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Do you Trade into First Round Draft? 2026

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Le$$, Apr 26, 2026.

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Do you Trade into First Round Draft?

  1. YES

    27 vote(s)
    73.0%
  2. NO

    5 vote(s)
    13.5%
  3. Let Dickerson run the point

    4 vote(s)
    10.8%
  4. Reed got this!

    1 vote(s)
    2.7%
  1. Le$$

    Le$$ Member

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    With the all the available point guards, rockets might need to make offer to get into first rd.

    With Fred Leaving and lack of point guard options. This to me looks like a draft you don't miss out on. Looks to be future stars in this one, even at PG slot here. Stocked with good PG'S and Combo Guards.

    What are we doing? trading away a 26 pick?

    https://www.tankathon.com/big_board
     
    Crashlanded19 likes this.
  2. Os Trigonum

    Os Trigonum Okogie Only Fan
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    where's he going?
     
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  3. Dankstronaut

    Dankstronaut Member

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    Podcast tour
     
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  4. Os Trigonum

    Os Trigonum Okogie Only Fan
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    either that or a new life selling underwater treadmills and doing things of that nature
     
  5. Aruba77

    Aruba77 Member

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    As far as I’m concerned the 2026 draft is our best chance to get a future franchise player. It is imperative that we do what it takes to trade into this draft. There are at least 5 or 6 of those guys. I personally believe in Darius Acuff. Every time I think about Stone trading away that Brooklyn pick I get enraged. This front office cannot be vested with the responsibility of getting back into this draft. They simply haven’t drafted well enough and they don’t have the relationships and experience to make the best deal.

    we should have the ammo to make this happen. We need a seasoned GM to get this done. Hiring one with this mandate needs to be our top priority as soon as the season is over.
     
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  6. Hemingway

    Hemingway Member
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    The only ammo to get a top 6 pick in this draft is Amen and that’s off the table for me. I don’t think Sengun gets it done unless you eat a horrible contract and I don’t think anybody with a top 6 pick has that horrible of a contract. I guess we could trade mulitple future picks for that one shot, but unless Ime is gone that would be foolish. He ain’t playing a rookie next year and giving up our 27 picks would be foolish as I think Ime will be gone after next year.
     
  7. subtomic

    subtomic Member

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    I think it’s more accurate to ask “CAN the Rockets trade into the 2026 draft?”

    Unfortunately….
    [​IMG]
     
  8. Aruba77

    Aruba77 Member

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    we have the ammo, even without Amen. We have picks and some high level prospects. Not every team has the same grades on players. Depending on how the board falls, whether it’s positional conflicts or the player a team was targeting is gone, it’s possible for Houston to be opportunistic with their assets and get this done. And we as fans should demand that our front office meet this bar.

    furthermore, our new GM will ultimately determine our coaching situation. Ime doesn’t get to run the show anymore.
     
    StrawberryJamm likes this.
  9. cheke64

    cheke64 Member

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    KD and Jabari for a first round pick and fillers. You get 2 proven franchise players
     
  10. StrawberryJamm

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    Yeah, we need more fast shooters that can handle and defend whether Fred Van Vleet comes back at full strength or not.

    Memphis is a good one, they might really want Jabari and have some good contracts and players to match the money.

    I would do something with Ty Jerome and/or Cedrick Coward plus that pick for Jabari.
     
  11. Dankstronaut

    Dankstronaut Member

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    Fred absolutely gives off used car salesman/herbalife vibes.
     
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  12. subtomic

    subtomic Member

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    That’s an outrageously generous offer for Jabari and there’s no way Memphis would ever offer that, especially after Jabari went full Javale McGee on Friday night.
     
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  13. clutchdabear

    clutchdabear Member

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    Honestly, not a fan of this 2026 draft class and think it got way overhyped before the start of this season. Not a fan of Peterson or Boozer and while Dybantsa is alright, he's not on the level of Cooper Flagg, Cade Cunningham, or Anthony Edwards as a prospect when they were coming out.

