NBA Mock Draft: Rockets grab potential star guard in latest mock

The Houston Rockets can't escape the lottery.

Typically, that's a bad thing. Teams want to pick in the high lottery, but when it happens for more than a few drafts, they appear to be stuck. If any of those picks were hitting, they'd be dragging them out of the lottery.

The Rockets' case is different. Sure, they put themselves in the lottery for three straight years. In the last draft, they capitalized on the Brooklyn Nets' misfortune when they sent Houston the third overall pick. Now, it seems that could happen again. We're nearly halfway through the 2024-25 season, and the Phoenix Suns appear lottery-bound (and they owe the Rockets their pick).

A new mock draft has them making an intriguing selection.

Rockets grab another point guard in latest mock draft

ESPN has the Rockets grabbing Oklahoma's Jeremiah Fear.

As any responsible outlet would, SpaceCityScoop has been covering draft content throughout this cycle. I've published my own mocks in addition to reviewing mock drafts from other sites. Most of these sites are randomizing the order of the draft before giving their mock:

This is the luckiest Houston has gotten yet.

Fears is a 6'4" combo guard. He can score on all three levels due to his exceptional handle and strong burst. Fears is also capable of setting up teammates. He should be a prototypical lead guard at the NBA level.

Is he the right choice for the Rockets?

Rockets should have no fears with Fears with the 9th pick

Some Rockets fans would want the organization to look in a different direction.

Perhaps they're holding onto Jalen Green stock. Alternatively, they could be Reed Sheppard fans. Either position is fair to take - but what's the alternative?

Could the Rockets take a wing? Sure. Cam Whitmore is already frustrated with his marginal role. Good luck working a rookie into Ime Udoka's suddenly (even more) crowded rotation.

A big? It's possible. The Rockets could take someone like Khaman Maluach here, but his path to starting minutes would be a narrow one. He'll be competing with an established star in Alperen Sengun.

Perhaps the Rockets should trade the pick - but even then, another young player gets his minutes slashed. The Rockets have an excess of young talent. It's a rich person's problem. Adding a guard is as sensible as anything they could do.

Green remains inconsistent. Sheppard is currently with the G-League. Either one of them could be key players in the Rockets' future, but Fears has potential to be as good as either - if not better. This could be the Rockets' lead guard of the future:

Unless they land a higher lottery pick down the road.