In each of the last two NBA Drafts the Houston Rockets have identified a player to target but then failed in their attempts to move up to acquire that player, the Houston Chronicle is reporting.

The players they wanted - Brandon Roy in 2006 and Rudy Fernandez last season - were taken just two spots before the Rockets' position in the draft.

This season, they're hoping to land the player they want at their own draft position, which is selection 25.

While the team is targeting players who will unlikely be available when it is Houston's turn to pick, they know that the likelihood of getting them is not good.

"Our basic planning is we'll pick 25 and 54," GM Daryl Morey said. "That's the most likely outcome. I do think the shallow drop-off of talent from let's say 16 to 40 creates opportunities for teams to want to trade because the differences of opinion create opportunity. Both teams can feel they're getting what they want."