The Houston Rockets have been stuck at the end of the lottery ever since Yao Ming's retirement, not good enough to make the playoffs and not bad enough to have a high selection.
In the latest mock draft from Chad Ford, the ESPN Insider has the Rockets trying to lift themselves out of mediocrity by taking size with their two first-round picks in 2012:
The Rockets' biggest need is in the middle and Zeller should be a solid option. Scouts don't think Zeller is going to be an All-Star someday, but he's big, he runs the floor very well and he has a great touch around the basket. Zeller should ultimately land somewhere between picks 8 and 14.
The Rockets need size and Moultrie might be a great fit. He's long and athletic, he rebounds and he can stretch the floor with his jumper. Moultrie could be one of the real sleepers in the draft.
Tyler Zeller (UNC) and Arnett Moultrie (Mississippi State) are both long and skilled big men with wingspans over 7'0, and they would instantly give Houston one of the longer front-courts in the Western Conference.
And while neither has the bulk of a traditional center, the increasing popularity of small-ball would mitigate their lack of size, while their speed and athleticism would give them the ability to run with much smaller teams.
Neither player would ever be a star at the next level, but the ability to play two 6'11+ players at the same time would give the Rockets an interesting weapon they have not had in a very long time.
For more coverage of the Houston Rockets draft plans, stay tuned to the SB Nation Houston story-stream as well as The Dream Shake.