In the days leading up to the 2024 NBA draft in June, the Houston Rockets And Brooklyn Nets executed a major transaction involving future first-round draft picks from three different teams.

The Nets, whose short-term outlook appears below average, regained control of their own picks in 2025 and 2026. Meanwhile, the Rockets gained a larger haul of first-round assets (four) that extend for additional years, including three originally owned by to increasingly expensive and aging products Phoenix Suns.

Houston previously gained control of Brooklyn’s assets through the January 2021 trade James Hardenwhile Brooklyn had picks from Phoenix through the February 2023 trade of Kevin Durant.

So, with that in mind, how does Houston reserve of future assets How do they compare to other teams? According to ESPN front-office insider Bobby Marks, who ranked teams depending on the quality of their future first-round assets, there is now more variance with the Rockets depending on the outcome of these Phoenix selections and Dallas.

However, even with this variation, Marks — former NBA executive himselfwith the Nets — still ranks the Rockets fifth in the league in terms of future first-round picks. His explanation:

It will take a long time to determine whether Houston’s trade to Brooklyn in late June was a smart move or a historic mistake. The Rockets eliminated the right to trade first-rounders to Brooklyn in 2025 and sent away the Nets’ 2026 first-rounder. They still have the right to trade first-rounders to Brooklyn in 2027.

In exchange, the Rockets received four draft assets: the right to swap their first pick with Phoenix in 2025; the Suns’ unprotected first pick in 2027; the more favorable first pick from Dallas or Phoenix in 2029; and the right to swap their 2029 first pick with the less favorable one from Dallas and Phoenix.

“It diversified our draft portfolio and pushed them a little bit further out, which is really good for us,” Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said at the time. “We’re a very young team right now … so having draft picks a little bit further out, we think makes sense.”

A more detailed explanation of Houston’s motivations for the proposed contract is available here.

Perhaps the best news for the Rockets (41-41) is that among the only four teams with better draft assets in the future (according to Marks), three are the San Antonio Spurs (22-60), Brooklyn Nets (32-50) and Utah Jazz (31-51). Based on 2023-24 records, all are starting from a significantly lower baseline than the current Rockets – so while they have slightly better draft prospects, that’s offset by Houston’s clear advantage in terms of current players.

The only team with a better 2023-24 record than the Rockets and a higher spot on Marks’ list of future draft assets is the Oklahoma City Thunder (57-25).

More: Explaining the complex proposed deal between the Rockets and the Nets

More: 2024 Offseason Update: Rockets’ NBA Draft Assets and Protections Through 2031

This article was originally published on Rockets Wire: ESPN ranks Rockets fifth in NBA for future first-round draft picks

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