The annual NBA draft lottery stood as the most important date on the Houston Rockets' calendar in each of the last three years. The lack of stakes and expectations in the 2024 edition, which will take place Sunday, is something to celebrate.
Let's take a brief trip into the time machine before assessing the current state of the roster. Houston's prayers for Victor Wembanyama weren't answered last May. The Rockets didn't land the No. 1 pick in either of the two previous drafts, though from a broad perspective, it's hard to be anything but pleased with general manager Rafael Stone's draft haul across the last three seasons.