'This Is Additive': Rockets GM Rafael Stone Confident In Draft Lottery Position

Despite missing out on the top overall pick, general manager Rafael Stone feels confident in the Houston Rockets draft lottery position.

HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets entered the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery with a 14.0 percent chance to land the No. 1 overall pick and the right to Victor Wembanyama. But Tuesday night in Chicago, the Rockets failed to obtain the top selection for the third consecutive year.

The draft lottery ended with Houston receiving the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. According to the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets came one number short during the drawing. 

Failing to win the draft lottery may have left Houston's fan base in dismay. But general manager Rafael Stone is optimistic about the Rockets' chances to add a prominent prospect despite losing out on Wembanyama.

The San Antonio Spurs won the lottery and will undoubtedly draft the French phenom on June 22 inside the Barclays Center. 

"You get a little excited, but we have the fourth pick in the draft," Stone said. "I’m happy. I think we’re going to add another talented guy. We feel really good about the direction our franchise is headed in with our young core and ability to add in free agency. This is additive, it’s icing on the cake."

Stone described the 2023 draft class as "really talented." The Rockets are in a prime position to choose between Overtime Elite prospects Amen and Ausar Thompson. And if there is a shake-up with picks two and three, Houston could still be in play for Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller — second and third-rated prospects behind Wembanyama. 

But if there is a team in the lottery that should remain confident in their draft positioning, it should be the Rockets.

Houston finished with the league's worst record in back-to-back seasons since the start of its rebuild in 2021. The franchise failed to land the No. 1 pick in the previous two drafts but still managed to obtain the core pieces of its foundation.

In 2021 the Rockets drafted Jalen Green with the No. 2 pick while adding Jabari Smith Jr. at three the following year. 

Even outside the lottery, the Rockets assembled a prominent corps of young talent. Houston drafted Alperen Sengun with the No. 16 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. The following year, the Rockets landed Tari Eason at 17.

But regardless of the prospects Houston will acquire, Stone believes any player in the 2023 draft can help transition the franchise into the second phase of their ongoing rebuilding project.

"Our approach for the past year has been we need to transition out of that phase," Stone said. "One is better than four, we can all do math. But I’m excited that we’re going to get an opportunity to get a really good player. That comes without qualification."

The Rockets will enter the draft will two first-round picks. Houston's second selection will be at No. 20, the final part of the trade deadline deal that sent Eric Gordon to the Los Angeles Clippers.

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