As many sleepless nights as will be spent deciding among the NBA draft's headliners, the real challenge would seem to be choosing when there are few real choices.

The Rockets knew they wanted Yao Ming before their hearts stopped racing after their victory in last season's draft lottery. They were just as certain they would take Bostjan Nachbar, assuming he would be still around for their other first-round pick, before he toweled off the sweat from his pre-draft workout.

But the real trick in the NBA draft is to find the buried treasure hidden somewhere in the second round. For all the time scouts spend evaluating talent, at least part of the lure of their profession would seem to be finding the jewel the others missed.

As rare as that might be, it does still happen and likely will have to happen again tonight for the Rockets' 2003 draft to become a success since all signs point to the team having only one pick -- in the second round and the 44th overall.

The Rockets still can move up, but they appear more inclined to keeping their roster intact at least until next month's free-agent signing period. Selecting midway through the second round limits them to long shots, but they, like others, have hit late before.