With the 10th pick in the NBA Draft the Houston Rockets Select...

Nique Clifford | 6-5 wing | 23 years old | Colorado State

College head coach No. 4 (his team played Colorado State): I’m a big fan. To me, he’s a no-brainer, because he really guards at a high level. Clifford’s got some strength to him. In our league, if you looked at two-way guys, he was the best in our league. (New Mexico guard Donovan) Dent was the best player. (Clifford) guards the best player on the other team, and then he gets 19, 20 (points) a game. Once he put it on the floor, there’s not too many guards you had to come at off the bounce. We really tried to take things away once he bounced it, but that complicated because he really can pass the ball. Can post guards. Pretty good finisher.

College head coach No. 5 (his team played Colorado State): When we played them, he didn’t get much done on us. We doubled everything in the post. He wasn’t as efficient as I thought he would be. I thought he was just OK. People say first round … I didn’t see that.

Eastern Conference scout No. 1: It’s hard for me to stand on the table for him, but he had an incredibly big load this year. He performed with all those expectations and needs. He shot it well on 3s. I don’t think he’s going to be a catch-and-shoot guy. He’s a good defender. He’s the guy that could disappear, or the guy who could be a 10-year pro. I don’t know. … He’s a good athlete. He’s tougher than Chandler Hutchison, but those are the vibes I get. He played the four, and he needs to be a three. Can he can create shots? I don’t think so.

Eastern Conference executive No. 2: He’s one of the older guys that’s really helped his draft stock. This year, he put the whole team, the whole school, on his back. He carried a heavy load. Last year, he played with Isaiah Stevens. He played a little more off the ball. He didn’t get as many pick-and-roll reps. He played one through four offensively. Really talented kid. He can score from all three levels. He got stronger. He didn’t have the best showing last year at the combine, and my man just put his head down and worked. He worked on his body; he worked on his game. You see guys like Podz (Golden State’s Brandin Podziemski) go to different schools and flourish. It took him a little longer. The (playmaking) approach was always there. I just think the game slowed down. His passing is really high-level from the inside out. It just clicked for him. They let him play through mistakes. They had no one else at his level that could do what he could do. He’ll guard. He’s strong, but he’s 6-5 without shoes. The good thing about him (defensively) is that the kid’s tough. He doesn’t back down.

Rasheer Fleming | 6-8 forward | 20 years old | Saint Joseph’s

College head coach No. 6 (his team played Saint Joseph’s): Young for his grade. His shooting, it really impressed me — not just his shooting, but his movement shooting. If there was any criticism, it’s his physicality and the way he looks. He plays like more of a skill guy. If you look at his rebounding and his 30 work numbers, he may have it in him. It’s not the way they played, necessarily. They’re asking him to do it, but not demanding him to do it. He looks like he belongs on Houston’s team, but he doesn’t play like that. Bump screens, and he just buried 3s against us. You take his body and his shooting, and the answer’s yes.

College head coach No. 7 (his team played Saint Joseph’s): Honestly, their guards were our primary concern. Their two guards are just so dynamic. … Fleming’s ability at his size to shoot the ball — and he has such a big body — he was a tough matchup. With the spacing they had, you had to play him one-on-one. Their system allowed the NBA scouts to see what the transition would be like for him. He was able to showcase his ability to shoot. His first year, he really wasn’t on the scouting report. You say he’s a freshman and he’s going to be good, but how good? By the time he became a sophomore and a junior, you knew he was there. Our focus on him was if we could take away the catch-and-shoot, take away the straight line drives, we’d have success. He had games against us when he scored well, but we had success against their team. For me, I think his skill set will translate to the next level. He’s big, he’s physical, and at his size, he can shoot the ball. I think he’ll have to be a better defender, just understanding he’s playing against the best players in the world now. He’s got the tools to do it; he has to buy into it, though.

 

D*mn When is the Draft?
Ain't Summer league coming soon?

Rocket River

 

lol

 

I’m sure Darrel will tell that kid whatever he wants to hear, because his word means holds so much value.

 

We don't need a diva.

 

Well, Steve Francis was a diva that did not want to go to Vancouver but turned out alright at least in the beginning.

Prospects maneuvering themselves from a place to another place.....I don't see it as abnormal yet.

If they suck and are not coachable, that is when the headache sets in.

 

June 25th is draft day.

 

California Classic: July 5, 6 & 8
Salt Lake City Summer League: July 5, 7 & 8
NBA 2K26 Summer League (Las Vegas): July 10-20

 

Who does this kid think he is? His representation is royally screwing his future pulling this crap. He's angling to drop from #3 to...

 

The further Bailey drops the better team he will land on and the harder the PT will be to come by … more or less.

 

He wants playing time right away. It will cost him money in the short term and mid term, but if he succeeds will make him more money in the long run. He is betting on himself. He may already have assurances from a team or two lower in the draft order a few spots. If he drops to ten, we could offer him 40m a night in RGV

 

Talent is obviously the largest factor in evaluating prospects, but GMs/Scouts/Coaches have to also weigh the kid's intangibles. That's why I like guys like Kon and Coward, they'll fit their games into a team's concept(s) and go from there. Demanding playing time as a rookie? C'mon Ace.

 

Yep. Dude would be lucky to get 5 min/game here.

 

Yea, i'm keeping this pick until the draft now and seeing if Bailey drops. He has his issues but has star upside and would be worth a swing. If Bailey drops to 10 you package future picks in a KD trade and let him learn next to him.

 

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Lol, yeah I was thinking the same. I really love aspects of Cam's game and I'm disappointed that a military brat (having raised 4) would not have a better attitude.

 

He's a Cancer. . . . LIterally.

Moody fu¢kers.

 

I agree Steve Francis played well for Houston with his shortcomings. He was brave when Houston needed him.

 

I'm someone that people believe to be pretty serious because I come off that way....but people that know me know that I'm not. So I kinda sympathize with how Cam "comes off". I feel like the media now want to farm him for lines which is also unfortunate. I dont think him and Jabari are lost causes. I like their demeanor and they have things you cant teach. I dont question eithers motor and they've taken their benchings OK for the most part. They will have earned what Jalen (and Ace Bailey) didn't.

I hope Cam is at Summer League and plays well. Part of the reason I wouldn't mind KD is because of what he might be able to teach both Cam and Bari.