Rockets 2022 Draft Grades

Houston killed the draft last year. How did they do this year?

To say draft night went a little differently than what most were expecting would be an understatement. The Orlando Magic did an expert job at concealing their true intentions with the number one overall pick. Once it became clear they were taking Duke forward Paolo Banchero, mock drafts across the country became nothing more than paperweights. Because the Thunder followed through on selecting Chet Holmgren, no singular team was impacted more by the swerve than the Houston Rockets.

The Rockets were slated to take Banchero themselves, but by process of elimination, Houston took Auburn’s Jabari Smith Jr. instead. As a result, their roster makeup looks much different than expected a week ago. They also were active on the market, opting to trade down and pick up an additional two second round picks. They’ve now drafted seven first rounders in two years and like last year, it’s time to grade them.

With the 3rd overall pick, the Houston Rockets selected…

Jabari Smith Jr.

Grade: