While Cade Cunningham is widely expected to be the first player drafted on July 29, there’s no established consensus about which prospect should be the second player off the board, making the Rockets‘ pick at No. 2 overall one of the most fascinating selections of the draft.
Essentially, there are three directions the Rockets could go. They could keep the pick, trade up to No. 1, or trade down.
Let’s start with the most straightforward – and probably the most likely – outcome: keeping the pick. Even in that scenario, the Rockets will face a difficult decision. You could make a legitimate case for Jalen Green, Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, and even Jonathan Kuminga to be the second player selected after Cunningham.
With a pick as high as No. 2, a rebuilding team should always take the best player available rather than focusing on fit. But if the Rockets like Mobley and one of the other top prospects about equally, perhaps concerns about Mobley’s potential fit alongside Christian Wood in the frontcourt push the needle toward the other player.
That “other player” seems most likely to be Green, who is currently projected as the Rockets’ pick in mock drafts by ESPN, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, and others. Of all the players in this year’s draft class, Green is the best bet to rank among the NBA’s leading scorers year-in and year-out, making him a logical choice to be a centerpiece of the rebuild in Houston, where the team traded longtime leading scorer James Harden earlier in the year.
While the Rockets may be happy to stand pat and nab Green or another promising young prospect, one recent report suggested the team has been “fixated” on Cunningham. Another story said Houston has been aggressive in its efforts to trade up to No. 1.
Obviously, the question of whether the Rockets “should” trade up to No. 1 depends in large part on the price. If it’s just a matter of adding the 23rd pick to the No. 2, then sure, that’s a no-brainer. But the cost figures to be much higher than that — in order to move up for a consensus top prospect like Cunningham, Houston would likely have to include an unprotected or lightly-protected future first-rounder in its offer in order to get Detroit’s attention.
If the Rockets really believe in Cunningham’s star potential, that price may be worth it — after all, following the Harden trade, the club has no shortage of future first-round selections to dangle in trade talks.
On the other hand, if the price to trade up to No. 1 is deemed too high and the Rockets’ have no clear preference at No. 2, perhaps trading down is worth exploring. Although Houston did add a number of draft picks and swaps in the Harden blockbuster, the team has also traded away a couple of its own first-rounders and isn’t as loaded with future draft assets as rebuilding rivals like the Thunder or Pelicans.
The opportunity to move down a handful of spots and pick up a few more assets to use during the rebuild may appeal to the Rockets — especially if they’re high on a specific prospect who would still be available in the 4-6 range.
Again, the terms of a potential trade here are crucial in determining whether it’s a viable path for the Rockets, particularly since this year’s draft class has a distinct top tier. If they’re moving out of the top five and not acquiring a ton of assets for their trouble, the Rockets likely won’t be interested. On the other hand, if they’re just trading down a spot or two and receiving a couple valuable future draft picks, that would be much more intriguing.
We want to know what you think. Will the Rockets trade up or down, or will they stay put? If they keep the No. 2 pick, will Green be the pick? Should he be the pick, or would you like to see Houston go in a different direction?
Head to the comment section below to weigh in!
Rockets will stay put. Detroit is not dumb enough to trade out of the spot and Houston isn’t dumb enough to give up the assets even if they we’re will by to trade. Detroit probably said 2, 23, and 24 with an unprotected pick to follow. In that case it’s certainly not worth it. If Cade is worth all of that, Detroit shouldn’t trade.
The real question is who should go #2. They all have major bust potential to me, and the guy I like, Suggs, isn’t even being mentioned. I guess they go with Green.
I would take Suggs at #1, so if he is there at 2 the Rockets should snag him IMO. I do think the media and perhaps even GM’s are sleeping on him. My fear is he goes to Toronto at 4. But I like Suggs and Cunningham as the clear top 2 picks on my list.
Taking Suggs #1 would pay off in 5-10years. As bold as it is, Cunningham is overrated. He’s immature.
Immature? Have you ever even heard the kid speak or give an interview? What in the hell are you basing this on? He is a VERY intelligent young man and his basketball IQ is off the charts. Sounds like a Rocket fan praying that someone in the Pistons organization listens to his nonsense!
