Houston Rockets 2012 Draft Review

The Houston Rockets have been making plenty of moves starting about 48 hours before the NBA draft. Their main target that they publicly announced they were after was Dwight Howard. Well let’s see how this all worked out. The Rockets traded away Chase Budinger, Samuel Dalembert, multiple picks, and rights to a foreign player to achieve the number 12, 16, and 18 overall picks. They wanted to package those picks with more of their players, but that is obviously not appealing enough to get the Magic’s attention. I also stated before that they had little to no chance of trading for Howard due to insufficient trade bait.

Moving on the Rockets were not able to make any moves for their backup plan which was Josh Smith, so let’s check out what they did with their 3 top 20 picks.

With the 12^th pick they selected Jeremy Lamb which was a good value pick. The only problem I see with Lamb is the fact that he is not the best defender and is a high octane scorer. Sound familiar Rocket fans? I’ll give you a hint (Kevin Martin). That’s about as good as I see Lamb getting if he can’t improve on the defensive end. He has the length to do it, but does he have the will.

With the 16^th pick they got another good pick in Iowa State forward, Royce White. The comparisons to Lebron James are silly. This guy has a similar frame, but lesser motor. Also Lebron is just a more complete overall basketball player. Royce white definitely can be a good piece, but he likes to play point- forward and the Rockets have no place for that on their team. There is one big knock on White, that’s the fact that he has anxiety issues and he is afraid of flying. The way he attacks the rim I couldn’t tell. This pick was viewed as a reach but I like this player and if the Rockets felt good about grabbing him I commend them for making the pick. People thought Russell Westbrook was a reach for the Thunder, but now they look at him as a steal.

With the 18^th pick the Rockets were looking to get Tyler Zeller but the Dallas Mavericks stole him one pick before they had the chance. Everyone watching the draft had to be thinking the Rockets would finally stop acquiring forwards and get a point guard or center which they desperately need. Let’s see what they did.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! I am a fan of Kentucky basketball and Terrence Jones, but the Rockets did not need to make this pick. I don’t even want to go past that because I have ample complaints about this pick.

Looking back on the draft the rockets made a complete mockery of themselves. They acquired an underweight scorer at the 2 guard, and two forwards to go along with the 29 forwards they already have. To top it all off they did not make any of the big trades they said they would get.

Wait stop the presses!!! The Rockets are announcing they have made an agreement to acquire a big man! The Rockets agreed three-year deal worth $25.1 million for whom else but Omer Asik. Pinch me, I think I’m dying. The Rockets blew up their team, then realized Dwight Howard is not going anywhere but Brooklyn. Then the Rockets promised a superstar in Hoawrd, and get rotation player at best Omer Asik.

At least they filled a need a center, right? Wrong. Sources close the Chicago Bulls stated that the Bulls plan to match the Rockets offer, and there is no way he would leave a contender to be a part of the mess the Rockets are making.

Chris Broussard said it right on draft night. The Houston Rockets are trying to go from mildly good to contender, and that is one of the hardest things to do. My advice to the Rockets is to blow it up like they have been doing, acquire young promising pieces, and do badly for the next two years. They will get two top 5 picks and also they have a big enough market to attract a free agent once some pieces are there. Then again why take my advice, it’s only my opinion. THEOpinion.