    Would rather just keep our assets and perhaps make a play in the 2027 draft when we have a better chance with one of our picks (especially with flatter lottery odds).

    Edit: Also want to add - we need a draft pick to potentially hit on a true franchise player. Not to try and develop another role player or secondary/third option. If we're not trying to find a franchise player through the draft, I don't see a point in trading into the draft using valuable assets. And if the idea is that we'll try to find a franchise player through the draft, regardless of if it's a lottery pick, mid 1st rd pick, or late first rd pick - unless we're certain that a player available in this draft is a true star, no point in consolidating those future picks or assets into one chance to hit on for this year's draft, when we can have multiple chances in the next few seasons.
     
    #13 clutchdabear, Apr 26, 2026
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2026
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  14. Aruba77

    Aruba77 Member

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    Trade KD for picks

    Sengun plus a ton of picks can get this done. Or supplement with other prospects, but this can and should get done.

    All we need for a fresh start is Amen and a top pick from this draft…which is why trading the Brooklyn pick might be Stone’s biggest blunder as GM.
     
  15. Hemingway

    Hemingway Member
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    Jabari is an improving 22 year old player. It would be stupid to trade him unless it’s a top 3 player in this draft. If Memphis gets a top 3 pick in the lottery I doubt they make the trade. I really don’t understand the hate for Jabari on this site. Memphis is re-building and has all their draft picks for a while and will probably get another. I think this is a deep draft, but no longer convinced it’s generational at the top. I’d trade KD for a mid-draft pick in this draft or even a future first if you get expirings back. Trading Sengun should bring back a starter and a couple of good future frp’s not necessarily in this draft, but that would be great. Anyway, if Ime is going to be back, you can be sure Stone is going to trade for a vet not a draft pick.
     
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  16. PatBev

    PatBev Member

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    Not sure what teams would trade for KD or Sengun. Hornets for Sengun?

    Hornets receive: Sengun

    Rockets receive: Williams(39% 3pt & expiring), Salaun, Mann + CHA26’(14th) & ORL26’

    Package those picks to try to get into lottery for a guard
     
    #16 PatBev, Apr 26, 2026
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2026
  17. MaxRider

    MaxRider Member

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    Who are you targeting? We don't just need a PG. We need a PG with high BBIQ.
     
  18. subtomic

    subtomic Member

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    Jabari Smith is a dumb player and Friday night’s turnover was just the most catastrophic example of his stupidity on the court. Over his 4 seasons, the guy has made not knowing where to be on the floor (offensively and defensively) a refined art form. He also is remarkable in his ability to decide to drive when it would be better to shoot and to shoot when it would be better to drive. And watching him stand still in the absolute least ideal to receive a pass out from an Alpi post up has probably shortened my lifespan - I’ve seen multiple complaints by posters here that Alpi doesn’t pass out to him, but no smart player (and Alpi is a very smart player) is going to see a guy who’s standing outside his field of vision or pass to a guy who’s either got one defender immediately in front of him or another defender who’s ready to jump into the passing lane.

    Up until Friday night, the worst example of Jabari’s stupidity was in 2024, when he failed to run to the ball when Fred tried to pass out of a trap, thus leading to a turnover. Then, he jumped into Alpi’s space trying to stop the Sabonis layup offf the steal, causing Alpi to land awkwardly and thus be out injured for the remainder of the season.

    Does this mean Jabari has 0 value to the team? No and regardless of the Rocket player, I expect our front office to get a good return in a trade (if one presents itself). But if this team can trade Jabari for smarter talent that is less prone to inconsistency and brain farts, they should do so.
     
  19. subtomic

    subtomic Member

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    When was the last time a team trade a lottery pick for multiple lower picks - I think it was 2001 and it was NJ trading Eddie Griffin for the Rockets 3 picks. How did that work out - I don’t remember.

    Dropping all snarkiness, today’s teams only trade lottery picks for slightly lower lottery picks and either decent talent or future picks.
     
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  20. PatBev

    PatBev Member

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    You right. Depending on what you could trade for maybe throw Reed in and see where it can get you
     
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