4 Dark horse prospects you haven't pictured the Rockets drafting with the 10th pick

Houston Rockets fans were disappointed when the NBA draft order was announced. To be sure, the 10th pick isn't going to galvanize fans like a higher pick would.

If you've been paying attention, you know the Rockets can make the most of this selection.

The Rockets picked Alperen Sengun 16th. The next year, they grabbed Tari Eason with the 17th pick. Cam Whitmore doesn't get on the floor very often, but he's still a remarkably talented 20th overall selection. Rafael Stone has made a name for himself by getting maximum value in the middle of the draft.

There's no reason he can't work his magic with the 10th overall selection. If you've been reading SpaceCityScoop, you're familiar with the names of some of the guys the Rockets could look at.

Here are 4 dark-horse targets you hadn't thought of yet.

1. Nolan Traore (Saint-Quentin)

Do the Rockets need a point guard? It's a grey area. Some fans are pessimistic about Reed Sheppard, while others are expecting a sophomore explosion. Nobody knows whether Amen Thompson is a point guard or a wing yet, either.

If the front office shares that uncertainty, Traore could be a solid choice. He's a 6'4" point guard with an impressive 6'8" wingspan. Unlike Sheppard, Traore has the physical profile of a player who can be an outstanding point of attack defender.

Ime Udoka should love him.

Until he makes a mistake, that is. Traore has immense potential as a defender, but his instincts need some work. Still, he's got a relentless motor. His willingness to defend should take him far.

Offensively, he's also a mixed bag. Traore is lightning quick, but his shot is inconsistent. He shot 48% from three-point range over his last 5 games with Saint-Quentin, but that only brought him up to 31.7% for the year. That makes him a shaky fit with the Rockets, but if his athleticism and intensity are enough to win the organization over, they may overlook it.

2. Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm)

Did someone say defensive intensity?

Essengue has it in spades. He's also a 6'10" wing who can move his feet as quickly as any prospect his height could. He could be a big-time defender at the NBA level.

Unfortunately, he's got more ground to cover on offense than Traore. Essengue shot just 29.4% from deep for Ratiopharm Ulm this year. That said, his mechanics are solid. If Essengue can develop into a passable NBA shooter, he's assured a prominent role in the big leagues.

Once again, the Rockets could be deterred by a prospect who shares the same shortcoming that their roster is plagued by. Alternatively, they could be intrigued by the cultural fit. Essengue won't be out-hustled. He's a project, but the Rockets could send him to the G-League to develop as a rookie and wait until he's ready for a call-up.

3. Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB)

Much of what was said about Essengue could be said about Lendeborg. He's an inch shorter at 6'9", and defense is his calling card. That said, he defends a bit differently.

The sell on Essengue is that he'll be able to cover the perimeter. Lendeborg may struggle to defend in space in comparison, but his elite verticality makes him a formidable rim protector. He's more of a small-ball 5 than a jumbo wing.

Offensively, he's a bit further along. Lendeborg shot a respectable 35.7% from deep for UAB this year. He's also a smart passer who reads the floor well.

There are concerns about his competition level at UAB. Rockets fans have heard that before. Plenty of skeptics wondered how Amen Thompson might translate from the Overtime Elite program, and so far, that's worked out pretty well for the team.

4. Egor Demin (BYU)

So far, I've covered a guard and two wings. Demin is...both? Neither?

Above all else, Demin is confusing. He's 6'9" and perhaps the best passer in this class. That alone is a strong sell. Jumbo playmakers are all the rage in the NBA.

That said, Demin's ability to score in the halfcourt is sorely lacking. He shot 27.3% from deep this year, and he's not athletic enough to get to the rim at will. Passing vision only goes so far when you can't manipulate a defense.

He's not a fit with the Rockets. He's not a guaranteed NBA rotation player. If the Rockets nabbed Demin, they'd be doing it as a pure upside grab. They'd have to feel like they believed in his superstar potential.

If they're right, fans won't care where he was drafted for long.