Why would they prioritize Sheppard over Amen freaking Thompson? Thompson went 4 in Wemby draft and will keep that spot in a redraft in this year's draft he would go first so it doesn't make sense you shelve him to give Sheppard star treatment. Sheppard wasn't even the Pg in college but he will supplant Amen in the NBA? My point is it doesn't matter who we draft that dude will have no playing time unless he beats out the core 6 for minutes. Whether Sarr, Clingan, Risacher, Sheppard, Castle they will all chill in the GLeague unless they out play guys in the rotation so it's a false argument. A 3rd pick isn't like a cabbage you buy in the supermarket, we shouldn't be using it to get guys just to fill a need when we can address that need via Free agency or trades. We should be picking the guy we think is BPA regardless of fit or need.
Ah that's what you meant. Well, maybe not right away, but I think adding Sarr, Risacher, Castle, or Topic could lead to a shakeup of the "core six" a few seasons later. These players' skills look to overlap with the existing talents the most. IMO Sheppard and Clingan bring skills that could complement the "core six" without necessarily supplanting them. But I'm not advocating that the Rockets make the pick for "fit" reasons, either.
The Rockets have a young draft pick at every position: PG - Amen Thompson SG - Jalen Green SF - Tari Eason PF - Jabari Smith Jr. ..C - Alperen Sengun 6th Man G-F - Cam Whitmore The question is what player in this draft has what these players don't. The main ones that stands out are Sheppard with his shooting and Defense at the Guard spot and Clingan with his Size and Defense at the Center position.
Not sure why that would be the logic, Even if EVERYONE hit you need 3 guards even in a playoff rotation. let alone a regular season one. We haven't even really started with the Amen at PG for real yet, so hard to shelve something that hasn't even begun, yes in the perfect world Amen would be the point guard, but in that perfect world the other guard spot you probably want someone you have full confidence in bombing every open 3s, and Sheppard actually profiles really well for that too. Also I think there's a lot of talking past each other here, a "point guard" Reed Sheppard just means he's the smallest player of the 5 man lineup, not that he'll be isoing and pick and rolling every time down like James Harden or something. a "Wing" Amen is just a description of his size and what type of player he'll usually guard, the offensive role could be anything, it might be like this year or it might be a far more on-ball version where he's the guy making a lot of the pick and roll to initiate half court. IF Reed hits 99% of his upside, the "Point guard" variety we'll probably be looking at is closer to Steve Nash (who had a low 20s usage even when winning fing MVPs.) not James Harden. Or he could be more like a Derrick Fisher point guard if it's a lower hit level.
I disagree. All you have to do is look at the tape - No, he isn't going to blow by defenders in a one on one, but he can put it on the floor and go by defenders out of various plays - DHO, picks, pin downs, curls, all staples of an NBA offense. He can also run the pick and roll as the primary ball handler. He's also very good in transition, both as a ball handler and as a finisher and you can plug him in the high post as a passer. Here's a video link- watch from ~11:55 to 14:35 And we haven't even talked about defense ..... he's a pesky defender, often picking guys up full court, versatile enough to guard at least 2-3-4.
I think a good starting point on judging his prospect pedigree is Jabari. His shot is obviously not as good but he's also not totally deficient in ballhandling the way Jabari was coming out of college. And while I also want to say he has less defensive upside compared to Jabari who can play stretch 5, it does feel like the Rockets prefer traditional centers over Jabari there, so perhaps I'm just personally overrating Jabari potential here. Overall they have similar strengths and weaknesses, but Risacher being a slightly lesser prospect due to Jabari having height advantage and shooting advantage.
So Sheppard can be Steve Nash if he hits his upside but he can be Derek Fisher as his floor? Those are 2 separate types of players lol. So his best form is a ball handling passing offensive savant that's bad on D but his floor is FVV without the passing? Sheppard played off the ball and didn't really take guys off the dribble or handled the ball much. He is a 6"1.75 version of Risacher I don't think we should use the 3rd pick on him when one of Sarr, Risacher, Topic and Castle will be available. We shouldn't consider fit and need because you address those via trade and FA.
Jabari is a PF/C Risacher is a wing. They both have similar skillset but I think Risacher has more ball handling/passing potential whereas Jabari is provides Rim defense and rebounding. Risacher is like a younger version of Brandon Miller and should enjoy similar success in the NBA. That's why he should be the pick if available.
