5. Houston Rockets
Pre-lottery odds of landing the No. 1 overall pick: 14%
It’s a real mystery as to why the Houston Rockets aren’t better at this point in their rebuild. They have some really talented players in Jalen Green, Jabari Smith, Kevin Porter Jr., and Alperen Sengun. For one reason or another, they haven’t been able to put it all together. And that’s somewhat troubling. But with a clean slate, a new head coach, and a few new players in the fold, perhaps this is a team that is able to turn things around soon.
And one way they can do that is by adding Victor Wembanyama to the 2023 NBA Draft. For as bad as the Rockets have been each of the last two seasons, they have not had the No. 1 overall pick. Two seasons ago, when they drafted Green, they had the second overall pick. Last season, when they selected Smith, they had the third overall pick.
Maybe this is finally the year where they get the No. 1 overall pick and take the next generational unicorn to right some wrongs that this franchise has made over the last few seasons.