Morey keeping options open for draft
This is not supposed to be “just in case” season, and for the Rockets, it won’t be for long. But in the final days of preparation for Thursday’s NBA draft, with considerably larger deals around the league completed or rumored, the Rockets do the work, just in case something changes while they wait for the ground to shift with the start of the free-agent season to come.
For now, they evaluate players, including most who will be long gone by the time they choose with the 43rd and 45th picks of the draft, so that they will be ready should an unlikely chance to move up break for them.
They similarly can be expected to make the calls on the other topic of the week. Amid reports that All-Star Paul George has told the Pacers he will leave Indianapolis — likely for Los Angeles — as a free agent after next season, the Pacers again will see what their best player can fetch on the trade market.
The Rockets would be a team more likely than many to gamble on a oneyear rental on the chance they could convince him to stick around. But as with the draft preparations, the Rockets’ lack of a first-round pick this season would likely make any such talks hypothetical, at least until the Pacers work though teams that actually have the sort of asset they would want.
As with the reports that the Cavaliers will seek a way to land George or Bulls All-Star Jimmy Butler, the presumed ongoing dominance of the Warriors
would inspire gambles on dramatic roster retooling. In that spirit, the Rockets have been mentioned by the Los Angeles Times as a team Chris Paul would visit as a free agent, though the Rockets don’t have anything like the cap room required to sign him without space-clearing moves.
As always, the Rockets prepare for unlikely possibilities, bringing them back to the final days getting ready for the draft, where they are most likely to remain with their two picks in the middle of the second round.
That could have them considering players in one of three categories: players with late first- or early second-round potential that slip; players more likely to last until the middle of the second round; and international prospects who could stay overseas, rather than take a roster spot, as their second pick in 2016, Zhou Qi, did last season.
A look at some of the prospects who could wear a Rockets hat Thursday night:
Likely gone, but could slip
Johnathan Motley, Baylor: Pegged as an early second-rounder in a draft deep with centers and younger prospects. There is an outside chance he slips enough.
Caleb Swanigan, Purdue: Shorter than listed at Purdue, Swanigan has length and size to make up for it and a history as an overachiever.
Jordan Bell, Oregon: A bit undersized, Bell was productive with Oregon and a standout in the combine, fitting the mold of past Rockets secondrounders.
Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State: More likely to go quickly in the second round, if not sooner, Evans would offer reminders of Daryl Morey’s first draft pick, Aaron Brooks.
Kyle Kuzma, Utah: Could be redundant on the Rockets’ roster, but a range-shooting four is all the rage in the current NBA, though he is likely too wellrounded to last.
Frank Jackson, Duke: A solid prospect after his freshman year in a crowded Duke backcourt, Jackson is a bit undersized but showed signs he could develop.
Mid-second helpings
Edmund Sumner, Xavier: Sumner has all kinds of tools but would be a gamble because of knee injuries and a potential shoulder issue.
Josh Hart, Villanova: A great college career might not have moved him up much since he
withdrew from the 2016 draft, but he excelled in Houston, winning the 2016 NCAA title.
Dillon Brooks, Oregon: The Pac-12 Player of the Year (over presumed No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz), but a lack of size and length could limit Brooks as a power player.
Jonah Bolden, Serbia: An Australia native who played in the United States and Canada, and briefly at UCLA, Bolden improved as an international pro.
Tyler Dorsey, Oregon: Inconsistent through much of his college career, he turned heads with outstanding play in the NCAA Tournament and backed it up at the combine.
Devin Robinson, Florida: Robinson looks the part of a combo forward with physical tools, making him a good 3-and-D prospect.
Draft-andstashers
Mathias Lessort, France: Lessort’s improvement last season made him a player to watch. At 21, he might be well-served and willing to spend one more year overseas.
Alberto Abalde, Spain: The 6-7 shooter off the catch or off the dribble might be ready to make the jump but is willing to wait for the right role.