While most reasonable people can agree that the Rockets need help at center badly, the draft doesn't really seem to shake out as helpful for them at No. 14 overall. With Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris, and Tristan Thompson all possibilities to fill some sort of role down low for Houston, mock drafters are instead spending a lot of time looking at small forwards for Houston as a match of semi-need and best player available. Don't ask me how trading Shane Battier turned small forward into a need position when the Rockets have Kevin Martin, Courtney Lee, and Chase Budinger on the wings, because I don't understand it either. Here's SB Nation's first mock, which has the Rockets taking Florida St. forward Chris Singleton:
14. Houston Rockets: Chris Singleton, SF, Florida State
The defensive specialist could be Daryl Morey's next Shane Battier; Singleton is a smart, rangy defender with some toughness and a developing (if slowly) offensive game.
23. Houston Rockets (from Orlando Magic): Tobias Harris, SF, TennesseeIdeally, the Rockets trade all of their draft picks for a time machine to 2004, they wrap Yao Ming's feet in bubble wrap, they get back in the time machine, and they let Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin play off the big fellow on their way to 47 wins.
Hey, a Yao Ming being healthy scenario! How original!
DraftExpress has the Rockets skipping Singleton to take Harris at 14, and adding Latvian prospect Davis Bertans at 23. NBADraft.net hands the Rockets a pair of Jayhawks in Markieff Morris and guard Josh Selby.