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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
Houston Rockets (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

7. Donatas Motiejunas

The Houston Rockets acquired the draft rights to Motiejunas on draft night by sending out Brad Miller, the draft rights to Nikola Mirotic and a future first-round pick. The deal also brought Jonny Flynn and a future second-round pick to Houston.

Motiejunas would come over to the NBA after finishing out his time in the Polish League. His time with the team was complicated. He would put up solid numbers, including a season averaging 12.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists, shooting 36.8 percent from three. He was a precursor to the now-common stretch-4 on a team in need of just that.

Related Story. Rockets: Danilo Gallinari an ideal free agent target. light

Unfortunately, he was not without some minor controversies. He would make some comments in the Lithuanian media about his teammates that got him into some trouble just before the above-referenced season. Two years later he was involved in a three-team trade that would send him to the Detroit Pistons but would fail a physical, causing the trade to fall apart.

This spelled the end of his time in Houston as he would leave the team months later for good. There would be an ugly contract dispute that summer that would lead to him skipping physicals and them eventually voiding the contract they would sign him to.

He would go on to play 34 games for the Pelicans and three with the Spurs between stints overseas where he currently plays. Injuries sullied what could have been a promising career and he is the first player on this list not swapped out to bring in a star.

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