The Houston Rockets hold two picks in the 2026 NBA Draft — No. 39 (via the Chicago Bulls) and No. 53 — both in the second round. The selections reflect Houston’s active asset management under general manager Rafael Stone and give the Rockets the chance to add developmental depth to a roster built around Alperen Sengun and a young core still finding its identity.

At No. 39, Wasserman projects Iowa State senior Joshua Jefferson to Houston. Jefferson, a 6’9″ forward who averaged 19.1 points and 5.6 assists per 36 minutes in his final college season, represents an unusual combination of size, passing, and three-point development. Wasserman calls his combination of “improved three-point efficiency” and “really popped” passing “a complete player and believable NBA prospect.” His 6’9″ frame, 240-pound build, and versatility to guard multiple positions make him a credible NBA forward who can contribute without heavy offensive usage. CBS Sports projects Jefferson to multiple teams in this range in different mocks.

The opportunity cost at No. 39 is Jack Kayil, the ALBA Berlin guard that Bleacher Report has going to Chicago at No. 38, one pick earlier. Kayil’s 30.6 assist percentage and impressive shooting metrics from European competition would give Houston a different kind of value — guard playmaking versus forward versatility. Wasserman’s choice of Jefferson for Houston reflects the specific match: the Rockets need switchable, versatile forwards more urgently than they need additional guard depth.

At No. 53, Wasserman projects Tennessee State’s Aaron Nkrumah to Houston. Nkrumah is a success story of the draft process — he impressed at the G League Camp, earned an NBA combine invite, and “looked like he belonged” during combine scrimmages, per Wasserman. His 6’5″ frame, improved shooting, 3.0 assists, and 2.8 steals create a profile of a connective two-way wing who can make plays at multiple levels without being a featured option.

Tankathon projects different players to Houston’s second-round picks since its lottery order varies from the BR mock. CBS Sports’ first-round projections stop at No. 30 and don’t offer guidance on these specific second-round picks. Yahoo Sports similarly limits its publicly available projection to the first round.

Houston’s two second-round picks give the Rockets low-cost developmental additions without salary commitments that complicate their cap situation. Jefferson at 39 is the more immediately impactful addition — a versatile forward who can contribute in minutes alongside Sengun. Nkrumah at 53 is a developmental bet on athleticism, versatility, and defensive playmaking that costs almost nothing to find out. For a Rockets team with clear upward momentum, adding two versatile wing-types who can contribute without needing a defined offensive role is exactly the kind of depth accumulation that turns a good team into a deep one.

Outlet	Projected Player
Bleacher Report	Joshua Jefferson (No. 39)
CBS Sports	N/A
Tankathon	N/A
Yahoo Sports	N/A