It didn’t matter. The Rockets had different plans.
In a somewhat predictable move, the Rockets made a draft-and-stash pick and then dumped off their second selection.
With the 43rd pick, the Rockets selected German center Isaiah Hartenstein, then dumped the 45th pick to Memphis.
Hartenstein is a 19-year old seven footer who has very good upside. He’s a lefty who played with Zalgiris in Lithuania, averaging over 20 points a game.
Interestingly, he draws comparisons to former Rocket Donatas Motiejunas, and in an interesting (and possibly confrontational) twist, Hartenstein is represented by B.J. Armstrong, the same agent who advised and steered Motiejunas wrong in last year’s negotiations.