NBA Draft Lottery Preview: Will Rockets Win Victor Wembanyama Sweepstakes?
HOUSTON — Tuesday night will be one of the most important days in franchise history for the Houston Rockets. The NBA will hold the 2023 NBA Draft lottery in Chicago, and the Rockets will be one of 14 teams hoping to land the No. 1 overall pick.
The top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft is Victor Wembanyama, an exceptional prospect with the potential to change the league. He is a 7-foot-3 prospect who possesses the talents of guards and big men.
The majority considers Wembanyama the best prospect since LeBron James in 2003. He will not be in attendance for the draft lottery or scouting combine due to the ongoing French league season. He is averaging 21.6 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks in 33 games for the Metropolitans 92.
Wembanyama is the most highly sought-after prospect entering the draft. But if the Rockets fail to land the top overall selection, there are several prominent players Houston would be able to land between the second and sixth picks.
Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller have established themselves as the projected next two picks after Wembanyama. Anthony Black and twins Amen and Ausar Thompson have the potential to round out the top six selections.
The Rockets will enter the draft lottery with a 14.0 percent chance to land the No. 1 overall pick. They are in a three-way tie alongside the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs for the top selection and have a 20 percent chance of falling to the No. 6 pick.
Since his hiring on April 25, Ime Udoka will make his first public appearance as coach of the Rockets. He will serve as Houston's on-stage representative during the draft lottery.
The Rockets have fallen short of the top overall pick in back-to-back years despite finishing with the league's worst record. In 2021, the Rockets drafted Jalen Green with the No. 2 pick. And the following year, Houston obtained the No. 3 pick and landed Jabari Smith Jr.
The 2002 NBA Draft marked the last time the Rockets won the lottery. All-Star point guard Steve Francis was the representative. And with the top overall selection, the Rockets drafted Hall-of-Famer Yao Ming.
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