Thanks to the P.J. Tucker trade the Houston Rockets will likely have three first-round picks in the 2021 NBA Draft. Their own top four protected pick which will have a 14% chance to be the #1 overall pick and Cade Cunningham. They'll also have Portland and Milwaukee's first-round pick in this year's draft. Both are lottery protected picks, but both teams will make the playoffs so they're guaranteed at this point. We can likely trade those two late first-round picks for a teen-range pick to go along with our top four pick.

We also have the Nets' 2022, 2024 and 2026 unprotected first-round picks. The picks in 2024 and 2026 could be top three picks because the Nets should be bad by then. They also have Milwaukee's 2023 unprotected first-round pick. All of this with Victor Oladipo still very much a nice piece to trade for more assets before the March 25 trade deadline. I'd rather try and get a good young player for Oladipo instead of another pick. Too many picks are not as good as having the talent already on your roster.

It's going to come down to how good the Rockets' scouting is. A lot of draft picks from now until 2026. I don't know what we'll do! The best case scenario is they can win the NBA Lottery this year. End up with Cade Cunningham from Oklahoma State. His game reminds me of a young Grant Hill way back in the day. He'll be fun to watch in the NCAA Tournament but I hope the Houston Cougars win that brutal Midwest region. They're the #2 seed! People are too quick to hand the #1 seed Illinois the Final Four when Houston, Oklahoma State, West Virginia and even Tennessee are all in that Midwest region! It's going to be wild.

I think the Houston Cougars will reach their first Final Four since 1984! I'm more worried about Oklahoma State than Illinois because of Cade Cunningham.

We suck

Where's Stuart. Haven't seem him in a hot minute.

The Rockets had to properly rebuild at some point. It's remarkable even after the Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady era they were still competing for the playoffs. Finishing 9th in the Western Conference three straight years. Looking back we probably should've tanked but the James Harden trade fell into our laps. That is what catapulted them into a playoff team for eight straight years. Which was the longest active streak in the NBA coming into this season. Obviously it's going to come to an end.

This will be a rather smooth and fun rebuild. They'll have a ton of cap space and first-round picks. If everything works out they'll be back in the playoffs before they use Brooklyn's unprotected first-round pick in 2026. That pick could basically be a free top three pick for a then Houston playoff team. The Brooklyn Nets sacrificed their future to say the least. They better win the 2021 or 2022 NBA Finals with James Harden or else they blew it.

If you're a Houston Rockets fan the 2021 NCAA Tournament starting today should feel like Christmas. It's scouting time! Three first-round picks this year.