1 Trade the Houston Rockets could make with every other lottery team

#3: Rockets trade third pick for fourth pick and 2025 protected first-round pick with Spurs

The Spurs are another team with a surplus of draft capital. They don't just make their own selection in 2025 - they own the Atlanta Hawks' pick as well.

We don't have them sending that Hawks pick to the Rockets. Instead, they're sending their own pick with protections. In this situation, we think a lottery-protected first ought to be enough to facilitate a deal.

Does that feel pointless? Perhaps a bit. The Spurs are widely expected to be a lottery team next year. In all likelihood, the Spurs are moving up a spot here and the Rockets aren't getting anything.

Still, moving from fourth to third won't be worth much to the Spurs. Who knows? They could make substantial moves to improve the roster around Victor Wembanyama this summer. In that event, they could end up sending the Rockets a mid-to-late first-round pick here.