The Houston Rockets are a team.
1984 NBA draft . In this draft , 23 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players , including international players . Houston Rockets . The Rockets did not finish a season with a winning record until the 1976 -- 77 season , when they traded for center Moses Malone . Moses Malone . He landed in the NBA with the Buffalo Braves , who traded him after two games to the Houston Rockets .