Rockets GM Rafael Stone Open To Trading Lottery Pick: 'We Will Consider Anything'

Unless they win the draft rights to Victor Wembanyama, general manager Rafael Stone says the Houston Rockets are open to trading their lottery pick.

HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets will have a high lottery pick for the third consecutive year following a disappointing 2022-23 campaign. 

The Rockets finished the season tied with the San Antonio Spurs for the league's second-worst record at 22-60. Houston has a 14.0 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, leading to the rights to French phenom Victor Wembanyama.

But outside of drafting the most prominent prospect since LeBron James 20 years ago, general manager Rafael Stone said the Rockets are open to trading their lottery pick in hopes of keeping the franchise's options open.

"I will consider trading picks for anything — it's my job," Stone said. "We will consider anything if it makes sense to where we are trying to go ultimately.

"We don’t necessarily have to draft at least both of the picks...Depending on who is available in the draft, trading those picks for future picks or veteran guys, all is on the table for us."

Headlined by Tari Eason, Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr., Stone "feels really good" about the young talents the Rockets have accumulated through the draft over the last two years.

But with the decoration that the franchise is entering phase II of its rebuilding project, the Rockets have the urge to add veteran players in hopes of improving their team for next season.

A source told Inside the Rockets that Houston will explore the possibility of a trade should their pick fall outside of the Top-3. The Rockets will enter the draft with a pair of first-round picks, with the latter via the rights to a pick swap with the Los Angeles Clippers.

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