Udoka wants to be the core of the Rockets and refuses Harden to come back to steal the show, and as a head coach, he has represented Houston in the NBA draft lottery for two consecutive years.
I have to say that Udoka really didn't have the life of the champion sign, he wanted to draw a Wenban for the Rockets last year, but in the end he only brought back Amen.
The 2024 draw ended in the early hours of the morning, and the lottery team has already been confirmed. Udoka once again missed the top pick, and the Hawks, who were not as likely as the Rockets, became the biggest winner.
The Hawks have only a 3% chance of winning the pick, while the Nets have a 4.5% chance of getting the top pick.
Of course, the end result still pleases many Rockets fans.
The Hawks got the No. 1 pick, the Wizards got the No. 2 pick, the Rockets got the No. 3 pick, the Spurs got the No. 4 pick, and the Pistons only got the No. 5 pick.
The probability of the Nets in the Rockets drawing the top four is 20%, which can indeed be regarded as a surprise.
With the No. 3 pick and No. 44 pick in 2024, the Rockets will be looking for a trade.
The Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Fagan broke the news before the lottery began, and the Rockets wanted to trade this year's draft pick for a future pick.
The Houston player, who has a good relationship with Rockets management, revealed that Stone called the general manager of the Nets in January of this year, hoping to use all the first-round picks and swap rights in his hands to get the Suns' three future unprotected first-round picks.
The Rockets believe that the Suns' roster is not reasonable, that it is only a matter of time before it disintegrates, and that future draft picks will be valuable. I have to say that Stone has a good eye, but the general manager of the Nets is not a fool, he also saw the problems of the Suns, so he rejected the offer.
Originally, the Nets were expected to pick No. 9, but now it has become No. 3, and the trade value has increased significantly.
Fagan said the Rockets would still consider a trade if they drew the top four picks. Stone may be going to call the Thunder's general manager.
The Rockets failed to keep their own first-round pick this year, and finally gave it to the Thunder, a No. 12 pick. The Rockets gave this pick to the Thunder in the trade of Willis and is a top-four protection. Because the Rockets have a 50% win rate this season, the probability of this pick being drawn to the top four is only 7%, so it is normal to fail to protect it.
The relationship between the Rockets and the Thunder management is actually good, and they have made many trades.
Fagan said the Rockets could discuss a trade with the Thunder, who have a lot of future draft picks.
It's hard to find Thunder! Stone, the general manager of the Rockets, who lacks connections, usually talks to acquaintances about deals.
Kevin Porter Jr. of the Rockets was involved in a domestic violence incident last year, and Fertitta, who wanted to save face, decided to give up on him. Stone made several phone calls to send Porter Jr. away, but the lion asked for the favor. In the end, the Thunder accepted two second-round picks to pick Porter Jr., and cut him directly after the transaction was completed. Of course, the Thunder are not charitable, they threw Oladipo, who was not in the plan, to the Rockets. The Rockets didn't want the arrogant glass man either, so they traded three second-round picks back to Adams before the trade deadline. The Grizzlies don't want Oladipo either, and they cut him a few days after the trade is completed.
The Rockets traded back the No. 16 pick from the Thunder in 2021 with two unprotected first-round picks, ultimately selecting Alperen Sengun. Sengun, who averaged 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5 assists per game this season, entered the discussion of the Most Improved Player award.
Now that the Rockets want to do the opposite, trading this year's first-round pick for a future first-round pick, will the Thunder agree to a trade?
Of course, the Rockets will also be on the phone with other teams, and Fagan said the Jazz, who also hoarded a lot of draft picks, could be traded.