NBA Mock Draft: Rockets double down on direction in new mock

The Houston Rockets have been one of the most unique teams in the NBA in 2024-25.

It's hard to recall the last team that was this reliant on offensive rebounding. That's not a staple of the most successful teams in the league for the last decade or so. That's fine. Zigging where others opt to zag can yield its rewards. The Rockets and their double big man lineups have been rewarded with a 52-win (or more) season.

This summer, they'll be rewarded with a lottery pick as well.

That's got nothing to do their 2024-25 performance. It owes to Rafael Stone's ingenuity. In acquiring the Suns' 2025 first-round pick, he made a bold gamble that's paying dividends. The Suns are gifting Houston a pick in the lottery:

A new mock draft from CBS Sports has them continuing to lean into size.

Rockets select big man in new mock

Once again, we're discussing Duke's Khaman Maluach.

Some Rockets fans will bristle at the thought of drafting a big. They're attached to Alperen Sengun. Why would the Rockets draft someone at his position?

Well, Ime Udoka is not afraid of double big lineups. He may see Maluach as Sengun's natural frontcourt partner. The Rockets may wish to continue down this path:

Although, they'd be veering slightly by taking Maluach.

Maluach would bring a new element to the Rockets

It wouldn't work like the Adams lineups have.

It's the combined strength of Adams and Sengun that exhausts opponents. They bludgeon opponents with offensive rebounding and sheer physicality. Matchup-wise, teams have to choose between asking their 4 to either contain Adams on the glass or Sengun on the low block. That's the definition of a Sophie's choice.

By contrast, teams would put their 4 on Maluach. He's much less physical than either Rockets big. Maluach is a new school big. His gift is his relative fleet-footedness compared to his other-worldly standing reach. Maluach should be a defensive anchor at the NBA level, but he's not as equipped to damage smaller defenders as Sengun or Adams.

So, the Rockets wouldn't create the same advantages with Maluach. That said, he'd create advantages of his own. Maluach's ability to protect the rim from the weakside would make him a logical pairing with Sengun.

As a general prospect, Maluach's swing skill is shooting. If he develops decent NBA three-point range, he'll be a starting caliber big for a decade or more. If not, there are concerns about him as a potential offensive liability.

Is this the right guy for the Rockets?

Rockets should take a swing on Maluach

Forget his viability with Sengun for a moment. If the Rockets like Maluach, they should draft him. A player with his physical profile is a rarity.

The Thunder have one. The Spurs do, too. Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren could give the Rockets postseason fits for years. If Maluach pans out, the Rockets will at least have a player in the same vein.

Maluach was underwhelming in the NCAA tournament. His offense is raw. If the Rockets just think he's a probable bust, that's understandable. That said, if they do see the upside, they should take him and figure out his fit with Sengun later.

Somehow, he should make them even more unique.