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Houston Rockets: Ranking the last 10 first round picks

By Corey Rausch

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 30: Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets dunks against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on October 30, 2019 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 30: Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets dunks against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on October 30, 2019 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Houston Rockets (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
Houston Rockets (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) /

9. Donte Greene

Another player who never ultimately played a game for the Houston Rockets, Donte Greene was selected after a draft-night swap of right between the Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers and the Rockets. Greene would look solid in the Summer League but would be traded weeks before the start of the season in a multi-player deal that would bring Ron Artest to the Rockets.

Greene would be the first-ever Sacramento King to be sent to the G-League in January 2009 and he was a solid performer for the Reno Bighorns. He would play out the rest of his rookie contract going back and forth between the G-League and the main roster and would post career NBA averages of 6.1 points and 2.4 rebounds. He would then go overseas to play in-between tryouts for NBA teams. Ultimately he was never able to catch on for the long run in the NBA.

Related Story. Remember Chandler Parsons' pre-injury stint with Houston?. light

Artest would only play one season for the Rockets and the season was interesting to say the least. The team won 22 games in a row in the middle of the season, one of the longest streaks of all time and looked well on their way to being a true contender, pairing Artest with Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady as well as role players Brent Barry, Rafer Alston, Shane Battier, Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry, Kyle Lowry, Dikembe Mutombo and Luis Scola.

Unfortunately, injuries would derail their attempts at success and the team would ultimately succumb to the eventual champion Lakers in the second round in a wild second-round series.

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