Houston Rockets: Ranking the last 10 first round picks

1.  Clint Capela

The best prospect drafted by the Rockets in recent memory was an easy choice. Clint Capela has improved every season until this year. Coincidentally this was also the season that saw the Rockets move on from him in a trade that was also quite impactful.

Starting with Capela, he was drafted by the team in the 2014 NBA draft and would not score his first points until the following March. In fact, he would go on to see more postseason time than regular season minutes in his rookie season. His second season showed enough progress that Dwight Howard became expendable.

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In his first season as a starter, he would jump to averages of 12.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. The following season he would lead the league in field goal percentage, effective field goal percentage and 2-point field goal percentage. Last season, his age-24 season, Capela would have his best season yet. He posted averages of 16.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.

Even this season was impressive, though his scoring dropped with the departure of his lob partner in Chris Paul. In his final season in Houston Capela averaged 13.9 points, 13.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.8 blocks. He would ultimately be traded as part of a four-team trade that brought Robert Covington to the team at the trade deadline. This trade is extremely impactful as it changed the style of play for the Rockets again, helping them dive into super-small ball more than ever.