What is your current Rockets Top 5 Draft Big board?

Bam is a 2x all-star, 3x all-defensive at age 25. I have him as a fringe top 30 player in the league. I understand we're just talking upside/ceiling here, and there's no guarantee Jarace gets to that level, but a slightly worse Bam would absolutely be worth the #6 pick for me.

 

You missed my point. Bam is great because he can be a primary rim protector and is fully switchable.

If Jarace’s best case is Bam but two inches shorter without the elite lateral quickness / switchability — traits that you don’t develop, you either have or you don’t, and Jarace doesn’t have — that takes away what makes Bam great. It leaves you with a smallish jack of all trades big with solid athleticism.

That player is now a blah starter.

 

Jarace Walker might end up being the best player in the draft, but yeah I'm just not in love with the fit. And not that fit should matter at the top of the draft, but it feels like for the likely role he'd have on the Rockets, you could maybe get better from someone like Taylor Hendricks (who could also soak up minutes at the 3 I think, which might be more useful when starters are getting 40+ MPG in the playoffs).

Though if you want to move Sengun (or maybe Jabari?), that does kinda change things for me, and I'd probably put Walker ahead of some other guys in that scenario. I think his playmaking and other skills seem pretty nice, but I'm assuming they won't be properly utilized with this roster.

 

Okay, fair, but why would we assume Jarace doesn't have elite switchability? From tape I've seen and scouting reports I've read, he seems to be able to switch at least 3-5 and to be able to stay with at least some guards as well.

 

Scouting report on a guy who could be in the conversation for the Rockets if they land #5 or #6, Anthony Black.

Black profiles somewhat similarly to Amen Thompson in that he's an oversized guard who is a great playmaker and great at finishing around the basket, but has a pretty broken jump shot. Unlike Thompson, though, he is not an elite athlete, just a pretty good one, but he makes up for it with a great touch around the rim and very good ability to control his pace and utilize the pick-and-roll.

His defense seems NBA-ready right now, though. One of the best defensive players in this class.

I would only take him if the Rockets feel confident they can fix his shot. He has to be able to keep defenders honest. If there are questions about Amen's game translating due to his broken shot, there have to be far more questions about Black's, since his physical tools are nowhere near as good.

 

Completely agree. 6'7 pg's with his defense and playmaking ability are rare. I think sometimes we over scrutinize amateur pg's 3 point shooting. He will be more impactful than just another "shooter" who doesn't impact the game in other areas.

 

man, I really wanted to like him, but I just didn’t see the production or play I expected this year; especially in the tournament. Maybe some of that was the guys around him but I was underwhelmed by his season. Not claiming to have watched a ton of Arkansas this year but just didn’t see the star power in the games I did see.

 

Thank you for all of that !

 

Honestly he is the kind of player I'd be really intrigued by if we fall out of the top 3. A defensive specialist that is also a great passer with size that can finish with a floater and close to the basket. We have a team full of guys, that are pretty good off the ball (excluding Sengun, who is better with the ball in his hands). A guy like Black, that is always looking for his teammates and can deliver passes through tight windows would be ideal for this team. Plus with our team, we should be able to basically switch everything on defense (again excluding Sengun).

The question is: how bad is his shot and is it fixable. I don't think we can take him, if his shot is basically Ben Simmons. And we also would have a big problem, if it is as bad as Lakers Westbrook. But I also don't think he has to be a sniper. He has to be good enough, that teams can't blatantly cheat off of him. If we are confident that he can get to that level (maybe a 33% 3pt shooter), I'd be all for going with him at 4-6.

 

1) Wemby
2) Miller
3) Cam
4) Henderson
5) Smith

 

No. 5: Ausar Thompson
Position: Guard/Forward
Height: 6-7
Team: Overtime Elite
Age: 20
Comp: Andre Iguodala, Ron Harper.

Overview
When it comes to scouting the Thompson twins, Ausar and Amen, general managers will face the sort of challenge that explains why they make the big bucks working in the NBA.

The tools are obvious and undeniable. But scouting comes with a challenge because the Thompsons have not yet faced competition equal even to other draft prospects. If anything, the great physical tools, outstanding size for a position, and athleticism make scouting even more difficult because they provide advantages that overcome almost any shortcomings and will not be enough for a top-five pick once he makes the jump to the next level.

Ausar Thompson already shows potential to be a difference-maker defensively, both on and off the ball. This is not just because of his obvious length and quickness. He could have a knack for help defense and being disruptive in passing lanes, and he rebounds well.

That defensive talent couples well with his abilities in the open court both with the ball and running the floor. In the halfcourt, however, his shaky shot is an issue, with his potential unclear. He changed his shooting form and has made some progress but still does not connect on a good percentage, even from the free-throw line, and can be reluctant to shoot. With his quickness and the lack of a reliable shot, opposing defenses will be able to back off and make him show he can knock down the open shots.

For the Rockets, he could be a difficult fit, given they have ample athleticism but already struggle to make open shots. His defensive potential, however, is intriguing, and if they add veterans, the Rockets could be willing to give a prospect time to develop.

