There is currently a raging debate regarding the Rockets. Until now, Houston has had simple decisions and good fortune as part of its rebuilding plan. In 2020, James Harden made it clear that his tenure in Houston was over, allowing the Rockets to extract maximum value from Brooklyn. There was little debate as to what the team would have to do.
Last summer, the team was able to retain its own first-round draft pick despite a 50/50 chance of having to send it to Oklahoma City. Again, it was an easy choice for the Rockets to pounce on the best player on their board. Houston took Jalen Green, viewing him as a dynamic guard who fit well with where the future of the NBA is going.
When Alperen Sengun fell to the No. 16 pick, general manager Rafael Stone made the no-brainer decision to send two protected future firsts for a player that most expected to go in the lottery. These decisions have been relatively easy for Houston, and the path has been quite clear.
