Trying to parse Houston's draft capital over the next few years. Please correct where I'm wrong.
2021: Swap with Nets, which seems highly unlikely to be used. And the worse of their own or OKC, top-4 protected.
2022: Their own plus the Nets and Bucks picks. Tankathon target.
2023: Swap with Nets. Tankathon, part deux.
2024: Nets pick.
2025: Worse of their own or OKC's, albeit top-20 protected for Houston, and rights to swap that with the Nets pick.
2026: Nets pick.
2027: Swap with Nets.
I'm not as critical as
@nighthob on the above, as the Rockets lack of draft capital in the mid-2020's is due to a trade that already happened. Basically, Houston took the best path to restocking the draft cupboard. If I were GM, I would definitely prime 2022/23 to be the tank years. At least Houston tends to be on the radar for NBA free agents; the weather there is quite nice in NBA season, and the area seems friendly to those wanting the NBA lifestyle.
The Nets will obviously be a top team through at least 2022. Durant and Harden alone are enough, IMO; Kyrie is basically a useful addition for them at this point. Hell, Terry Rozier or Lonzo Ball or Rajon Rondo would be more than enough for them at the PG position. At this point, Kyrie becomes a "who cares". If he doesn't want to play for Nash, trade him for a mini-haul and move on.
There's indeed longer term risk for the Nets. I don't think it's a given that these strong-willed, highly competitive individuals would want to stay together in the same locale year after year after year. Durant could leave after 2022 for whatever reason, and he has a track record of doing exactly that. Maybe the Zion Pelicans become an attractive target for him to spend his mid-to-late 30's. The same goes for Harden. There's absolutely no way to predict how those 2025 or 2026 draft picks will end up, and anyone that claims they can model that is full of shit. For years, we've heard how valuable the Kings and the Grizzlies pick were going to be, until both teams unexpectedly improved and the picks turned into Langford and Nesmith. The same can happen in the other direction as well.
Still, it was the right move for the Nets. I distinctly remember Bob Ryan's "maybe they will make the playoffs" comment after KG and Ray Allen joined Pierce. The reality is that you have to try real, real hard to screw up a team with two players who can lay claim to a spot on the first All-NBA team in a given season. The Nets have never won anything, but now have a chance to be a huge draw once the needles are in everyone's arms, which will be no later than next season come hell or high water. There's no point constantly waiting for the future; the ceiling for most draft picks is decent player.
Let's put it this way: if Harden cannot make it work with KD, he should no longer be considered a top 5 player in the league.