Rockets have blue chip draft picks coming to make blockbuster trade

The Houston Rockets have made a lot of lottery picks in recent years. One NBA analyst suspects they could make two more in 2027 - if they keep the picks.

"The Rockets, who are contenders right now, could have two lottery picks in 2027. They own Phoenix's pick and they swap rights with Brooklyn"

- Zach Lowe

Sometimes, the rich do get richer. The Rockets have one of the best young cores in the NBA. They just added Kevin Durant to that core. Yet, here we are discussing the possibility of them having two more lottery picks in just two summers.

What would they do with those picks?

Rockets may get rich at the wrong time

Every NBA draft is not born equally. Unfortunately, this draft is not seen as strong. Next year's class features a surplus of talent, but the 2027 class is seen as weak.

Timing is everything, but it's also best to play the cards that you're dealt. Landing a high pick in any draft is valuable. We shouldn't get ahead of ourselves either. The summer of 2027 is far away. By the time it comes, a prospect with franchise player could emerge in the event that Houston lands the top pick.

That said, there's plenty of reason to speculate that the Rockets will trade the picks. It feels like the team is already done with cultivating young talent. The Rockets won't need more rookies and sophomores:

But they're likely to need a superstar player.

Rockets on Kevin Durant's timeline

When the Rockets landed Kevin Durant this summer, it wasn't the ultimate compontent of a long-term plan. It was a stop gap. He's supposed to help Houston contend for the title this year and the next - after that. it's anyone's guess how age will have treated him.

That happens to be precisely when these picks convey. The odds that at least one of the two will land in the lottery feel high. The Suns will need time to sort out a Devin Booker / Jalen Green backcourt surrounded by young, raw talent, and the Nets are stacked with rookies and sophomores.

So, put the pieces together. The Rockets are likely to land a lottery pick or two during the same summer when it's likely that Durant will be decidedly declining. These picks are more likely to be used as ammunition for a superstar trade than anything else.

That's huge for the Rockets. If the team has been successful enough, they'll want to keep the bulk of their core. If the Rockets can build a compelling package around a high lottery pick (or two) and future firsts, they'll be more likely to hang onto Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and others.

Time will tell. There's a world where the Suns and Nets both make surprisingly quick turnarounds before the summer of 2027. At this moment, there's reason for Rockets fans to be optimistic about those picks.

Talk about an embarrasment of riches.