Rockets News: Who Experts Expect Team to Select With No. 3 Pick | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

The 2024 NBA draft lottery unfolded on Sunday, and while the Houston Rockets didn't land the No. 1 overall pick—that selection went to the Atlanta Hawks—they have to feel good about the results.

A year after selecting Amen Thompson with the fourth overall pick, the Rockets will have a chance to add another potential star at No. 3.

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2024 NBA DRAFT ORDER IS SET 🍿<br><br>Pick 1. Hawks <br>Pick 2. Wizards<br>Pick 3. Rockets<br>Pick 4. Spurs<br>Pick 5. Pistons <a href="">

The No. 3 pick comes courtesy of the Brooklyn Nets, who dealt the selection as part of the 2021 deal for James Harden. Houston's own selection (No. 12) will go to the Oklahoma City Thunder as a result of the 2019 Russell Westbrook trade.

Houston finished this past season with a .500 record and just short of the play-in tournament. However, landing the right prospect at No. 3 could help put the Rockets back in the postseason for the first time since the 2019-20 season.

The question, of course, is who the Rockets will land at No. 3. There's no clear-cut top prospect like there was with Victor Wembanyama last year, so it's hard to know exactly how the early first round will unfold.

The experts, of course, have their thoughts.

Alex Sarr a Popular Choice for No. 1

To get a feel for who Houston might select at No. 3, it's best to start with who isn't likely to be available. Right now, Perth Wildcats (Australia) center Alex Sarr is trending as a likely option for the Hawks at No. 1.

According to Peek, Sarr's play against other top draft hopefuls has him trending toward the No. 1 spot:

"[Sarr] commanded the attention of NBA scouts and executives in the fall during a pair of exhibition games in Las Vegas against the G League Ignite. He showcased a much improved motor and elite rim protection, and solidified himself as a potential top pick after dominating the paint against other projected lottery talent in Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland."

At 7'1" and 205 pounds, Sarr is a towering if slight prospect with a skill set that should intrigue NBA team decision-makers. However, he's only the fourth-ranked prospect on the Wasserman's draft board.

This means that while Houston may not have a realistic shot at Sarr, it could still come away with the best player in the 2024 draft.

Donovan Clingan, Reed Sheppard Popular Picks for Houston

Only two players will be off the board when it's time for general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Ime Udoka to turn in their selection. They will have a plethora of options from whom to choose.

However, Connecticut center Donovan Clingan and Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard are two popular choices from experts around the web. Givony and Woo mocked Sheppard to the Rockets, as did Wasserman and USA Today's Bryan Kalbrosky

Sheppard, it's worth noting, is the No. 2 overall prospect on Wasserman's board.

"Sheppard doesn't have the typical usage, measurements or athleticism of a top pick," Wasserman wrote. "But I'm choosing to bet on elite shotmaking, intangibles, untapped on-ball juice and a history of Kentucky guards showing more in bigger NBA roles."

Peek and Vecenie both mocked Clingan to the Rockets at No. 3. Vecenie pointed to Clingan's defensive potential as a deciding factor:

"The Rockets traded for Steven Adams in the spring, but the veteran center only has one year left on his deal. That trade could be taken as a sign that Rockets coach Ime Udoka wants to find a defensive difference-maker on the interior even with Alperen Şengün in the fold."

Clingan is also a capable passer with an improving shot, so the selection would help on both ends of the court.

Boone mocked Kentucky point guard Rob Dillingham to Houston at No. 3. Other prospects who will likely garner consideration include Nikola Topić of KK Crvena Zvezda (Serbia), Matas Buzelis of G League Ignite and G League Ignite's Ron Holland, who is the top-ranked prospect on Wasserman's draft board.