Monday, January 20, 2025
7.0°F

Houston Rockets have no draft picks for 2nd straight year

Kristie Rieken | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 2 months AGO
by Kristie Rieken
| November 18, 2020 9:33 PM

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Rockets didn’t have a pick in the NBA draft for the second straight year after trading away a selection they had added earlier in the week.

The Rockets were scheduled to pick at No. 16 after trading Robert Covington to Portland for Trevor Ariza and the pick. Instead, the Rockets agreed to trade Ariza and that pick to the Detroit Pistons for a future first-round pick, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday night because the trade had not been announced.

Houston’s quiet draft night comes during an offseason of upheaval for the team. Coach Mike D’Antoni decided not to return when his contract expired following Houston’s loss to the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals and general manager Daryl Morey stepped down last month before quickly taking a job with the 76ers.

The Rockets picked Stephen Silas as their new coach and promoted long-time front office employee Rafael Stone to general manager.

Since then, rumors have swirled that stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook are unhappy and looking to get out of Houston. Management has not commented on their status, but both players remain under contract for two more seasons, with player options in 2022-23.

The Rockets haven't had a first-round pick since they took Sam Dekker with the 18th overall selection in 2015.

___

AP Sports Writer Noah Trister contributed to this report.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MORE IMPORTED STORIES

Houston Rockets have no draft picks for 2nd straight year
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 2 months ago
AP Sources: Ariza to Pistons, Horford to OKC, Rubio to Minn.
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 2 months ago
AP Sources: Ariza to Pistons, Horford to OKC, Rubio to Minn.
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 2 months ago

ARTICLES BY KRISTIE RIEKEN

January 7, 2013 8 p.m.

Texans earn date with Patriots

HOUSTON - J.J. Watt swatted away passes, Arian Foster ran away from tacklers and the Houston Texans did just enough to knock Cincinnati out of the playoffs for the second straight year.

January 14, 2021 7:07 a.m.

James Harden headed to Nets in blockbuster multiteam deal

James Harden is heading to Brooklyn, joining old teammate Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to give the Nets a potent trio featuring some of the NBA's highest scorers.

January 14, 2021 12:10 a.m.

AP source: Harden headed to Nets in blockbuster 4-team deal

James Harden is heading to Brooklyn, joining old teammate Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to give the Nets a potent trio featuring some of the NBA's highest scorers.