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 17, 2023
2023 pre-draft workouts, interviews for Rockets
With the 2023 NBA draft combine coming up, here’s our latest list of prospects who have reportedly interviewed or worked out with the #Rockets in the pre-draft process. https://t.co/wWZm2d7Nbt
— The Rockets Wire (@TheRocketsWire) May 11, 2023
