Amen ThompsonĪmen Thompson is a cerebral playmaker that plays a high energy game for the Overtime Elite City Reapers.Ħ-foot-7 and 209 pounds, where G League Ignite guard and projected top-3 pick Scoot Henderson finds himself being compared favorably to Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, Thompson is a player unlike anything the NBA has ever seen before.Ī decisive and athletic showman with a big frame, the only real offensive weakness that Thompson has so far is that he’s not a reliable jump shooter. and ranking fourth in the SEC in defensive win shares (2.4). Black should also be capable of defending the opposing team’s best backcourt player, averaging 2.1 steals per game as a true freshman thanks to his on-ball pressure and anticipation. Given Alperen Sengun’s well-documented struggles when guarding the pick-and-roll, Black’s length, ability to fight through screens, and defensive instincts of will make his life a lot easier. Furthermore, with a solid looking shooting stroke, there should be optimism that he can become a respectable 3-point threat as well.ĭefensively is where Black may help the Rockets the most. Playing a conference-leading 34.9 minutes per game, Houston can be sure that Black has the endurance to be a Swiss Army Knife for them as well. That said, while Black can be another tall playmaker at 6-foot-7 and 198 pounds, he should be a multi-positional weapon with the skill and intelligence to excel in various roles. or Jalen Green don’t have the playmaking chops for it but because they’re both natural shooting guards. That’s extremely important on a team with so many players not only capable of getting a basket but who possess a true scorer’s mentality.Įspecially as, last season, it became increasingly apparent that the Rockets would be better if they had a true point guard organizing the offense and generating easy shots for his teammates. 2 lottery slot in first round Anthony BlackĪrkansas Razorbacks point guard Anthony Black is a prospect who compares favorably to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey.Ī player that will be a great connector at the next level because of his feel, awareness, and passing ability, Black doesn’t need to score to dominate. 3 early 2023 NBA Draft targets for Rockets with No.

That said, as a team with a clear need for their core, there are three early targets that the Rockets should be looking at ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft. eventually rounded into form by the end of his rookie season, Houston needs to have a Plan B and a Plan C just depending on how the Draft (and Draft Lottery) shakes out. However, though it may seem like Houston has an easy answer, they need to take their time with a decision that will have a major impact on the future outlook of the franchise.Įspecially as a team that was caught off guard by the Orlando Magic taking Paolo Banchero with the first overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. In the 2023 NBA Draft, the Rockets should be able to do just that with their odds to land the second overall pick. The Houston Rockets have drafted well over the past couple of seasons, but they still need to find a connector piece that can help the offense get easy buckets.

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