[Bryan88]

Rockets Team Report - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

The Rockets could move up in the draft. They would absolutely love to move up from their spot at No. 25 and have made calls to try to make that happen.

They also could move back.

They would love to take a wing player, a prospect that can swing from two to three and shoot with range, bring athleticism or both.

Or they could take a center. Or a point guard.

If that does not seem to indicate what they likely would do, or even what they would most like to do, there is a reason for that.

As much as teams often claim they will take the best player available, in a very short time, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has shown that to be his philosophy. He has already worked to move up in each of the past two drafts and has picked up an extra second-round pick in each draft.

As for the uncertainty about the position he is most likely to seek, he often has pointed out that players drafted as late in the first round make it to become solid, long-term contributors at a rate between 1-in-4 and 1-in-5. Because of that, he has said that limiting himself to a specific position would cut his odds.

Because of that he said the Rockets would rarely if ever consider need at that stage in the draft. But this season, they have a need for a successor to develop for Dikembe Mutombo as Yao’s backup and for a back two/three. They might even consider a point because despite all the moves and additions they have made at the position in the past year, after next season, only Rafer Alston and Aaron Brooks on the current roster will be under contract.

The only area the Rockets might seem to avoid would be a high-energy, undersized power forward. Even then, however, he might be tempted if he thinks the player is the best on the board.

More likely, however, he will be able to select from any one of the other positions, will try to move up and will come away with a player chosen based on best value for a player in his draft position, rather than any particular description.