I watch GAMES, not interviews like you, bud. I said the same thing about Ben Simmons at LSU.
So Are you an Oklahoma State fan? Yeeesh.
Why take Suggs at 2 when you can trade back to 4 for him?
Just take Green at #2.
I’d go with Jalen Green at 2
This many pro Green means he’ll be a bust. get the big guy. Get Mobley.
For a rebuild Cade green and Suggs are the best options Mobley will take time to grow into a top nba player(which no doubt he can). Any of the other three would walk into that team and start the build much quicker. It’s obvious Cade should be an instant star. Green is a walking bucket and Suggs has the potential to be unstoppable. But Mobley is a risk not worth taking. Stick to #2 or up/down by one if the price is right. #2,#23 and Detroit’s protected 1st should be enough for #1 and a couple picks from cle and maybe some salary dump trade. If not walk away.
It won’t be enough. The Detroit pick is too-15 protected for almost 5 years I think. It’s almost worthless
To call the Detroit pick almost worthless means that the #23 and #24 this year that Houston have are also worthless.
There is truth in what you’ve said, but it limits any possibility of a trade.
@Missing Michigan – False equivalency. The Stepien is rule is what gives the pick value. Namely control and flexibility.
The value is meeting the Stepien rule requirements. Not controlling the pick handcuffs Detroit.
Which ties up that pick for 5 years meaning they can’t trade u til it’s exchanged. Making it a little more valuable than you think. If I’m Detroit and the rumours are true(which is doubtful) they’re high on Green so to free up that pick and get another in a deep draft along with #2 looks win win. But I still see them keeping and drafting Cade. Rockets take green.
It’s only top-13 protected in 2025, but as top-heavy as the east is it’s extremely unlikely the Pistons continue to miss the playoffs every single year through 2026.
Very true, but if I’m the pistons and there’s a chance to free up a chance of that kind of headache I’d listen to the offers.
It makes sense to stay at 2, Suggs isn’t nearly as far off from Cade as the media would tell you.
Can’t wait for this draft, I suspect the order of the top 4 will be different from all these boards.
If there’s a small gap ability-wise between Cade and Suggs (which I don’t think there is), there is a gulf maturity-wise. Suggs could literally be a Day 1 starter AND Captain of either Detroit or Houston. Imo, he’s the top player in the draft. Plug & Play for the next 10 years.
I also like Suggs the most.
i’m rolln with you guys on this.
Second overall pick is cursed. I mean, Sam Bowie (over MJ), Lem Bias, Hasheem Thabeet, Stromile Swift, Jay Williams, Darko Milicic, Derrick Williams, MKG, Jabari Parker, Bagley – definitions of Busts and/or horrible injuries (even deaths from drugs).
Rockets should be terrified))
Cool. I’ll take a cursed Ja Morant or KD.
Excellent point, it’s not as if all #1 picks are best. Like Greg Oden, Griffin, Anthony Bennett, Wiggins, KAT, Simmons, and Fultz were all great picks taken ahead of KD, James Harden, Giannis, Embiid, Booker, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum. Right?
Wally, your list is much better) Thabeet alone is enough to show the curse.
I agree it’s definitely cursed but man Williams and Bias on that list is tough because they both would have had amazing careers.
The others on there definitely were overdrafts
Cursed? Ok…and who is Lem? Lemmy from Motoheard?
Suggs reminds me of cp3, he is gonna be that kind of player
I don’t know about CP3, but I could see a better Kyle Lowry. I will say of the top 4 guys I think Suggs has the most potential to hit his ceiling because I think he wants it the most. He absolutely reminds me of the guy that will be in the gym early and late every day working on his game. I don’t necessarily feel that from the other guys who I think have a higher floor and potentially ceiling. But I don’t know they have the work ethic to potentially get there.
Im hearing all this immaturity talk on Cunningham. YouTube a few interviews and listen to him talk basketball. The kid knows the game and his X’s and O’s are very well ahead of his age. Not sure why he’s deemed immature, but I guess I haven’t seen it. Im not saying he’s the next Jordan, Kobe or even LeBron for that matter. But he doesn’t need to be. Detroit has a VERY good young core (Grant, Hayes, Stewart, Bey, etc) and when you add a talent like CC to that equation and add a good veteran FA to that mix then you have an extremely competitive team for a long period of time. Cant wait to see CC play with this young core!
