HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Rockets head into Thursday’s draft with a lone second-round pick at No. 34 and the debacle of last year’s Royce White pick hanging over them.
Houston had three first-round selections last year and chose White with the second at No. 16. White did not appear in a game for the Rockets last season because of an acknowledged anxiety disorder.
The Rockets reached the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and rallied from a 3-0 first-round deficit before being eliminated by Oklahoma City in Game 6.
Their return to the playoffs showed they have plenty of speed and long-range scoring power with James Harden, Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons. It also illuminated the need for another big man to be a presence inside and help with rebounding.
