Final projections on three Houston Rockets picks

With the No. 3 selection in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft, the Houston Rockets are… almost on the clock.

The 2022 draft is arguably the most exciting date of this calendar year for Rockets fans, who should get to see their team pick a foundational piece — likely Auburn’s Jabari Smith, Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, or Duke’s Paolo Banchero — to pair with last year’s top rookie, Jalen Green.

The Rockets (20-62) finished last season with the league’s worst record, and while fans did get to enjoy the growth and development shown by young players like Green, Alperen Sengun, and Kevin Porter Jr., the biggest payoff from such an extended run of losing is on draft night.

But wait, there’s more! Houston has two more first-round picks at No. 17 (via Brooklyn) and No. 26 (via Dallas), which were obtained via the January 2021 James Harden trade and last week’s Christian Wood trade. It remains to be seen if Rockets general manager Rafael Stone will keep all those picks or execute a trade, but it’s a strong place to start.

So, what will the payoff be for fans? We’ll know for sure on Thursday night, June 23. But going in, here’s who the various NBA draft experts are projecting to Houston in their final mock drafts of the season.

Projections for No. 3 in 2022 first round

Photo by David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Jonathan Givony, ESPN (6/21), No. 3: Paolo Banchero
(Duke: Forward, Freshman, 6-10)

Sam Vecenie, The Athletic (6/21), No. 3: Paolo Banchero
(Duke: Forward, Freshman, 6-10)

Bryan Kalbrosky, For The Win (6/21), No. 3: Paolo Banchero
(Duke: Forward, Freshman, 6-10)

NBADraft.net (6/21), No. 3: Chet Holmgren
(Gonzaga: Big, Freshman, 7-1)

Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated (6/20), No. 3: Paolo Banchero
(Duke: Forward, Freshman, 6-10)

Krysten Peek, Yahoo! Sports (6/20), No. 3: Paolo Banchero
(Duke: Forward, Freshman, 6-10)

Cody Taylor, Rookie Wire (6/20), No. 3: Paolo Banchero
(Duke: Forward, Freshman, 6-10)

Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer (6/17), No. 3: Paolo Banchero
(Duke: Forward, Freshman, 6-10)

Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle (6/16), No. 3: Paolo Banchero
(Duke: Forward, Freshman, 6-10)

Projections for No. 17 in 2022 first round

Photo by James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Jonathan Givony, ESPN (6/21), No. 17: Tari Eason
(LSU: Forward, Sophomore, 6-8)

Sam Vecenie, The Athletic (6/21), No. 17: Tari Eason
(LSU: Forward, Sophomore, 6-8)

Bryan Kalbrosky, For The Win (6/21), No. 17: MarJon…