Rockets Draft Rumors: 3 Things You Need To Know Heading Into Draft Week

The Houston Rockets have the No. 30 pick in the NBA Draft, and there has been a lot of clutter to sort through as to their plans with the pick. Here are three rumors you need to know:

1) Tyus Jones Is Houston's Top Target

The Houston Rockets are looking for a backup point guard in the NBA Draft, and they’re reportedly targeting Duke point guard Tyus Jones.

Jones looked like the best point guard in the country at times this season, and he may be the best pure point in the draft. He sometimes faded out of games last season, but he doesn’t force his scoring on offense and is excellent at setting his teammates up. Jones was also the most clutch player in college basketball as he took over down the stretch in every big game the Blue Devils played in, making him a good option for a team in the middle of the first round.

2) Houston To Target Warriors' David Lee Via Trade Before NBA Draft?

One name currently under discussion in NBA circles is Golden State Warriors forward David Lee. Lee is entering the final year of a six-year, $80 million deal with the NBA champs, and could be a target of the Houston Rockets either before or after the draft takes place.

Via NBA analyst Chuck Myron:

I think the most likely scenario involves a team with a lot of non-guaranteed money. Maybe the Rockets, with Kostas Papanikolaou’s non-guaranteed salary of nearly $5MM, would be a fit, though they have no shortage of power forwards. The Sixers always loom as an option to take him on via cap space, but they’d want picks that GSW probably doesn’t want to sacrifice. Lee would look great on the Raptors, but I don’t think they have the assets necessary to get him. So it could be tough for GSW here.

The Warriors are reportedly willing to do whatever they can to move Lee to a situation where he’ll be able to get more playing time after he was squeezed to the back of the team’s rotation with the emergence of Draymond Green this past season.

3) Jerian Grant A Backup Option?

Houston's biggest need this offseason is finding a point guard, so if Jones is off the board, expect them to turn towards Notre Dame's Jerian Grant.

As a combo guard, Grant has the perfect mix of size, scoring ability, and court vision to be a solid point at the next level. His leadership qualities were on full display this season as he led Notre Dame to an ACC title and the Elite 8 just one season after they finished near the bottom of the conference in 2014. He's also comfortable playing off-the-ball, allowing him to still be effective when James Harden takes over as the primary ball-handler.

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