Houston Chronicle · May 25, 2022
Where Rockets stand a month out from the NBA Draft
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 26: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Duke Blue Devils gestures after hitting a 3-pointer against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the Continental Tire Challenge at T-Mobile Arena on November 26, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Given that there's no clear top prospect in this year's NBA Draft, it's up in the air as to who will be the first pick in the draft on June 23. Almost all of the intel I've seen suggests that Auburn's Jabari Smith Jr., and Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren will be the top two picks, in some order. This could obviously change, but that would leave Duke's Paolo Banchero for the taking to the Rockets at No. 3. Had you told me back in December that the Rockets would be in position to secure Banchero for their frontcourt, I probably would have gone into cardiac arrest.