The Houston Rockets may not have a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, but that doesn't mean their draft night will be quiet. With two second-round selections—No. 39 (via Chicago) and No. 53 overall—General Manager Rafael Stone has a golden opportunity to add depth to a team that has posted matching 52-30 records and suffered disappointing first-round playoff exits in each of the last two seasons.
While second-round picks don't always pan out, history shows they can be hidden gems. Just look at the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are riding strong performances from Ajay Mitchell—selected at No. 38 overall in the 2024 second round—into another Western Conference Finals run.
So, who might the Rockets target? Here's a look at the latest mock draft projections for each of Houston's picks:
No. 39 Overall:
- ESPN: Matt Able, 6-foot-6 guard/forward, North Carolina State (18 years old)
- Yahoo! Sports: Malachi Moreno, 7-foot-0 center, Kentucky (19 years old)
- The Athletic: Braden Smith, 6-foot-0 point guard, Purdue (22 years old)
- ClutchPoints: Ryan Conwell, 6-foot-4 guard, Louisville (21 years old)
No. 53 Overall:
- ESPN: Andrej Stojakovic, 6-foot-6 guard/forward, Illinois (21 years old)
- Yahoo! Sports: Baba Miller, 6-foot-11 forward/center, Cincinnati (22 years old)
- The Athletic: Tobi Lawal, 6-foot-8 forward, Virginia Tech (23 years old)
- ClutchPoints: Baba Miller, 6-foot-11 forward/center, Cincinnati (22 years old)
From versatile wings to rim-protecting bigs, the Rockets have plenty of options to bolster their roster. Whether they swing for upside or target ready-made contributors, these second-round picks could be the spark Houston needs to break through in the playoffs.