Taking Another Look At the Rockets’ Potential Draft Prospects

With the 2026 NBA Draft just one week away, you’d have to expect the most up to date mocks having some accurate projections. Obviously the first round, particularly the first handful of picks, will be relatively easy, but the Houston Rockets only have second round selections. 

Unless Rafael Stone trades into the first round, they won’t have any business to take care of on the first night of the draft. I haven’t seen any speculation about that, so I’d expect pick number 39 and 53 will be made on Wednesday, June 24th. 

There is a chance that those picks don’t make it on the roster though, as the Rockets haven’t brought in a second round pick in almost a decade. The last player was KJ Martin in 2020, as covered on Roundtable. 

Assuming we do see a shift in Houston’s focus, and they do make some selections this week, Braden Smith seems to be an intriguing pick for this team moving forward. 

As a four year starter for Purdue, his age and experience makes it a perfect fit for the Rockets. With their young core already pretty established in their roles, I don’t think there should be a rush to draft another developmental project. 

We already see Reed Sheppard, a top three pick, struggle to get consistent playing time. It just makes sense to bring in a guy who’s already older than Sheppard and has proven to be a steady leader who can run an offense. 

This also makes sense with VanVleet’s status a bit up in the air, as covered on Roundtable. While I expect to see him on the roster, he does have a player option and is returning from injury. Both he and Aaron Holiday could theoretically be gone. 

That’s why I think Milos Uzan is another solid option for either one of the Rockets’ picks. While he’s another four-year guard who’s proven his ability to run an offense, he’s also five inches taller than Braden Smith. 

Finishing the back half of his college career with the Houston Cougars, he’s a guy that should be familiar with the area. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Rockets’ scouts have had their eye on him. 

He didn’t have the greatest senior year from beyond the arc, but neither one of these players are superb shooters. They're both above average and smart enough to limit their attempts. 

While I don’t think it makes a ton of sense to bring in two similar players in this draft, I do think they both fit the kind of guard Houston should be aiming for. We’ll see if the Rockets take any interest in them next week.