The Houston Rockets are exploring multiple trade scenarios involving the No. 10 overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft, according to Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports. The front office is reportedly weighing options that include moving up in the draft, dealing the pick for a proven star, or trading back in exchange for future assets.

After finishing the regular season with a 52-30 record, the Rockets were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors in a hard-fought seven-game series. Now turning their attention to the draft, Houston faces a decision that could shape the direction of its already promising roster.

The 2025 NBA Draft is scheduled to take place on June 25 and 26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. As it stands, the Rockets hold the No. 10 pick, but league sources believe the team is unlikely to stay put. O’Connor reports that Houston’s deep roster could make it difficult for a rookie to carve out minutes, much like Reed Sheppard’s limited role last season.

Carter Bryant among options as Rockets weigh keeping or trading No. 10 pick

Arizona Wildcats forward Carter Bryant (9) reacts against the Oregon Ducks in the first half at Climate Pledge Arena.
Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Still, if the Rockets choose to keep the pick, one potential selection could be Arizona freshman Carter Bryant. The 6-foot-8 forward is widely viewed as a versatile defender with intriguing upside. In his lone season with the Wildcats, Bryant averaged 6.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, one assist, and one block per game while shooting 46% from the field and 37.1% from beyond the arc over 37 appearances.

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The Houston Rockets invested heavily into Fred VanVleet during the 2023 offseason. Houston gave the point guard a three-year, $128 million deal in a move that was meant to turn the Rockets from a rebuilding team into a championship contending one. The signing did just that, as the Rockets finished the 2024-25 regular season as the two-seed in a stacked Western Conference. VanVleet was the veteran presence and 3-point shooter that the team desperately needed, and he still might have a role with the Rockets going forward. Houston has a team option on his contract for next year, and they very well may pick it up. The Wichita State product reportedly wants to stay in Houston, but the point guard would be set to make over $44 million next season under his current contract. The Rockets and their guard recently pushed back the deadline on Houston's decision with VanVleet, and although reports suggest that they are interested in writing up a new, long-term deal, it isn't necessarily a guarantee that VanVleet will be playing for Houston next year. The Rockets blew him away with an offer he couldn't refuse back in 2023, and another team could so the same when/if he hits the open market this offseason. If VanVleet does become an unrestricted free agent, which teams outside of Houston would make the most sense for him to sign with? 1. Orlando Magic Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner recently signed big deals with the Orlando Magic, and Paolo Banchero will be getting a mega contract extension here soon. Because of that, the Magic no longer have money to blow like they have had in recent years. That will make a deal for another big ticket free agent hard to pull off, especially considering the team signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope last year. If Orlando can make the money work, though, then Fred VanVleet would be a great fit with the Magic. The Magic finished dead last in 3-point shooting this season, and VanVleet has made at least 2.5 deep balls per game in every season since 2018-19. VanVleet can hit shots form behind the arc off of the bounce or in catch-and-shoot situations. The Rockets were heavily reliant on his shooting expertise, so the guard would have plenty of familiarity getting up deep shots with high volume if he signed with the Magic. While undersized, VanVleet is a pesky defender, so he'd fit right in with a Magic team that has one of the best defensive units in the league. VanVleet could play alongside Suggs and give opposing teams fits. Ultimately, though, the Magic just need more shooting to get to the next level, and VanVleet is arguably the best shooter who could be available on the open market this offseason. 2. Brooklyn Nets A more realistic option for a VanVleet destination would be the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets are set up to have the most cap space this offseason, and they have a major need at point guard. With D'Angelo Russell and De'Anthony Melton hitting free agency this offseason, the Nets don't have a true point guard under contract for next season. Brooklyn needs to spend big this offseason, and they'd be smart to offer VanVleet a contract big enough that he'd have no choice but to leave Houston. VanVleet averaged 14.1 points per game last season, which was his lowest mark since 2018-19. He is trending the wrong way, but he still has enough left in the tank to give the Nets a few good seasons. 3. Portland Trail Blazers In the same way that the Rockets were looking to take the next step in 2023, the Portland Trail Blazers could use VanVleet's presence to get over the hump. The Trail Blazers have plenty of big man depth, as centers Deandre Ayton, Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams, and Duop Death are all under contract next season. Portland also has a lot of wing depth. Deni Advija started to look like a star late this past season, Toumani Camara is an elite defender, Shaedon Sharpe is a freakish athlete, and Jerami Grant is a proven scorer. The team is thinner in the backcourt, though. Anfernee Simons is a solid scorer, but Scoot Henderson has looked like a fringe draft bust since being drafted third overall. Portland shouldn't give up on Henderson completely, but there wouldn't be any harm in signing another guard. Like the Magic, the Blazers were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA. VanVleet would improve that weakness, and in a stacked Western Conference, Portland needs all of the help they can get if they are to compete for a playoff spot.
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“Selecting Bryant would be on brand for the Rockets,” O’Connor wrote, highlighting the forward’s range, athleticism, and potential as both a spot-up shooter and a smart off-ball cutter. While Bryant remains raw as a ball-handler, his two-way profile suggests he could contribute as a role player in the short term and develop into a more significant piece down the line.

However, with an already crowded rotation, particularly on the wing and in the frontcourt, Houston may find it more advantageous to use the No. 10 pick as a trade asset. O’Connor noted the possibility of a move similar to the San Antonio Spurs’ deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024, when San Antonio traded down and secured a package of future picks.

Whether the Rockets opt to package the pick for an established star, leap into the top tier of the draft, or acquire longer-term capital, the franchise appears positioned to act strategically. The team already features a core of rising talent and may see the draft as an opportunity to further enhance its trajectory — either by adding a young piece or by using the asset to improve immediately.

With the draft less than a month away, Houston's front office will continue evaluating its options in what promises to be one of the more fluid and pivotal selections in the top 10.