The Houston Rockets landed the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft one year after selecting Jalen Green. Majority of mock drafts have pegged Auburn's Jabari Smith Jr., Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren, and Duke's Paolo Banchero as the three best prospects of this class. Most project Smith Jr. and Holmgren to go in the top two with the Orlando Magic picking first and the Oklahoma City Thunder second. That leaves Houston with Banchero as their de facto choice.

But is he the sure-fire choice for the Rockets at that spot? Perhaps Houston sends the first shockwaves of the draft and takes Purdue stud Jaden Ivey with the no. 3 overall pick. There's certainly a case for Ivey to go in the top three. With that said, here are three reasons Jaden Ivey would be the perfect pick for the Rockets at No. 3 in the 2022 NBA Draft.

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3 reasons Jaden Ivey would be perfect pick for Rockets

1. Rockets would have an insanely athletic backcourt

On the surface, it would seem like taking Jaden Ivey would be redundant given they took a similar athlete in Jalen Green with the no. 2 pick last year. We all know how Green can insanely jump out of the gym. Ivey is no different. He showcased several aerial assaults throughout his sophomore season in Purdue.

Ivey is an absolute dynamo in the open court. The 20-year-old kid has the bounce to go along with his incredible burst off the dribble.

Ivey and Green would instantly give the Rockets an insanely athletic backcourt that will be a nightmare in transition. In fact, there's an argument that tandem could be the most athletic backcourt in NBA history should the Rockets take the Purdue guard with their no. 3 pick.

In addition, Houston has an interesting prospect in Kevin Porter Jr., who started at point guard for them last season.

2. He would fit with how the Rockets want to play fast

The Rockets were one of the fastest teams in the NBA this past season. Houston was in the middle of the pack in terms of fast break points. But, they were number two in the league in pace and third in the NBA in total possessions, per NBA.com.

Ivey is a dangerous player when going downhill in transition. He possesses a great mix of speed, acceleration, and power that allows him to fearlessly burst to the hoop. Just imagine him and Jalen Green running together on the break with their other athletic wings such as Porter Jr., Jae'Sean Tate, and Kenyon Martin Jr. alongside them.

Ivey is also a terrific finisher at the rim. Not only does he finish with his tenacious dunks, he also knows when to decelerate and pick his spots when taking the ball to the cup. His ability to do so would give the Rockets better opportunities to finish their transition baskets. That is something they struggled with this past season despite being one of the fastest teams in the NBA.

3. Perfect for branding

Houston would have two guards that can both get up there. This will be perfect for how Houston brands their two franchise pieces moving forward. Green and Ivey could be known as the “Rocket Bros” or whatever other nickname the Rockets can creatively think of for them.

This is going to be good for business as they bring an exciting brand of basketball back to Houston. Sure, they won't be winning a lot of games due to the youth and lack of experience on their roster. But with Green and Ivey leading the charge, these two are going to be flying all over the place. They will give Houston fans something fun to cheer about and look forward to with their team.