NBA Mock Draft: Rockets land lottery luck in latest mock

Houston Rockets fans are getting used to picking in the lottery.

The team tanked for three consecutive seasons and picked high in the lottery in each of the following summers. Last summer, they picked in the lottery again - at the expense of the Brooklyn Nets. The pick they'd landed from the James Harden deal conveyed at third overall. The Rockets selected Reed Sheppard.

A new mock draft has them taking advantage of a similar opportunity. This time, the pick is coming by way of the Phoenix Suns. Bleacher Report's new mock draft has that pick landing 12th.

It has the Rockets picking up an intriguing prospect in the process.

Rockets land versatile wing in new mock

The wing in question is Collin Murray-Boyles out of South Carolina.

This is a 6'7" wing who can guard multiple positions. Offensively, Murray-Boyles ls a bit of a throwback forward. He excels by scoring in the paint with an array of craft moves. That said, his shot is a work in progress - but progress is being made.

Murray-Boyles also has strong positional passing vision. He is a well-rounded wing who would fit Ime Udoka's vision of the Rockets.

Does that mean he's the right pick?

Rockets should consider Murray-Boyles

It's debatable.

From a fit perspective, Murray-Boyles is suboptimal for the Rockets. This team has a surplus of young wing talent. Murray-Boyles would struggle to crack the rotation, so in some respects, drafting him feels pointless.

Even then, Murray-Boyles doesn't satisfy Houston's biggest need. Even if they were intent on drafting a wing here, they might do better to look at Liam McNeeley out of Connecticut. He doesn't project to be as stout of a defender as Murray-Boyles, but at 6'7" he could be malleable on that end. More importantly, he's flashed immense shooting potential.

Yet, with the guard rotation in flux, Arkansas' Boogie Fland could be the choice. He looks like a prototypical NBA playmaker. Sheppard still has upside, but he clearly hasn't impressed Udoka enough to have entrenched his place with this team.

In spite of all those reservations, nobody should mind if the Rockets select Murray-Boyles. If they think he's the best prospect on the board, that could outweigh every other consideration. To be sure, he has athletic advantages that neither McNeeley (slower) or Fland (smaller) can claim.

Who knows? The Rockets could trade this pick. It's no secret that this team has been linked to star guards this year. A low lottery pick could be a valuable trade chip:

Even if that's something Rockets fans aren't used to.