• Houston’s draft prep has also started debates around players in consideration for the 44th pick, with names like Jonathon Mogbo, Cam Christie, Terrence Shannon Jr., K.J. Simpson, Adem Bona, Oso Ighodaro and more in discussions. However, a decent number of these names may end up in the back portion of the first round. This week, the Rockets will work out Clemson’s PJ Hall, Texas’ Dylan Disu, St. John’s Daniss Jenkins, Washington State’s Jaylen Wells and others. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5574543/2024/06/20/rockets-draft-notebook-donovan-clingan/
If KJ Simpson is there you run to the podium. Though given this weird draft maybe some of Simpson / Jamal Shead / Baylor Schierman might be there somehow.
Jamal Shead. Cliche maybe, but he feels like an Udoka player. Plus he's a killer, and you can't have enough of those. All fight all the time. If he's there, it wouldn't surprise me at all if they grab him.
N'Flay Dante at 44 makes sense if he has recovered well from injuries. The Rockets have worked him out.
We'll need to draft the tallest athletic BIG left on the board at #44 - Bronny James or Jamal Shead aren't going to make a big difference in impact in what we already have in Cam Whitmore, Amen Thompson, or Aaron Holiday if we choose to retain him.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5579738/2024/06/23/nba-draft-confidential-guards-2024/ A.J. Johnson | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | Illawarra Western Conference executive No. 1: I was impressed with the tape that we got. I was really, and it’s such a small sample size. But I thought the way he played in Chicago was pretty darn good for a youngster. He didn’t back down to anybody, and he made plays. Defensively, he is, right now, completely lost. But how many 6-4, 6-5, legitimate point guards, that can make a play, seize it, can deliver it, have some imagination, and are 18, 19 years old? What does this kid look like in three years? If you do it the right way, he on (G League) assignment, he’s in the weight room, he’s with your strength and conditioning, he’s with your dietician. You may have the makings, at worst, of a reliable backup? That’s not a bad swing. If this kid was in college, and he was a freshman, and he went back to school, he’d be one of the top returners in the country. And I doubt you could, in next year’s draft, that you could get him where you can get him in this year’s draft. Jamal Shead | 6-0 guard | 21 years old | Houston Eastern Conference executive No. 6: Probably the best on-ball defender, perimeter wise, in the draft. Super tough, high character, big-time leader. He’s a little small, and his offense has to improve. It’s hard to play at that size if they don’t have to respect your jump shot. That’s something he has to continue to work on. He would, I guess, get drafted in the second round and he’ll probably, depending on where he goes, play a lot in the G League the first year. At the first game in the combine, he hit some jumpers. He was pretty effective offensively. It showed kind of a glimpse into maybe what he could be. But that’s not who he’s been. So he’s got to get closer to that level. But, defensively, just as a guy on your team, you couldn’t go wrong with him. He’s as solid as they come. College assistant coach No. 7 (his team played Houston): Absolutely love him. Coach Sampson is just a monster. Those guys are on another level. He’s such a dynamic player, obviously, on both sides on the floor, but probably the best on-ball defender in the draft. He was the one guy we played that you talked more about his defensive effort and defensive impact than offense. … To me, he just elicits winning. He’s going to find a way to make them win the possession. Make them win this, make them win that. Clearly, the best player in our league. We talk about him all the time: ‘That’s what you’re trying to get to.’ I think he’s going to be successful, whether it’s a backup point guard, third-string point guard, whatever it may be. I think he’ll play in the NBA for a while. He shoots it fine, too. It gradually got better. He was such a guy that could just dominate the paint, so he didn’t have to utilize it. But he’d make one out of three, just enough to keep you honorable. Ajay Mitchell | 6-3 guard | 22 years old | UC Santa Barbara Western Conference scout No. 2: He was really good. I saw him in their tournament. He got hurt in that game. Maybe all 30 (NBA) teams were there, so it was a great night for him to have a breakout game. He was spectacular in the first half, and then he got hurt. … you can tell (he’s smart). Just seeing him in that one game, he’s definitely a kid you can put in an NBA game. Cam Spencer | 6-3 guard | 24 years old | Connecticut College assistant coach No. 1 (his team played UConn): I thought he was the ultimate kind of glue guy winner that really put the pieces of their puzzle together. Obviously, they were talented. … but his shooting ability, his feel and IQ, his toughness and competitive spirit, he was always jawing, always talking, always kind of revving his guys up. Not afraid to confront his guys. I remember sitting on the bench. We were playing well against them, and he was really getting on their ass. For a new guy, coming into a national championship team, I mean, (Alex) Karaban had been there, Newton had been there, Clingan had been there, and for him to be that demonstrative, kind of grabbing guys by the jersey and all that, I was really impressed by him and his demeanor. He obviously is a talented kid and can really shoot it and all that stuff, but I thought the intangibles and what he brought to their team holistically was incredible. I don’t know if he’s going to be able to play at that (pro) level, but I’d take him on my team any day of the week. Obviously, he can shoot. … in the NBA, they’ve become so creative at evaluating shooting. Even if you don’t guard incredibly well, if you’re a good shooter, there’s so many ways to hide guys. Every team is trying to mismatch hunt. You saw this with (Tyrese) Haliburton. They were running Haliburton at the ball, double-teaming it, getting the ball out of the best player’s hands, and he’ll stay on that guy so he doesn’t have to be in rotations, and attacked on closeouts. If (Spencer) can give you something conceptually (on defense), because of what he brings on the other side, all the intangibles and obviously the shooting, I think it could work out. Antonio Reeves | 6-5 | SG/SF | 23 years old | Kentucky College head coach No. 1 (his team played Kentucky): Can make an NBA roster and stick. Has an incredible scoring knack being able to score the ball at 3 levels. Hit several big shots in clutch situations. Really improved his rebounding during his final year at Kentucky. Can get to the free throw line and draw free throw attempts. K.J. Simpson | 6-0 guard | 21 years old | Colorado College assistant coach No. 8 (his team played Colorado): Man, he’s a killer. He’s little, little dude, but dog, he killed the Pac 12. And that’s just about every year. His freshman year, we beat them, and he was crying after the game. He just loves to win. That dude’s a winner. Takes tough shots and make them. He can play. He can pass. He can do it all. He’s just little. We were trying to post him up. He wasn’t playing no defense. But he came back the second half and lit us up. I love him. But you’ve got these bigger guards in the NBA. Size is important. Bronny James | 6-1 guard | 19 years old | USC Western Conference scout No. 1: I like Bronny. I saw him at (the) McDonald’s (All American Game), and I think he played really well. The public forgets the guy had open heart surgery. He was out for, what, seven months, six months? That’s real. He didn’t train, he didn’t lift, he didn’t shoot. Was it life-threatening? I don’t know. But when I hear ‘heart,’ and I know that’s not good. He got way, way behind. And then he did have to play with Collier and Boogie Ellis. So he deferred. To his credit. I saw USC play three times. He plays the right way. He can really pass. He cuts hard. He’s got some of his father’s basketball IQ. He can make open shots. He’s a way better shooter than his dad at the same age. Now, he’s smaller. He’s not an electrical athlete. He’s not broken. I just think he’s a year behind, because he didn’t play. He comes off the bench, he’s just trying to fit in. He took like four shots a game. But there were things that he did that I was like, ‘F—, that’s the right play.’ Like, he, instead of dribbling it up the court, he advanced the ball with the pass. It’s really small and subtle. But it’s the right basketball play. If the pass was to the wing, he would cut. Not, like, jog through. Like, whoa, I get it. And he can pass. I think it’s a mistake (coming out). But I think if he went to school this year and they handed him the ball and he played 34 minutes a night, you’d go, okay, he’s averaging 16 and 6? He’s pretty good. Western Conference scout No. 2: You know what? He knows how to play basketball. They’ve got him playing two. I think he’s better on the ball, because he plays the right way. And he knows how to pass. The boy will make the right play, every time. I thought he should have gone back for one more year and proved it, because he don’t need the money. Just go back and have fun. But, I think the dad kind of wanted to play with him. (Bronny) made McDonald’s All American. Let’s see. He does know how to play. I think he’s playing the wrong position. At the (Chicago) pre-draft camp, he’s checking twos and threes, and they’re overpowering him. He’s strong enough, but let him guard the ones and play the one. If he was 6-5 (James measured 6-1.5 with a 6-7.25 wingspan in Chicago), we ain’t having this conversation; now he can play the two, and I think he’d be good enough. Because he does know how to play. That’s half of it.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/te...uston-options-second-round-no-44-19529954.php A look at 10 players the Rockets could consider with their second-round pick: Adem Bona | Position: C | Height: 6-8 | Age: 21 | College: UCLA Jonathan Mogbo | Position: F/C | Height: 6-6 | Age: 22 | College: San Francisco A.J. Johnson | Position: G | Height: 6-4 | Age: 19 | Team: Illawara (Australia) Pelle Larsson | Position: G | Height: 6-5 | Age: 23 | College: Arizona Melvin Ajinca | Position: G | Height: 6-7 | Age: 20 (on Wednesday) | Team: Saint-Quentin (France) Jaylen Wells | Position: F | Height: 6-6 | Age: 20 | College: Washington State Cam Spencer | Position: G | Height: 6-3 | Age: 24 | College: Connecticut Jalen Bridges | Position: F | Height: 6-7 | Age: 23 | College: Baylor Justin Edwards | Position: G/F | Height: 6-6 | Age: 20 | College: Kentucky Juan Núñez | Position: G | Height: 6-4 | Age: 20 | Team: Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
Another Pick #44 possibility is Reece Beekman (PG, Virginia), who is a model Udoka player. High character, plays great D, and is an only-PG PG.
JAMAL SHEAD AND IT WILL BE THE FIRST JERSEY I’VE BOUGHT SINCE THE VERNON JERSEY I HAD ON AT ALL THE HOME WCF AND FINALS GAMES IN 1994
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5585502/2024/06/25/2024-nba-draft-confidential-sarr/ Oso Ighodaro | 6-10 big | 21 years old | Marquette College assistant coach No. 1 (his team played Marquette): He’s not very big. He might be 6-9-ish, maybe. But he and (Tyler) Kolek were incredible, because Oso can really handle and pass and create at the five spot, incredibly athletic, and really, really good defensively. He didn’t shoot at all outside of five, 10 feet. He had that floater he was shoot in the paint off of dribble handoff keeps. So, he’s a guy, I hope I’m wrong, was a great college player, had a really good team, the shooting around him, and an incredible playmaking and creative guard like Tyler Kolek. But I just don’t quite know how he will translate as a five man at the next level. Because he’s small. And he doesn’t shoot it. If he was a 3-point shooter, with his playmaking ability, and his athleticism, and his defense, then I would say, no doubt about it. But his shooting is worrisome to me at the next level. There’s a place for him in the league, because he is talented. I just don’t know how you become successful with him in the game, offensively. If he’s in the game, I’m in perpetual drop (coverage) at all times. College assistant coach No. 7 (his team played Marquette): He got better and better every year. That’s what I look at with guys like him who are kind of borderline. He totally took off. Pick and pop, short roll. He’s not a shooter, great shooter, but man, can he pass. He’s an elite passer for a guy that size. Elite. And he’s used to playing in ball screens, because that’s what they do at Marquette. That’s the game: isos, ball screens, reads. Eastern Conference executive No. 4: Great kid. He’s got good skills. But he can’t shoot to save his life. Some of our other guys like him, but I don’t see him for us. He’s really bright. The kid might be too bright, to be honest. He’s not the toughest cat, either. Personality-wise, there’s