The Houston Rockets executed a blockbuster trade on Wednesday night, sending center Christian Wood to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for the no. 26 pick in the NBA Draft along with Boban Marjanovic, Marquese Chriss, Trey Burke and Sterling Brown.
The Rockets moved on from Wood's $14.3 million salary cap hit while freeing up the depth chart for 2021 first-rounder Alperen Sengun and, potentially, Paolo Banchero, the likely selection with the third pick in the draft.
The trade with the Mavs netted the Rockets a third first-round pick, in addition to the third and 17th choices they possess. That gives this franchise more than a fair shot at jump-starting their rebuild on June 23.
But who could Houston select in the back end of the first round? Fortunately, there are a few prospects who make perfect sense for the Rockets.
Here are the three best options for Houston with the no. 26 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
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3 Best Options For Rockets With No. 26 Pick In NBA Draft
3. Nikola Jovic (Serbia, SF)
The 6-10, 210-pound Nikola Jovic- not to be confused with two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic- is one of the more intriguing forwards in the NBA Draft.
Jovic has played professionally for Mega Mozzart in Serbia, impressing with his guard skills and ability to handle the ball for someone his size.
He's a gifted passer, one who excels as a ball-handler in the pick-and-roll. While his jump shot will need to become more consistent and he may need to bulk up a bit, Jovic would give the Rockets some much-needed versatility at the forward spot.
His height and guard-like skills could allow him to switch seamlessly between the three and four spots, where the Rockets could surely use some help.
2. Wendell Moore Jr. (Duke, SF)
If the Rockets want a player who can contribute, potentially as a starter, from day one, they should look no further than Wendell Moore Jr. out of Duke. In 39 games for the Blue Devils, Moore averaged 13.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 41.3 percent from beyond the arc.
That's one area where Moore showed great improvement, as he went from being an afterthought at the three-point line to a consistent threat. Not only that, but the Duke product is a capable defender with a 7-foot wingspan, making him one of the more unheralded prospects in the first round of the NBA Draft.
He would make perfect sense for a Rockets team that ranked 21st in three-point percentage while allowing the most points per game in the NBA in 2021. Moore would instantly help the Rockets get better in those two areas. The only downside is that he may not be available at pick no. 26.
1. Jaylin Williams (Arkansas, PF)
If the Rockets are looking for a prospect to come in and help change the culture, Jaylin Williams is that guy. Williams, a 6-10 forward, averaged 1.8 charges per game, the most among D-1 players with at least 700 minutes played.
Williams wants to contribute anyway he can too, saying “whatever it is to win, that's what I want to do”, per USA Today. He sure did a little bit of everything for the Razorbacks, averaging 10.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.
While he could stand to improve as a three-point shooter, Williams is the kind of player every NBA team could use. He could be the start of a culture turnaround in Houston.
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