4 Options with the third pick the Houston Rockets have to consider

It's good to be flexible. It's best to keep an open mind. With that said, you don't want to be too open-minded. As Richard Dawkins infamously said, you don't want your brains to fall out.

The Houston Rockets have landed the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Fortune smiled upon the organization on lottery day. The Rockets were supposed to land the ninth overall pick - they made a tremendous leap in the lottery.

Now, they have a lot of options. The Rockets should keep an open mind, but they shouldn't be too open-minded, either. The most important objective for Rafael Stone is to maximize the value of this pick.

Here are four options he should consider before making a decision.

1. Draft best player available

We figured we'd start simple.

This may also be the best option. There are plenty of benefits associated with drafting a player. To begin with, you're bringing in a cost-controlled player. No matter how well your selection pans out, they'll be an inexpensive talent for the first seven years of their career.

The Rockets have to make decisions about Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun soon. Over the next several years, they'll have a lot of young, talented players to pay. Having a rookie scale deal on the books would make their life easier.

That's not the only benefit involved in simply keeping the pick. You're also bringing in the third overall pick in the NBA draft. Granted, this seems like a weak class, but you can draft a future All-Star with the third pick in any class if you choose wisely.

With that in mind...

2. Trade for future picks

What would be more financially prudent than adding a rookie scale deal to your salary sheet? How about adding nobody at all?

Suppose the Rockets moved this pick for two future unprotected firsts. That would allow them to kick the can. The Rockets would keep their books squeaky clean and arm themselves with assets to make another deal down the road.

Sure, the Rockets already have a solid collection of draft capital. They don't have as much as the Thunder or the Jazz. If they could turn this pick into a pair of picks, they'd be a little more competitive in the market.

This isn't the exciting move that will galvanize the fanbase. It might be the smartest decision. Reports suggest that this is Stone's preference. He shouldn't be hasty, but if the right deal is on the table, flipping this pick for future assets would be sensible.

3. Trade for a star

As always, it takes two to tango. We're talking about options that the Rockets should consider, but we don't know what options will be available to them.

Will a star shake loose? We're not sure. We do know this: the third overall pick will get the Rockets much closer to landing one than the ninth overall pick would.

The Rockets should tread lightly here. They've been linked to Mikal Bridges before, and they will be again before the draft unfolds. If the Nets would accept a package built largely around the third pick, the Rockets could entertain that possibility.

Otherwise, they should be hoarding assets unless a true superstar becomes available. The Rockets have a lot of ammunition to make a blockbuster deal. They shouldn't weaken their cache just to make marginal gains in 2024-25.

4. Trade up for Sarr

A star? How about Sarr? Too far?

This is an interesting draft. Realistically, anything could happen. The probable order of the draft will become clearer as the combine and interviews get underway.

Still, it feels like Alexandre Sarr of Perth is going to land first, doesn't it? He's an archetypical modern defensive anchor. Sarr is the rare big man who can protect the rim and also defend in space.

Is he a good fit alongside Alperen Sengun? We're not sure. Still, if the Rockets made a move for Sarr, they'd give themselves optionality. Even if the pair of big men can't co-exist, the Rockets should be able to get a tremendous haul for whichever of the two they eventually opt to trade.

In other words, they'll increase their flexibility.