I’m bullish on the 2026 draft and I don’t believe in forgoing two drafts in a row. We’re not going back to the Morey era. But the reality is that it’s gonna be very hard to acquire a 2026 1st. Does the least favorable of the Brooklyn or Phoenix 2027 picks, or the least favorable of the Dallas or Phoenix 2029 picks get us a good 2026 1st rounder? What other ideas do folks have that are realistic?
Salary cap is currently estimated only to be going up 7% next year. I suspect the Rockets thought it was going up 10%. This likely killed the chances of moving back into the 2026 draft to get a good pick. I could see Rockets trying to get a cheap pick or 2 (i.e., late, late 1st or SRPS), but that is not what you are talking about. I think the Rockets are prioritizing winning next season, and will choose to double up in 2027 on prospects when Amen's extension kicks in, rather than move a pick up to 2026 and have to trade a vet away to open salary for a good draft pick.
