All offseason, the Houston Rockets and head coach Stephen Silas have preached that the team wants to be better defensively in the 2022-23 season. The Rockets ranked 30th out of 30 teams in multiple defensive metrics last season, and they know they’ll have to improve if they want to make a run towards the playoffs in the coming years.
After taking Jabari Smith at No. 3, a strong defender in his own right, Houston doubled down in their commitment at No. 17 overall. Rockets general manager Rafael Stone and his basketball operations team selected Tari Eason from LSU, largely regarded as one of the best and most versatile forwards in the draft and a defensive specialist.
The pick is the first selection made from the blockbuster James Harden trade to Brooklyn in January 2021.
