Trades lead to Kentucky guard
The Rockets didn’t have the No. 26 pick in the NBA draft. Then they did. Then they didn’t.
The Mavericks selected Duke forward Wendell Moore Jr. with the 26th overall pick which was expected to go to the Rockets before the Timberwolves acquired it instead.
A week before the draft, the Rockets made a deal to trade center Christian Wood to Dallas in order to receive the Mavericks’ first-round pick along with four players — Marquise Chriss, Boban Marjanovic, Sterling Brown and Trey Burke.
But Minnesota acquired the 26th pick from Houston in exchange for future second-round picks and this year’s No. 29 pick, which the Rockets used to select Kentucky guard TyTy Washington Jr.
Although the Rockets agreed to move back in the draft, they ended up with a player considered by many as one of the best guards available. Washington averaged 12.5 points and 3.9 assists as a freshman at Kentucky, making 45.1 percent of his shots and 35 percent from 3point range. He demonstrated equal comfort scoring and facilitating, a versatile addition to a Rockets backcourt that includes Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr. and Josh Christopher.
Washington said he wasn’t worried about falling further than he expected in the draft.
“I mean, every player wants to be a top pick, high pick and stuff like that. As I was falling, I wasn’t really stressing about it,” he said. “It only takes one team to believe in you, and you can go out there and shock the world. That’s kind of my mindset on it. I always bet on myself, so I’m just going to go out there with a chip on my shoulder and remember all the teams that skipped me.”
While there was some speculation that Houston could package either of its two late first-round picks as part of a trade in order to move up in the draft, that did not come to fruition.
After getting four firstround picks in last year’s draft, the Rockets this year drafted three first-rounders: Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and Washington. All three played in the Southeastern Conference in 2021-22.
“The two other guys they have taken, we played in the same conference in college so I’m familiar with their games,” Washington said. “Me and Jabari played a little bit in high school together in a camp, so I know how he plays as well. I feel like us three are going to jell really good together.”
Washington also played against Green and Christopher, two of the Rockets’ first-round picks last year, on the grassroots circuit.
“I know a few guys that are already on the team as of right now, so I feel like I can just go in there and connect with the guys on and off the court and it’s going to be an easy transition,” Washington said. “Houston is a pretty fun city, so we’re going to make sure Toyota Center is full and going to turn up.”