With the No. three pick inside the 2022 first spherical, the Houston Rockets are widely expected to draft whichever of the consensus top-three possibilities — Auburn’s Jabari Smith, Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, and Duke’s Paolo Banchero — is still at the board. All are frontcourt gamers.
Yet, it remains uncertain which of the 3 will honestly be available to Rockets general manager Rafael Stone. There’s additionally a remote situation in which Oklahoma City selects Jaden Ivey at pick No. 2, that can go away Houston with a desire between two of these 3 frontcourt options.
Assuming the Rockets preserve the pick out, the chosen participant will immediately be part of Jalen Green because the foundational pieces of Houston’s rebuild.
Now that it’s draft week, rumors will fly main up to the real draft selections on Thursday night, June 23. Some reviews inside the very last days will be credible, even as others could be misinformation to fit a sure crew or prospect’s schedule. With that in mind, rather than write individual memories for every and each rumor, what we’re going to do each day at RocketsWire is sort all of the tidbits regarding each of the pinnacle 3 teams.
From there, it can be less difficult to determine in which the proper momentum or trend is. As of noon Monday, right here’s the cutting-edge reviews with regards to the Magic (No. 1), Thunder (No. 2), and Rockets (No. 3), as well as what it may imply when it comes to Houston’s final pick out.
Orlando Magic, No. 1 universal
"Auburn’s Jabari Smith, who labored out and met with the Magic (No. 1) and Thunder (No. 2) throughout the predraft technique, is a virtual lock to go inside the pinnacle within the draft. He remains a favorite to move No. 1."#Rockets https://t.co/g6GxQ6VWIa
— Chris A. White 🐻 (@fyrebear) June 20, 2022
The Magic have introduced in Jabari Smith Jr., Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero, but it’s Smith who rival teams consider could be the choice@JeremyWoo's cutting-edge mock draft ↓ https://t.co/0R53rykK2C
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 20, 2022
Oklahoma City Thunder, No. 2 basic
While officially projecting Holmgren to OKC in her final mock, Krysten says Jaden Ivey stays in play there, as well. https://t.co/v3PWz4qN2d
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) June 20, 2022
Ivey said he did not move right down to Oklahoma City for a piece out however the training body of workers and some the front workplace pros got here out to LA to observe him exercise after his pro day.
— Krysten Peek (@krystenpeek) June 20, 2022
Interesting intel right here approximately Chet Holmgren’s camp not trying Orlando.
If proper, that makes Paolo Banchero to Houston even more likely, IMO. I can’t see OKC picking Paolo over Chet. I ought to see a far off situation where they pick Paolo over Jabari. https://t.co/Xm0dBq1BQ0
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) June 20, 2022
Houston Rockets, No. three universal
Purdue guard Jaden Ivey says he has been in touch with the Rockets when he was in Chicago.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) June 20, 2022
Kelly Iko, The Athletic:
With the draft days away, the indicators are pointing more potent and more potent at Duke’s Paolo Banchero being selected by way of the Rockets, ought to he be on the board at No. three, sources told The Athletic. On a associated word, even as Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren is expected via some to be taken at No. 2 by using the Thunder, it’s no absolute guarantee. There have been whispers of interest in Purdue’s Jaden Ivey.
There became an overwhelming amount of wonderful remarks from Banchero’s visit (to Houston), comparable to the only from Jalen Green at a comparable level last yr. The Rockets are rebuilding their lifestyle and looking for team-first, hardworking players. By all bills, Banchero fits that invoice.
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