2015 Draft Preview: Houston Rockets

2015-16 Depth Chart

PG: Pablo Prigioni/Nick Johnson

SG: James Harden

SF: Trevor Ariza/Kostas Papanikolau

PF: Terrence Jones/Donatas Motiejunas

C: Dwight Howard/Clint Capela/Joey Dorsey

2015 Free Agents

PG Patrick Beverly (RFA)

F K.J. McDaniels (RFA)

SG Corey Brewer

PF Josh Smith

PG Jason Terry

2015 Draft Picks

1-18 via New Orleans

2-2(32)

Team Needs

GM Daryl Morey are always active in free agency and trades, so it's hard to really predict what Houston's roster needs are really going to be because of how dramatically things can change for them. However, you can see at least that point guard is a place they could could look to address simply because Patrick Beverly is coming off an injury, Jason Terry is a free agent and both he and Pablo Prigioni are older than dirt. Another reason Houston could look to upgrade James Harden's workload. Last season he was frequently the only perimeter player on the floor really able to create anything, which led to an MVP-caliber season but also is probably not tenable on the long term and hurt them in the playoffs. Corey Brewer is a free agent, so a high energy wing player could be another direction they look, as is a versatile big man if Josh Smith moves on.

Potential Fits

There are three main point guard prospects that could possibly be available when Houston picks in the first round: Duke's Tyus Jones, Murray State's Cameron Payne, and Notre Dame's Jerian Grant. Of those three, Grant makes the most sense for Houston because he is the best defender yet is still capable of being a primary playmaker. The case you could make for Jones or Payne is that while Grant is a good shooter off the dribble, his spot-up game is behind the other two. He is also the oldest by a couple years, but is clearly the most ready to contribute as well which should matter more to a team like Houston who is firmly in their championship window. With their early second rounder, Houston can target depth along the frontline or take a shot on a European player to develop overseas. 

Mock Draft

18. Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame

32. Nikola Milutinov, C Partizan

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