NBA Draft - Rockets Perspective

Two days before the draft, the Houston Rockets have no draft picks.

There have been whispers out there that the Rockets want to trade into the first round, but at what cost?

It's hard to say what Rockets' general manager Daryl Morey and owner Les Alexander are willing to give away. The names that pop-up are Carl Landry, Luis Scola and Tracy McGrady (or his contract).

The Rockets will definitely not trade away both Landry and Scola, and it would seem Morey and Co. are more willing to part with Landry (what's his ceiling?).

Will that be enough to trade into the first round? Possibly.

What's more unlikely, but makes more sense is trying to find a suitor for McGrady's contract. If the Rockets want to trade into the top 10, they may want to look at Milwaukee at 10 or Minnesota at 6.

Rockets need a pure shooter to keep defenses from doubling Yao. Sure Aaron Brooks and Shane Battier are nice, but they don't fit the mold of the pure shooter.

The first name that comes to mind that may be on the market and will instantaneously help Houston is Michael Redd. Redd will make $17 million this upcoming season, while McGrady will make $23 million.

This will make it extremely difficult because draft picks have a $0 value until said pick is drafted.

The Redd for McGrady is really enticing for the Rockets, but it would be hard to compose a good reason for the Bucks to make this move.

Milwaukee may want to dump Redd's contract and get an expiring McGrady contract.

Mike Miller of Minnesota is another player the Rockets have been quietly seeking since 2007-08 season.

Miller makes about $9 million next season, and it will be even harder to nab him away from the Timberwolves because his contract also expires in 2010.

Minnesota will have the cap space after this upcoming season to make a run at one of the top free agents for 2010. The Timberwolves will have only $15 million under contract after this season ($13 million for Al Jefferson). Watch out for Kevin McHale to make a huge move next season to find a wing player to couple with emerging and possibly the best power forward in the west in Jefferson.

The next question is, will it be worth trading into the first round this season? The draft is not deep by any means, but it does have players that may be in the league for years.

The more realistic deal made won't be flashy or made a be deal. A guy like Eric Maynor from VCU, Wayne Ellington out of North Carolina or Chase Budinger of Arizona are all realistic options for the Rockets towards the end of the first round.

I don't expect Morey to pull the trigger just to pull a trigger. Expect Morey to make a move that will make you second guess Thursday but applauding him come June 2010.