The Houston Rockets may choose to use their No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft as a bargaining chip.
HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported that the team would be “open to” trading picks if the return came in the form of an impact player.
“The Houston Rockets are willing to trade the No. 3 overall pick to acquire a player who can help the team win, elevate the team to a playoff team, and have sustained success as a playoff team going forward,” Scott wrote.
Houston is pretty used to having high draft picks at this point: The team hasn't made the postseason since 2019-20 and has picked in the top four in each of the past three seasons.
Adding another young player wouldn't hurt, but taking the opportunity to acquire a more experienced player might be exactly what Houston needs to compete for a playoff spot.
The Rockets finished last season with a 41-41 record, placing them 11th in the Western Conference.
While this result was just enough to qualify for the play-in tournament, it was a big improvement over the previous season.
The offseason additions of players like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks have been a big factor in the increased production, and adding some veteran talent could help the development of Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Ament Thompson.
The 2024 NBA Draft will be held June 26-27 in Brooklyn, New York.
