In the exchange, the Rockets gave up Michael Dickerson, Othella Harrington, Brent Price, Antoine Carr and a first-round draft pick to Memphis. This is the season when the pick is due.

The problem is the Rockets didn't make the playoffs, so their pick is a lottery selection. What if they land in the top 3 and have a shot at the likes of LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony?

Regardless, the Rockets owe their pick to Memphis outright, a representative of the Rockets organization told ClutchCity.net Tuesday.

We knew there was no protection on the pick, but there was talk the Rockets could give another "top 13" pick if they won the lottery - but it can not be another pick.

The Rockets have already clinched the "13th spot" - i.e. the team outside of the playoffs with the best record. This means the Rockets have 5 combinations out of a 1000 to crack the top 3. Meaning the chances break down to 0.50% for the #1 pick, 0.59% for the #2 pick and 0.73% for the #3 pick.

Meaning there is an over 99% probability that the pick will be #13.

Also, keep in mind that along with Francis, the Rockets also received the 18th pick in the 2001 NBA Draft (from Orlando for taking cap deadweight at the time) as part of this deal. That pick was packaged with two others to acquire Eddie Griffin.

Memphis however has a much bigger problem than the Rockets do. Only winning the lottery (landing the #1 pick) will keep Memphis from having to cough up their own lottery pick to Detroit.

And all they got in return for this was Otis Thorpe.

If you're not confused yet by this circle, then keep reading. Ironically the Rockets could have given the 18th pick in 2001 to Memphis to satisfy the Francis obligation, who in turn would have sent the pick to Detroit to meet the Thorpe obligation, but Detroit cold-bloodedly put a dagger in Memphis by sending Orlando a future first-round pick for nothing more than to hold off sending Houston the #18 past the deadline in which the Grizzlies could send the pick to Detroit.