Rockets' draft pick was traded for Alperen Sengun and Westbrook before anyone was taken

The Houston Rockets took Bruce Thornton with the 31st overall pick, but it was traded for Russell Westbrook and Alperen Sengun years before the draft. The Washington Wizards originally traded it as a protected first-round pick in the John Wall for Westbrook deal in 2020. The following year, the Rockets sent it to the Thunder for the draft rights to Alperen Sengun. New York got it as Oklahoma City grabbed the 11th overall pick in the 2022 draft. Now, the Rockets got it back from the Knicks, according to Shams Charania.

A playoff team usually doesn’t have the 31st pick in the NBA Draft. The Rockets were eager to add talent, and the Knicks wanted to save money. New York shopped this pick to start the second day of the draft, and the Rockets won the bidding. This was a win-win deal that allowed Houston to fill a need for a point guard and shot creator.

The Rockets have a long history with this pick. It brought John Wall to Houston and helped them land Sengun on draft night. The Rockets were aggressive in getting this pick back, and it has been coveted for years.

The Rockets’ draft pick was traded for Russell Westbrook and Alperen Sengun

The 31st pick has added benefits in the two-day draft. Being a first-round draft pick comes with a guaranteed contract, but deals for second-rounders are flexible. Having the opening pick on day two has teams getting desperate and looking to land the top player left on their board.

The Wizards won the Russell Westbrook trade. The future Hall of Famer helped Washington make the playoffs for the only time in the last eight years. John Wall was disastrous in Houston, but the Rockets wisely traded this pick to land Alperen Sengun.

The two-time All-Star big man is still years away from his peak. He must improve, but is already an elite big man. Teams are trying to solve Wemby, but Sengun's passing and scoring make him a matchup that has to concern the Spurs. The defensive questions are real, but the Rockets need to build the right roster around Sengun to be a serious title contender.

This draft pick is well-traveled, which is no surprise. The Wizards' struggles had teams hoping it would be a late lottery pick in 2024, 2025, or 2026. That didn’t happen, but the Rockets instead netted the top pick in the second round.

The Houston Rockets selected Bruce Thornton with the pick that has already been traded for Russell Westbrook and Alperen Sengun. Houston fans can’t expect Thornton to turn into a star, but this Wizards pick had plenty of value. Hopefully, the Rockets can turn this prospect into a building block. That is easier said than done, but the choice was coveted for several reasons.

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