Scout’s eye view
“Sort of a wing that can handle a little bit. He’s definitely going to benefit from more space in the NBA with the driving lanes that are available. Ausar will definitely be able to slash into the lanes and get to the rim and finish above the rim. That’s the one thing about Ausar and Amen; their athleticism just pops.

“He’s a willing passer. He has good court vision. He can create a little bit. I don’t think he’s going to be your point guard. Certainly, a secondary creator. Can see the floor well. And of course, in the open floor, in transition, is where he really stands out. He’s a dynamic finisher in transition.

“When he can’t dunk it, his layup package, his finishing around the rim, is not developed yet. He’s not going to get as many dunks in the NBA as he does on the OTE level. His finishing around the rim is going to need a lot of work.

“On the defensive end, he’s super switchable, very versatile, very disruptive, especially on the ball. Of course, he’s playing against guys who can’t handle his level of pressure. Defensively, he’ll be closer to being on an NBA level than he will be offensively, right from the start.

“The challenge is will he be able to develop the rest of his skills, develop a jump shot that he can make when his athleticism starts to decline?”

 

Cam Whitmore has some insane vert, apparently



Better athlete than I thought. I had him more as a B+ athlete, he may be more like a solid A.

More confirmation that this draft class is nuts at the top.

 

MCW vibes

 

MCW 2.0??

 

I feel like this draft is 5 deep with Whitmore also being a special prospect. I think he is very translatable.

 

Pleasantly surprised to see so many top guys participating, usually a lot of them sit out. Going to be really interesting to get more info on Scoot, the Thompson twins, Cam, and others.

 

No. 4: Amen Thompson
Position: G/F
Height: 6-7
Team: Overtime Elite
Age: 20
Comp: More explosive, shorter Ben Simmons, taller Ja Morant (with worse perimeter shot)

Overview
Scouting Amen Thompson brings the same quandary as with his brother Ausar.

There is no question that the athleticism is elite, but the poor perimeter shooting seems like a red flag. His vision and shot creating skills for himself and others is outstanding. But it is difficult to determine how those strengths will translate when his athleticism is no longer is on a different planet compared to the competition.

Though viewed as more of a point guard than his brother, Amen and Ausar nearly split the duties as facilitator with Amen handling a bit more often. The times off the ball showcase similar attributes to Ausar’s phenomenal abilities in the open floor. In terms of end-to-end speed, the only prospect that compares is Amen’s twin. But the jump shot seems to need similar, if not quite as extensive, repairs with little to indicate that it will ever be solid enough to keep defenses from daring (or even begging) Amen Thompson to shoot from the perimeter.

That can be used to an advantage. Point guards have often benefited from playmaking while defenses are backing off, as with the early years of Rajon Rondo’s career. He is so quick and explosive off his feet, he might be effective even without repairs to his jump shot.

Evaluating his defense is also difficult. Though Thompson shows potential and generally projects to be an outstanding defensive guard on the ball and disruptive in passing lanes, he is so much more athletic and older than Overtime Elite league competition players going against him so far don’t have a chance. That makes him a great prospect but also a risky one.

Scout’s eye view
“Amen is a very similar player to his brother. He might be more of a point guard type, more of a primary ballhandler. He’s shifty with the ball. He has solid handles. He can break ankles. Again, there is a caveat that it is against inferior competition, but I think that will translate to the NBA. I think he will break people down with the ball. He has good court vision, will be able to find the open man.

“In the NBA, the reads that you have to make when you’re a primary ballhandler will take time to get used to the speed of the defense rotating. But I think he will be able to handle that adjustment with time so he can be a primary ballhandler, but with a jumpshot that needs work.

“His form is not as bad as Ausar’s. He has decent form. He has a foundation he can work from. He has worked on it throughout this year, and it has improved throughout the season. But it is definitely not an NBA caliber jump shot, yet. Eventually, I think he will have to be guarded more than his brother will, which helps with the spacing on the offensive end. But he is the definition of a modern, position-less player. You can put him anywhere on the floor and he will be effective. You can even put him in the dunker’s spot and keep it simple, and he can be effective there, as well.

“Defensively, he is a very effective defender, just like his brother. Moves his feet really well. Uses his length to shut down smaller guards. It’s hard for smaller guards to drive around him. He can protect the rim and block shots, too. He can guard one through five. He’s also a strong rebounder who grabs and goes. Getting a solid percentage of rebounds and turning that into transition, that’s really where he is at his best.”

 

It is really interesting that one of those scouts thinks Amen has the better shooting form than Ausar. I don't see that at all personally, and the stats don't back it up either. Ausar shot better percentages and significantly higher volumes, and I have a lot more concerns about Amen's shooting coming around.

I still think it could happen since he appears to have great work ethic and a lot of guys have come into the league and managed to improve as shooters, but I feel less comfortable projecting it than with his brother.

Have to love the upside with Amen. I definitely worry it will be a rocky transition to the NBA though, the competition is just light years beyond what he's faced in OTE. It may take him more time to come around than a guy like Scoot who is already used to playing against fully-grown professional basketball players.