Houston Rockets All-time draft bust starting 5

The Houston Rockets are in the middle of a total rebuild. Since trading James Harden, they have focused on adding draft capital and retooling their roster with young talent. The Rockets are still waiting for the fruits of their patience, but they have one of the youngest rosters in the NBA and a ton of talent to build around moving forward.

Houston has often gone away from the draft, but they have done well when they have selected. It is too early to judge Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr., but the Rockets have often found talent and production in the draft.

They are not all winners, though. The Rockets have taken plenty of busts over their 56 seasons as a franchise. Here is a look at the team’s all-time draft bust starting five.

PG: Bryce Drew

The Rockets had three first-round picks in 1998, and they missed on all three. Houston had just made the playoffs in 13 of the last 14 years, but their run was coming to an end, and they were searching for young talent.

The Rockets took Michael Dickerson 14th overall, Bryce Drew at 16, and Mirsad Turkcan with the 18th selection. Turkcan played just 17 NBA games, and none of them happened with the Rockets. Dickerson made the All-Rookie team in 1999 before they traded him to the Grizzlies. He lasted just five years in the NBA but had some productive moments.

Drew was a reserve point guard for the Rockets for two seasons before they traded him to Chicago for two second-round picks. The 6’2 guard lasted six seasons in the NBA, and he had just one season where he averaged more than 18 minutes per game.

Missing on all three picks hurt as the Rockets qualified for the postseason in 1999 before going on a four-year drought until returning in 2004.