With Thursday’s 2022 NBA draft about 48 hours away, Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone met with local media members on Tuesday as part of the team’s business partnership announcement with Memorial Hermann. For Stone, it was his last time to speak publicly prior to being on the clock at No. 3 overall in the first round.
The Rockets are expected to pick whichever top frontcourt player remains between Auburn’s Jabari Smith, Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, and Duke’s Paolo Banchero. Most mock drafts continue to project Banchero to the Rockets, though there does appear to be some uncertainty.
In Tuesday’s media availability, Stone took questions from reporters on his options at the top of the draft, as well as criteria that Houston may use when selecting later in the first round. He also addressed a recent report regarding an alleged trade inquiry by KJ Martin.
Stone was not allowed to directly discuss the Christian Wood trade to Dallas or the No. 26 pick acquired from that trade, since that deal will not be made official until after that draft choice is made (due to the NBA’s Stepien rule). But other than that, Stone was as transparent as can reasonably be expected for an NBA general manager entering draft day.
Scroll on for updates by reporters on the scene at Toyota Center.
