The Houston Rockets' 2025-26 season ended sooner than hoped, with a first-round playoff exit against the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. While the finish was humbling for head coach Ime Udoka, the 52-win campaign showed real promise. Now, with the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery complete and the Rockets locked into the 22nd overall pick, attention has turned to the offseason. Free agency looms with several players hitting the market, but two major outlets are already projecting Houston to target backcourt help in the first round.

CBS Sports sees the Rockets selecting former Duke guard Isaiah Evans. Known for his catch-and-shoot ability, Evans emerged as a key rotational piece during his two seasons with the Blue Devils. After shooting over 41% from three as a freshman, he stepped into a larger role in 2025-26, averaging 15 points on 43.3% shooting from the field and 36.1% from beyond the arc. CBS Sports ranks him as the third-best shooting guard prospect in this class, behind Baylor's Cameron Carr and Arizona's Brayden Burries. For a Rockets team that had only two players shoot better than 35% from deep last season, Evans' floor-spacing could be a welcome addition.

USA Today offers a different route, projecting Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie as Houston's pick. In his lone season with the Cardinal, Okorie exploded onto the national scene, averaging 23.2 points per game—eighth-best in the country. The 6-foot-2 guard also contributed 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 46.5% from the floor and 35.4% from three. His efficient, multi-level scoring would pair well with Amen Thompson in the backcourt, especially with Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant anchoring the starting lineup. The big question for Okorie is whether his game translates seamlessly to the NBA, but his scoring upside is undeniable.