Rockets in the lottery: Turning Rudy Gay into Shane Battier in 2006 – Houston Chronicle
The Rockets drafted Rudy Gay (right) in 2006 and then traded him to Memphis in a deal that brought them Shane Battier (31).
Jessica Kourkounis/For the Chronicle
Sixth in a series
As the Rockets await an NBA draft lottery this year that is critical to the franchise’s rebuild, we take a look back at previous lotteries they were involved in. The Rockets are “credited” with ushering in the lottery system after they were accused of tanking in 1983-84 to land Hakeem Olajuwon with the first overall pick (they also had to win a coin flip with Portland).
Year: 2006
Rockets’ final record: 34-48
Odds to win: 2.3 percent
First player taken: Andrea Bargnani (F, Italy) by Toronto
Rockets’ final draft slot: 8th
Rockets draftee: Rudy Gay, F, UConn.
How things worked out: It’d be safe to call this a good deal for both sides. Gay was with the Rockets long enough to put on their cap at the draft before being traded with Stromile Swift to Memphis for Shane Battier. Gay, still active, has enjoyed a long NBA career with four different teams.
Battier was a nice addition, playing four-plus seasons in Houston earning two second-team All-Defensive team honors as he started 340 of his 348 games with the Rockets. He was dealt back to Memphis in a multiplayer deal at the 2010-11 trade deadline.
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1992: Robert Horry over “Baby Jordan”
2000: One number away from winning
2001: All-in on Eddie Griffin
2002: Landing global icon Yao Ming
2003: Nothing from monumental draft