Can make the case for Kuminga at 2??? Good luck to any team who would do that.
@Luke I would really like you to do so.
I haven’t seen enough of him to make a compelling case myself and I’d be shocked if he went above No. 5 at this point, but he has fans around the league — there were experts earlier in the year who viewed him as a legitimate candidate to go No. 1.
No idea where all this Suggs talk came from all of a sudden. I’d still go Green at #2 to have an all-scoring back-court going forward.
No idea either. Suggs is expected by most to go to Toronto at #4.
Suggs is my favorite player in this draft. I think he has the best chance of all the guys to maximize his potential talent. That being said I still take Cade at 1 because higher ceiling even if I think it’s a bit less likely he reaches his max ability.
But I’d take Suggs over anyone else at 2.
I don’t understand the fixation on Cade Cunningham. I live in OKC and saw his games. He’s good but THAT good? He doesn’t pass the eye test to me.
He was a good player on a not so good team which made him look a lot better than he was. This isn’t Lebron, Zion, etc where he’s a clear cut #1 player. I do think he’s deserving of #1 but any one of those top 4 guys are as well.
Still can’t get over the Raps lucking into a top 4 pick. The approach should be simple – take whichever of Green, Mobley, or Suggs are left on the board. I’ve seen a few mocks with Scottie Barnes at 4 but I think that would be a huge reach.
Wally, who are they taking if Cade is off the board? I am assuming you must have inside scoop
Kevin Porter wants to team up with Jalen Green. They look like a good backcourt for the next 5-10 years. The only other possibility looks like Mobley, don’t see them taking Suggs.
Yeah, Green would be a good choice…seems like his hype is picking up
They need to identify the guy they like the best (after the top pick), and if they can get him at a #3-5, and a trade is on the table, TAKE IT. All of the tier 1 players (whether its 4, 5 or 6) in this draft have their fans among scouts.
Teams shouldn’t let scouting consensus dictate who they want when within a tier, because the variance is small and of recent vintage. It’s born of group think and while it may give a FO temporary cover, it won’t win games. If other teams fall victim to it, take advantage and trade down, it’s generally worth a bunch because it’s just handed another FO cover.
I’m a fan of Suggs. Though I have to admit it may be more about familiarity with him vs some others in the class. He might not be the best fit for HOU right now. I would certainly not back of Mobley because of Woods. Mobley fits (regardless).
No doubt the 2 most mature & ready players are Green & Kuminga, they know how to play pro ball & they have played against grown men…
CC, Mobley & Suggs are massive question marks, as we don’t know how they fare as pros, have no experience & never played against men tryin’ to earn an honest check for their families…
So that means for me I will take Green/Kuminga as #1-2 as simple as!
Teams & fans will regret it otherwise…
Interesting how it mentions Mobley as possibly being a negative fit with with Wood, even tho both players are listed as being able to play centre and power forward.
But then says they may lean towards Jalen Green. But what about Kevin Porter Jr. and Greens fit? KPJ at 6’4 is very small for SF and Green at 6’6 has the height but he’s a natural SG that’s always played SG.
Who would the Rockets value more in building around?
Wood (25 years old) averaged 21-9.5-1.5
KPJ (21 years old) averaged 16.7-4-6.4
For me I’d take Mobley. I think he’s a future all star and all defensive teams centre that will be excellent to build around. Possibly worth noting that both KPJ and Mobley went to USC. Mobley’s nba comparisons are Bosh, AD, Adebayo, Aldridge. At his peak I think Mobley is going to be a 25-10-4 kinda guy with amazing defence too, That’s extremely rare.
Green although I really like him just wouldn’t be a fit with KPJ. I also think his skill as a scoring SG that’s not as rare. Let KPJ develop as the SG of the future
Drafting Mobley means it’s likely you trade away Christian Wood. If that’s the scenario then it makes some sense otherwise not so much. Pairing the two of them is a waste of time being that this is fast becoming a small ball league. And that both perform best at center.
I just don’t understand grabbing a big at a time when the league is ran by guards. Neither of the top MVP candidates are in the finals while Ayton, like DeAndre Jordan previously, is a major beneficiary of having a CP3 on their team.
