Draft analyst gives troubling forecast for potential future Rockets lottery pick

The Houston Rockets are likely to land a lottery pick in 2027. Regrettably, an NBA draft expert says that executives are "ringing the alarm bells" about the strength of that class.

If you're a Rockets fan, avoid complaining to most rival fans. Those complaints will justifiably fall on deaf ears. The Rockets have had their share of lottery picks in recent years. Do they need another blue-chip prospect?

Fine - but we'll complain amongst ourselves. The Rockets were smart to flip most of their Nets picks for a larger volume of Suns picks, but giving up their 2026 first-rounder in what seems to be a star-studded class stings. The Rockets held onto Brooklyn's 2027 pick, and it's likely to land in the lottery, but if the class is truly so weak, it won't be as valuable an asset.

Luckily, the draft is as volatile as the stock market.

Rockets could still land stud in draft

Thon Maker. Emoni Bates. For the older heads, Sebastian Telfair.

Draymond Green. Giannis Antetokounmpo. Nikola Jokic.

What's the point?

The draft is impossible to predict. The NBA is impossible to predict. Nobody should count their chickens before they hatch. The Nets could quickly turn their organization around and send the Rockets a mid first-round pick instead.

That unpredictability applies to the draft cycle as well. It's entirely possible that the best prospect in the 2027 class hasn't been identified yet. This is two classes away. A player who's currently being mocked in the second round may emerge as a distinctly superstar-level talent.

Even if they don't, the Rockets will be OK.

Rockets are in an optimal position moving forward

If you need further evidence of the draft's volatility, look at the Rockets. They've acquired some of their best players later in the draft.

In 2021, the Rockets selected both Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun. Green was the high lottery pick, but Sengun is the guy they opted to pair with Kevin Durant. Some Rockets fans like to pretend that Sengun was picked 2nd, and Green 16th.

How about Tari Eason? He was the 17th overall pick. Almost every Rockets fan is hoping he's a cornerstone for years to come.

The point here is twofold. Firstly, the Rockets have the potential to land a meaningful player with their 2027 pick, no matter what the class looks like. Secondly, they've already drafted well enough to land themselves in a position where they don't need to worry too much. They could trade the pick, or in a worst-case scenario, they could whiff on it and still be OK.

After all, there's always 2029.