Rockets draft Isaiah Hartenstein 43rd overall

Image via: registerguard.com

The Rockets are looking to keep the payroll down as they try and acquire another big name free agent. With their first pick, the Rockets selected big man, Isaiah Hartenstein. Hartenstein is a seven-foot German-American center that has been playing in Europe for the Zalgiris Basketball Club of Kaunas, Lithuania. He played for the Oregon Ducks before he began his pro career in Europe. The expectation is for Isaiah to remain overseas for the next season, so his salary won’t impact the Rockets’ quest for big money free agents. His game has drawn comparisons to former Rocket, Donatas Motiejunas.

Check out his highlight video below.

The Rockets selected Dillon Brooks with the 45th overall selection and traded him to Memphis for a future second rounder. Once again, the Rockets don’t want anymore money on the books, so they have an optimum amount of cash for free agency. The Rockets also must have felt that the future pick from Memphis had more value than Brooks.

Scott Olmos/USA Today Sports via: pac-12.com