some similarities with Jarrett (Allen), but Jarrett’s a better player, though. This kid won’t post up. He won’t face up and look to shoot. It’s always put the ball on the floor, and shoot a floater or pass it. And he’s not the greatest rebounder. I don’t know. He could end up being a player. Adem Bona | 6-8 big | 21 years old | UCLA Western Conference scout: I thought he helped himself in Chicago. He definitely helped himself showing his athleticism. His athleticism really jumps off the page. It’s close to elite. It really is. Maybe semi-elite, but it’s elite. It really helped him in Chicago, just in his rebounding, his rim protection and his shot blocking, catching lobs. He was very active, and he was very impressive. … everybody kind of sees him as an undersized five, but he could potentially, with work, develop into being maybe something of a stretch four, but more of a four than five. He’s a modern big, the type that doesn’t require the ball, pick and roll, he can catch lobs, he’s going to protect the rim, use his athleticism to affect the game. Ulrich Chomche | 6-11 big | 18 years old | NBA Academy Africa Eastern Conference executive No. 3: Extremely, extremely raw. Phenom athlete. Has the size and speed. Really good kid. His story’s pretty remarkable, coming from the NBA Academy. The coach over there saw him and asked him if he wanted to come to practice. His grandmother and mother wouldn’t let him. But they finally did. But he’s just super, super raw. Really has no idea what he’s doing out there. He’s a good kid, but he’s a project. You’re taking him knowing it’s going to be a long-term plan, and you’re hoping he develops. Eastern Conference scout: You get into the Fran Fraschilla quote. I don’t think he’s two years away, but he’s a year away, like a lot of guys in the draft. He kind of got undervalued because everyone fell in love with (Duke commit Khaman) Maluach, but Chomche has some real perimeter potential that’s interesting at his size. He hasn’t been taught, and hasn’t played enough with good guards. That’s the biggest problem they have there, is that they don’t have good guards. They’re teaching him things. I saw him at Hoop Summit. You see him going, I’m supposed to go here and post up, but there’s nobody there. Then he goes to the front of the rim and tries to post up there. It’s one of those things where, when you play more and play more, they figure it out. If you could pick him up in the 30 to 40 range, I think that’s a pretty good get. He can’t be a guy who plays in the G League, because he’s not going to get better there. He has to go to a team with a veteran big that he can learn from. If he went to, like, Philly, and he played with Paul (Reed) and Joel (Embiid), or go to Boston and play with Al (Horford) and learn. N’Faly Dante | 6-10 big | 22 years old | Oregon Western Conference scout: I saw him play in the Pac 12 finals, and he just dominated the game. I thought he had really, really made strides. (But) I’m kind of lukewarm on him. Another one who fits today’s modern big. … I think he gets drafted. I wish he had a little bit more in the motor. He’s not as active as Lively, but he does a lot of similar things. P.J. Hall | 6-8 big | 22 years old | Clemson College head coach No. 2 (his team played Clemson): I don’t like him; I love him. I think he’s a steal. I think he’s a f—ing monster. He is so f—ing tough and physical. I was so glad he left. He can score around the basket, but PJ’s shown the ability to shoot the 3. If he can stay away from injury, he got Clemson in the Elite Eight, guys. I just think there’s value in a guy like him that’s well-coached, and helped his team win more than they ever won. He’s mean – not in a dirty way. He’s competitive. Wherever he lands, I think he’s going to be pretty good. College head coach No. 3 (his team played Clemson): I think he can carve his niche in the league. He shoots it well enough and he rebounds well enough. The thing for him is being consistently able to guard defensively. The defensive part of the ball ito ball screens and s— like that, that’s what’s going to be important for him. He’s like a Luka Garza-type. I think he’s got better feet, but that’s (also) going to be the challenge for him. He can get a rebound; he can get a putback. I don’t think he’s bad. The thing that’s going to matter for him is the defensive end.
