After a tumultuous season of dealing with injuries, players in and out of the NBA’s health and safety protocol system and two of the most valuable assets in Russell Westbrook (Washington Wizards) and James Harden (Brooklyn Nets) demanding trades, the Houston Rockets finally received some good news on Tuesday night securing the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Represented by Rockets legend and NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston’s name was called one spot prior to the Detroit Pistons who received the No. 1 pick.

It will be only the second time in team history that they will have the number two overall selection with the last being Rudy Tomjanovich in 1970 when the franchise was the San Diego Rockets. He would later coach Houston to back-to-back NBA Championships earning a spot in the NBA Hall of Fame.

“The goal is to find a star player and when you bring in young players you are really looking for star potential,” said Rockets general manager Rafael Stone. “What we expect from a player is that they are going to give us everything that they got and that they are going to work as hard as they can. That is the only expectations that we have.”

Stone, who became the general manager full time after the departure of Daryl Morey also alluded to the media that although the team had secured the high draft pick, they are open to listen to trade offers from other teams that would result in getting some All-Star type of talent on the team to go along with a young core that are currently on the roster.

Houston will also have a chance of improving their roster as they have two additional back-to-back picks in the first round via trade at 23 (Portland) and 24 (Milwaukee).

“Generally, you just want to bring in the best players you can bring in,” Stone said when asked about the later picks. “Especially for a team like us. We are young and have interesting young guys at almost every position. In my experience, the truly great players, enhance one another, play better off of one another and enjoy one another.”