The Houston Rockets have selected SF/PF Patrick Patterson with the 14th overall pick of the NBA Draft. Patterson played in 38 games (all starts) for Kentucky in which he averaged 14.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. Patterson played in 97 games (all starts) in his three years with the Rockets and he averaged 16.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game. Patterson gives the Rockets another outstanding athlete who can run the court with the best of them.

The Rockets have a good team set for the 2010-11 season except they have a big hole in the middle. Even if Yao Ming comes back the Rockets would benefit from having a legit center to back him up and learn from him. Kentucky’s Daniel Orton or Marshall’s Hassan Whitside make the most sense for the Rockets at #14 overall. If a legit center is not available then the Rockets should just take the best player left unless it’s a point guard.

The Rockets continued to wheel and deal in this draft acquiring Budinger from the Pistons. 21-year old Chase Budinger is a solid all-around player but his main skill is his long range shooting which means he might have a role with the Rockets this season. Budinger played in 100 games in his three seasons at Arizona and he averaged 17.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. This was a good pick for the Rockets.

The Rockets acquired Sergio Llull from the Nuggets and this has me scratching my head. The 21-year old Llull played in 139 games in his four years in Spain and he averaged 6.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. It’s hard to see much of a upside in Llull who will probably sit at the very end of the bench for the Rockets next season if he even makes the team.

The Houston Rockets acquired Jermaine Taylor from the Wizards in a trade. The 22-year old Taylor is a very polished shooting guard. He played 4 seasons at Central Florida appearing in 122 games in which he averaged 16.2 points, 3,9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steal per game. The Rockets were looking for offensive help and Taylor should give them some immediately off the bench in the 2009-2010 season.