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2016 NBA Draft Needs For All 30 Teams

By Aaron Ferguson

Nov 16, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) slam dunks against the Kennesaw State Owls during the first half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) slam dunks against the Kennesaw State Owls during the first half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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2016 NBA Playoffs
Apr 21, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) points up after a play during the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Houston Rockets

Picks Owned: 37, 43

The Houston Rockets have a big offseason in store, but most of their roster changes will be coming through free agency. James Harden, Trevor Ariza, Corey Brewer and Patrick Beverley are the notable returners with guaranteed contracts for next season.

Dwight Howard has a player option for the 2016-17 season, but will likely decline that according to ESPN.com‘s Calvin Watkins.

There won’t be a lot of big men prospects available for the Rockets when they are on the clock with their second round draft choices. A couple of centers that could be available at 37 and 43 are Louisville’s Christian Onuaku, UNLV’s Stephen Zimmerman, Zhou Qi from China and Purdue’s A.J. Hammons.

Qi would be a best-case scenario for the Rockets at 37, but Jonathan Givony has him mocked 31st overall. Qi is an athletic center that can play on the perimeter on offense and uses great length and athleticism to play well defensively.

Hammons won’t excel in an up-and-down style offense that plays with a high tempo, which means he isn’t a great fit for the Rockets. He does have a good set of post moves and a decent midrange jumper. Hammons is best defensively and crashing the boards.

Onuaku could be on the board at 37. He was able to get up and down the floor in his time at Louisville, despite looking unathletic at times. Offensively he’s best playing around the rim and setting screens in the pick-and-roll game. He can also cover ground defensively and block shots, but he’ll be a valuable rebounder early in his career.

Houston won’t be using the draft as a major tool for rebuilding around Harden, but it is necessary that they find a couple of players that will complement Harden and the returning players.

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