The Houston Rockets aren’t willing to settle for just the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
According to Stadium’s Shams Charania, the Rockets are “aggressively pursuing” the Detroit Pistons‘ No. 1 overall pick prior to Thursday’s draft.
Charania added that Houston would target Cade Cunningham if it did land the top pick in this year’s draft, which isn’t a big surprise.
Cunningham is considered the top prospect in this year’s class after just one season with Oklahoma State. The Big 12 Player of the Year averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 43.8% from the field and 40% from three-point range.
Cunningham would undoubtedly help the Rockets after they finished with an NBA-worst 17-55 during the 2020-21 season. However, the Pistons also need improvements after finishing last in the Eastern Conference with a 20-52 record.
If the Rockets were to move up, they’d have to part ways with the second overall pick and much more to make it worth it for Detroit. The Pistons would then be able to choose from Jalen Green and Evan Mobley at second overall.
