Rockets trade regret grows after latest March Madness mock draft

The NBA is buzzing after this year's NCAA Tournament with high hopes for the 2026 Draft class, but unfortunately the Rockets will not have a first-round pick. In Fansided's latest mock draft, even contending teams can pick up a valuable contributor in this year's draft. But the Rockets will have to make their only selections from the second round and hope to grab a sleeper pick.

The Rockets wish they had kept their 2026 first-round picks

Houston originally traded away their own 2026 first-round pick to the Thunder when they acquired Russell Westbrook. Of course, they only got one season out of Russ before shipping him off once again - but still managed to lose some valuable draft capital when first acquiring him. If they had kept their pick this year, they could use it on a promising young point guard to fill a position of need.

An even bigger regret is the other 2026 first-round pick the Rockets had once acquired - the one belonging to the Nets. Brooklyn has been terrible all season and their pick is projected to land within the top 7. In a draft this deep and talented, that could have been a franchise-altering selection for the Rockets.

Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr is often projected as the seventh pick with his elite shooting and overall scoring touch. He's capable of running an offense and would be a perfect addition to the Rockets' young core. Brown's presence could allow the Rockets' other young stars to fit into their natural complementary roles. Unfortunately, the Rockets gave up the valuable pick that could've drafted him when they reconciliated picks with the Nets in 2024.

The Rockets still have a chance to add a great piece in the draft

But it's not all bad for the Rockets. They still have two second-round picks at #39 and #52. These selections aren't ideal for adding talent, but second round picks have never been more valuable in the NBA. With role players coming into the league more NBA-ready, there is plenty of value to be found in the second round.

Just this year, multiple contenders are getting great contributions from second-rounders or even undrafted players, most famously Nikola Jokic for the Nuggets. The odds of landing a star like Jokic in the second round are slim but a good rotation piece should be available with good scouting. And that's all the Rockets really need to retool and round out their roster heading into next season.

Seeing this year's draft class stings for Rockets fans but fortunately their team still has some chances to take advantage of the abundant talent. Hopefully the Rockets make the most of their second-round picks and learn a valuable lesson about asset management.