Okay, okay… I’m convinced… Reed will be coming to Houston.
Atlanta will probably not be drafting a guard and Sarr or Risacher are the only ones being mocked at #1.
Wizards will go Sarr or Clingan to solve immediate problems and hold out for a playmaker in the 2025 draft. They could also go Risacher is they think he’s BPA. Reed wouldn’t be a good fit there.
Houston doesn’t need this pick to hit, and it’s already loaded with lengthy defenders, so it can afford to take a chance on an undersized guy with incredible talents that complement the young core. You could easily make a case that the best fit may also be BPA in Reed Sheppard. If you’re Stone, you almost can’t avoid drafting Reed. If he doesn’t live up to the hype, the narrative will be that it was a weak draft, we were supposed to have the 9th pick anyway, the analytics said he was the right choice, and a sniper is still makes the team better even if he’s just a role player. If Stone passes on Reed and he hits, he’ll be crucified for passing on him.
Although I love Castle as a prospect, I’m seeing the writing on the wall and I’m ready to accept it. Reed will round out a Core 7 for the Houston Rockets. If he turns out to be 80% of the hype surrounding him, he’ll be great for this team.
Here’s a look at what this Core 7 group consists of with an elevator pitch for each guy:
*Jalen: * Twitchy but smooth 3-level scorer who can pressure the rim, get hot from deep, and dominate a game with bouncy athleticism, elite body control, and a deep bag of shot creation – if he finds consistency and confidence, he could be an All-NBA level talent.
*Alpi: * Steady post player who uses his strength, balance, deceptive wiggle, and gravity to misdirect defenses and create advantages for himself and his teammates – if he continues to improve his defense and shooting confidence, he’ll be one of the top-five most skilled centers in the league.
*Jabari: * Big/wing hybrid with size and shooting who grabs boards, defends at a high level, and has an unguardable middie – he’s already on his way to being an elite role player, but if he puts on strength and learns how to harness his clutch gene, he’ll be even more dangerous.
*Tari: * Lengthy and explosive defensive playmaker who can change the momentum of the game the moment he steps on the court turning defense into offense with seemingly boundless energy & is very active on the offensive glass – if he reaches his Kawhi ceiling, he’s a very rare 2-way talent.
*Amen: * Basketball genius with unicorn-level size and athleticism who processes the game at lightning speed, can move just as fast, and wreaks havoc all over the court on defense – if he develops a respectable shot, it’s over for the league.
*Cam: * Strong athletic finisher with a shooting touch who can score in bunches and doesn’t shy away from contact – if he keeps improving his existing strengths while adding a playmaking component to his bag, he’ll be unstoppable.
*Reed: * Lights out deep threat with “sneaky athleticism”, an overclocked processor, impeccable timing, and accurate passing ability who’s pesky in passing lanes and spaces the floor, punishing defenses by finding easy looks for his teammates – if the hype is real and his skill set translates, he’s the perfect puzzle piece to round out the Core 7 & completes a trio of high IQ players with Amen and Alpi.
With a trio of high-IQ guys and a trio of incredible athletes plus two complementary wings, the Rockets could be one of the most complete teams as early as next season.
If we draft Clingan this post is gonna make me look real dumb. Thanks for reading my novel about stuff you probably already knew. I appreciate you humoring me. Go Rockets!
by BenchPointsChamp
5 Comments
Pretty nice write up and pretty accurate assessment of our players. You’ve actually swayed me into wanting Sheppard as the pick. However if we can get a more veteran proven shooter through a trade I’ll trust stones judgement
The more I look at the draftees. The more I think we are trading the pick.
Hopium levels are off the charts.
The space before the second ** makes it so that their **names** are not **bolded**. 😵💫
“Houston doesn’t need this pick to hit.” My friend what the hell are you talking about? We were the 11th seed this year, there are 15 teams in the conference that means we are in the bottom 33%. We have 0 all nba players or all stars. Too much of this board is way to flippant with this, we have the 3rd pick and this draft will be no where near as terrible as media wants you to believe. Why are we acting like we are the warriors with the second pick and whoever we get is just a luxury?