"Dirk Nowitzki, anyone? When the Rockets scouted 20-year-old Donatas Motiejunas, Nowitzki was the player who kept creeping into the conversation.

How's that for putting pressure on the kid? How's that for setting Rockets general manager Daryl Morey — and Motiejunas — up for failure? Don't you love it?

When Morey parted ways with Rick Adelman, he knew he was taking a chance. Morey knew that in letting a proven coach go, he might not get someone nearly as good. But he also said he didn't become an NBA general manager to play it safe and that the only way to move forward as an organization, the only way to get back to the point of being able to win in the playoffs, was to take a few chances. And that's what Thursday was about. The Rockets didn't play it safe.

In Motiejunas, they see some of Nowitzki's size, athleticism and offensive skills. That's a huge projection, a huge leap. Motiejunas is far from a finished product, but so was Nowitzki when he entered the league.

"He has a really high upside, a lot of potential," Morey said.

On a day when the Rockets believed they took a huge step toward returning to the playoffs even as they were unable to fill their biggest need, it's the trade for Motiejunas that prompted high-fives and huge smiles in their draft room.

They're also thrilled about their top pick, Marcus Morris. He has the size and toughness to play power forward, but the Rockets are convinced he will end up being a productive small forward in the NBA.

"He's a very complete package," Rockets scout Arturas Karnisovas said of Morris. "He has a high basketball IQ, so he's going to figure it out.""