The Houston Rockets had some luck in the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery. The Rockets, who got their pick from the Brooklyn Nets in the James Harden trade in 2021, moved from the ninth overall pick to the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Now, Houston GM Rafael Stone is expected to shop the third pick in trade talks to bring in a veteran player. The Rockets signed several veteran free agents in the 2023 offseason. Those players helped Houston improve from 22 wins in 2022-23 to 41 wins in 2023-24.

In addition to adding the vets, the Rockets still have a good young core. That has Houston looking at options for more win-now help, as opposed to adding another young player to the core of Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith II, Amen Thompson and Tari Eason.

The NBA held its 2024 draft lottery in Chicago on Sunday with the Atlanta Hawks winning the top overall pick. The Hawks entered the lottery with just a three percent chance of securing the top pick.

The NBA announced the finalists for 2023-24 Most Improved Player. The finalists are Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers, Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets and Coby White of the Chicago Bulls.

Maxey improved from 20.3 points and 3.5 assists per game to 25.9 points and 6.2 assists per game. Maxey also made his first All-Star team. In addition, the fourth-year guard took on an increased role for the Sixers following the James Harden trade and with Joel Embiid missing time due to injuries.

Sengun helped the Rockets improve from 22 wins last season to 41 wins this season. Sengun improved from 14.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists in his second season to 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists as a third-year player.

Coby White reclaimed his starting spot for the Bulls. After dipping to 9.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists last season, White improved to 19.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists this season.

The Houston Rockets signed general manager Rafael Stone and assistant general manager Eli Witus to multi-year contract extensions earlier this season. 

The Rockets had a jump from 22 wins in 22-23 to 41 wins in 23-24 after hiring Ime Udoka and adding Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks in the offseason.

Houston also has an encouraging young core headlined by Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green.

The Rockets promoted Stone to general manager in 2020 following the departure of Daryl Morey.

Rafael Stone could agree to a contract extension with the Houston Rockets this offseason, reports Marc Stein.

Stone was elevated to the top decision-maker with the Rockets front office in 2020 following the departure of Daryl Morey.

The Rockets jumped by more than 20 wins this season with Ime Udoka in his first season as head coach. Houston signed Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks last offseason while their young core developed in an encouraging way. The Rockets are expected to pursue their trade options this offseason, while also having extension decisions on Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green.

"All indications Stone is firmly entrenched at the heart of Houston's decision-making," writes Stein.

The Brooklyn Nets turned down a trade offer from the Houston Rockets at the deadline involving Jalen Green and multiple first-round picks for Mikal Bridges, said Shams Charania on Run It Back.

"Taking us back two months ago, the Rockets called the Nets on Mikal Bridges and I'm told they discussed a concept around Jalen Green and multiple first-round picks.

"That deal was not accepted by the Brooklyn Nets, that didn't progress anywhere," said Charania.

Green is averaging 29.3 points per game over the Rockets nine-game win streak.

The Rockets are 0.5 games behind the Warriors for the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference.

The NBA has suspended Kris Dunn of the Utah Jazz and Jabari Smith Jr. of the Houston Rockets. The two players were involved in an on-court altercation in their teams' game on Saturday night.

Dunn was suspended for two games for initiating the fight and for throwing a punch. He'll miss Utah's games against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday and the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.

Smith was suspended one game for fighting with Dunn. He'll miss Houston's games on Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Houston Rockets wing Dillon Brooks was ejected from Monday's victory over the Chicago Bulls. Midway through the third quarter, Brooks took objection to a hard foul Bulls wing DeMar DeRozan delivered to Rockets guard Jalen Green. Brooks and DeRozan got into a little scuffle, which resulted in each player getting ejected.

Following the game, Rockets center Jock Landale had a plea for his volatile teammate.

"Dillon Brooks, if you're listening, this ain't Memphis man. Stop getting yourself ejected. We need you out here. We need that physicality," Landale said in a postgame on-court interview.

Brooks has been important player in Houston's improvement this season. He signed a four-year, $86 million deal this past summer to help the Rockets rebuild. Monday's victory was Houston's seventh consecutive win and pulled them within one game of .500 on the season.

Jalen Green and Jalen Brunson have been named the NBA's Players of Week 21.

Green averaged 26.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists as the Houston Rockets went 3-0.

Brunson averaged 35.7 points and 5.0 assists as the New York Knicks went 3-0.

Alperen Sengun was diagnosed with a Grade 3 ankle sprain, according to Shams Charania of Stadium.

Sengun, who will be out for several weeks, is likely to miss the rest of this season.

Sengun will be available for a five year, $225 million max deal this offseason.