Meanwhile you’d rely on Houston’s back-court being led by KPJ.
Not necessarily, but it’s probable they wouldn’t re-sign Olynyk whom the Rockets really like and it wouldn’t take much to retain him. While taking Green could mean less playing time for Eric Gordon so they would most likely trade him (less problematic than trading Wall) to free up time for the younger guys in the backcourt.
Bigs like Wood, Mobley, and Olynyk can all shoot threes so having two of them on the court at the same time won’t cause spacing problems. Not like with DeAndre.
My point still is that you don’t need 2 bigs on this team unless you’re about to draft in Dave Joerger to coach this team and turn them into the grind era Grizzlies.
As much as I love KPJ, he IS a headcase so I’d rather get a guard for security. Also, considering he sees Green as a “homie”, this might play well into Houston’s hand. Or it could become the next coming of Francis-Mobley, just more talented.
Your argument kinda goes full circle. Your saying don’t take Mobley cause the two best centres this season were the top 2 in the MVP conversation but both didn’t make the final.
But the two teams in the finals have good centres but not elite centres and you in theory you need great guards to be successful over centres.
However if your drafting a player do you take a good guard or MVP caliber Centre?
I’m taking the centre even in a guard driven league.
As for fit again, you could get away with Wood and Mobley cause they both shoot well and defensively Mobley is great and Wood has played a lot at the 4. If anything it would be harder for other teams to match up with and limit their spacing. Plus if you wanted you could trade Woods and get a very solid return.
He’s 25/26 anyways which isn’t on the Rockets new timeline.
So if I was Houston I’d take Mobley. Start the season with Wall KPJ Tate Wood and Mobley. With Wood on the trade table and your waiting for a good offer on him that’ll help speed up a rebuild.
Whereas if you take Green you’ve got something like Wall Green KPJ Tate Wood. Which is very small and would suck on defence.
Exactly – the two teams in the finals have “good but not elite centres”. The main guys on the Suns are CP3 and Booker while Bucks top 3 guys are Giannis, Middleton and Holiday. My point is, you can get serviceable big men in this league so I’d be extremely wary of drafting a big man here.
What do you envision as a solid return for Wood? Is it something that would convince you to trade one center for another here (Mobley for Wood) and passing up on a potentially star guard in either Jalen? Cause even more picks or young players that haven’t gotten minutes on other teams make little sense when you’re trading away a guy like Wood.
Lastly, I wouldn’t put Wall in a starting lineup. Talking about timelines, he’s the last person to fit in it. At best, Rockets rehabilitate some of his value to trade him and at worst, they’ll have to eat up his salary or wait for him to become a free agent. I like the guy and he’s been decent at Houston but in all fairness, he needs to be on a different (better) team.
Green, the Rockets need play making and ball handling. Wood is young and still getting better. You can go upside or get role players with the next two picks. A young tandem of Wood and Green is a great start to a rebuild. Wall may be overpaid but he isn’t terrible when he’s on the court. They could get better quickly if they hit on those later picks.
GM Stone is probably reading this, looking for ideas. He wants to look smart, not just go with a choice by dart-throw, risking Fertitta’s wrath if wrong. But the tier is longer than 2 prospects… might be 6.
Personally I will not risk thinking I helped them!
Trading up for Cade is not a bad idea. But how much are you willing to give up. If I’m Rockets I do it. Cade is in the mold of Luka, Bron, Harden. He is more a 3 than PG. But like those three can run a team. I think bigger issue is Wood. Not liking stuff I’m hearing in Houston. Pistons too have Grant at the 3 with Bey. Two excellent talents. Green fits this team even Mobley does. But if you like Green then go for it. I think when it comes down to it. Pistons are taking Cade. Unless someone overpays to get him. An offer they can’t refuse. Rockets would be smart to go with Mobley and trade Wood. While his value is high. Celtics or Raptors should want him bad.
1.) trade it & Wall for Porzingis, Powell & Brunson, or, 2.) to Orlando for their 5 & 8, or 3.) take Suggs or Mobley depending on who’s future between Porter/ Wood they deem more valuable-likely