Last year from everything I've read, Miller had above average connective passing ability for his position. Whereas no one seems to be saying that about Risacher. His assist numbers are quite ghastly even if you adjust for European leagues being stingier with that stat. If he's projected to have average passing for a wing going forward, I don't think he makes it past Washington.
Yeah I agree with what you said about Sheppard and Clingan. I'd be interested in adding someone like Clingan who could take the defense to another level. But that could mean picking for fit rather BPA, which is not what you'd necessarily want to do with the #3 pick.
Yes - depending on the players around him, and it depends how bad his below average shooting is. He cannot shoot as bad as last year - but it isn’t all the three point line either, if he can hit open 15-18 footers and shoot close to 30% from 3 - I think it can work because Amen is so exceptional defensively, in transition, penetrating and passing. It requires having at least 3 good perimeter shooters around him -
Amen finishes better inside better than Westbrook ever has and defensively he is vastly better - neither shoots well, and Amen hasn’t shown he can handle the volume that Westbrook has.
They are similar in that they are both tall, pretty good shooters & defenders but the comparison stops there, they play different positions, Jabari a natural 4 & Risacher a natural 3 - though they are both versatile enough to play multiple positions, Jabari 3-4-5 & Risacher 2-3-4. Risacher is a good ball handler, something you wouldn't ask Jabari to do. Those skills may not be quite NBA ready right now, but the tools are there to be honed. I think they'd pair really well together and fit with Tari & Cam, you'd have most of the minutes at the 2-3-4 spots accounted for among the 4 of them.
He did? I think Jock showed out more than Jabari during that time, to be honest. I was a bit bummed at Jabari for not taking over more often with Alperen out.
None of those 4 is a natural 2. All are straight-line drivers, limited creators, and cannot run a pick and roll. Unless you have a great creator at PG to balance Sengun, you will have a very stagnant offense with those 4 players at the other three positions.
BR 3. Houston Rockets (via Nets): Reed Sheppard 44. Houston Rockets (via Warriors): Melvin Ajinça ________________________________________ 1. Atlanta Hawks: Zaccharie Risacher 2. Washington Wizards: Alex Sarr 3. Houston Rockets (via Nets): Reed Sheppard — Fit could play a bigger role than usual this year during a draft where it's difficult to identify surefire stars or the best player available. The Houston Rockets should love what Reed Sheppard brings to their specific rotation—elite shooting, passing and intangibles/character that scouts and executives praised after interviewing him at the NBA combine. For Sheppard, an undersized 2 who's more limited off the dribble, Amen Thompson would also be the ideal backcourt partner with his creation/playmaking and ability to defend bigger guards. And Sheppard feels perfect for Thompson with his ability to stretch the floor and create space for a limited shooter and shifty ball-handler. 4. San Antonio Spurs: Nikola Topić 5. Detroit Pistons: Cody Williams — Cody Williams has been trending in NBA conversations after his workouts and pro day. Some believe he's the most likely to go earlier than expected. The debate right now revolves around his ceiling, but scouts and execs sound like they won't be surprised to see a top-five team that values Williams' archetype and wants to bet on his development. 6. Charlotte Hornets: Donovan Clingan 7. Portland Trail Blazers: Dalton Knecht 8. San Antonio Spurs (via Raptors): Stephon Castle — Opinions vary on Stephon Castle's draft stock. As much as his name was buzzing after the NCAA tournament, scouts still think he'll be on the board outside the top five. 9. Memphis Grizzlies: Rob Dillingham — He does have fans, and even teams like the Washington Wizards at No. 2 and San Antonio Spurs will give him a look. Depending on teams' level of concern with his shot diet, poor defense and fit (for lineups with established point guards), he could slide into the second tier of the lottery. 10. Utah Jazz: Ron Holland — Ron Holland is a candidate to slide with scouts feeling comfortable about Dalton Knecht's shooting and potentially more compelled by Cody Williams' efficiency and Stephon Castle's versatility. 11. Chicago Bulls: Matas Buzelis ________________________________________
Good post. If Jalen performs we only have Holiday and Jeff Green’s minutes to play with. None of these guys are a worthy Jalen replacement if he doesn’t pan out. The best rout is to trade the pick and since this draft is so weak, I would see if we could con one of the worst 14 or so teams next year into a pick in 25 and some other future pick. The only other way to capitalize is to maybe trade down and get a useful vet like Brogdon.
