The Houston Rockets may opt to use the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft as a bargaining chip.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that the team is “open” to trading the pick if the return would be in the form of an impact player.
“The Houston Rockets are open to moving the No. 3 overall pick for a player who can help the franchise win now and elevate to a playoff team and sustainable success as a playoff team going forward,” Scotto wrote.
Houston is pretty familiar with picking toward the top of the draft at this point. The franchise has not qualified for the postseason since 2019-20 and has made a selection in the top four in each of the last three seasons.
While adding another young player can’t hurt, leveraging that opportunity into a more seasoned asset could be exactly what Houston needs to jump into playoff contention.
The Rockets went 41-41 last season, finishing 11th in the Western Conference.
That mark left them just shy of the play-in tournament but did serve as a major improvement from previous seasons.
Offseason additions like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks were a huge reason for the uptick in productivity, and adding another established veteran could also aid in the development of Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson.
The 2024 NBA Draft will take place June 26-27 in Brooklyn, New York.