National Basketball Association

Rockets select Onuaku and Zhou in 2nd round of NBA draft

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 11:49 p.m. ET

foxsports

HOUSTON (AP) The Houston Rockets added a pair of big men in the second round of the NBA draft on Thursday night in Louisville's Chinanu Onuaku and Chinese center Zhou Qi.

The 6-foot-10 Onuaku was selected 37th overall and Zhou was selected 43rd on a night where Houston didn't have a first-round pick because of a past trade.

The Rockets will need some depth at center with Dwight Howard likely to opt out of the last year of his contract and become a free agent this summer. But draft analyses of these players indicates that it would be unlikely for them to be ready to contribute in meaningful ways as rookies.

The 19-year-old Onuaku, who played two seasons at Louisville, averaged 9.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and two blocks a game last season to earn a spot on the All-ACC Defensive team.