Rockets Draft Pick Plans Shift as Milos Uzan Returns to College

Near Toyota Center in Houston, the Rockets' draft picture shifted this week after projected second-round target Milos Uzan pulled out of the 2025 NBA Draft and chose to return to college. For a team with depth to build and roster spots to balance, that decision trims one more name from the late-round pool.

Uzan had been linked in mock drafts to Houston's second-round range, making him a logical prospect to track as the Rockets prepare for another offseason built around young talent and win-now expectations. His withdrawal means the front office will need to keep sorting through a draft class that keeps changing before selections are locked in.

Rockets draft board loses a second-round option

Uzan's return to school matters because second-round evaluations often come down to fit, development timeline and contract flexibility. Houston has leaned hard into player development over the last few years, and the club has used low-cost roster spots to search for upside around its core.

A skilled college guard with NBA interest can sit in that sweet spot. Once a player withdraws, though, that possibility disappears fast. For the Rockets, the change does not reshape the top of the draft, but it does remove one realistic option from the range where teams often hunt for value.

That matters even more for a team trying to stay competitive in the Western Conference while still adding young pieces. Houston is no longer operating like a rebuilding club stacking lottery odds. The decisions now carry a different weight. Rotation depth, two-way potential and immediate readiness all matter more than they did a couple of seasons ago.

Houston now has one less name to evaluate late

Late May and early June always bring movement as college players test the draft process and then decide whether to stay in or go back to campus. Uzan made his call before the final deadline, and that sends evaluators back to the board.

For the Rockets, that means another round of narrowing targets, comparing guards and wings, and deciding which prospects fit Ime Udoka's demands on both ends of the floor. Houston's recent rise has changed the conversation around every draft pick. A developmental stash is one thing. A player who can compete for minutes sooner carries more appeal.

The next key dates are the final pre-draft workouts and the NBA Draft itself, when Houston will see which names remain available in its range and which prospects climb out of reach. This article is a summary of reporting by Sports Illustrated. Read the full story here.