The Houston Rockets emerged as one of the big winners in the NBA Draft lottery, despite many considering the 2024 NBA Draft class one of the weakest in years. While there were no franchise-altering talents, the Rockets may have struck gold. Initially, they explored trading the third overall pick for an All-Star guard to bolster their young core for the upcoming season but ultimately decided to keep the pick, selecting Reed Sheppard.
Sheppard has already started to make waves, catching the attention of NBA executives. In a poll of 20 executives conducted by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo, Sheppard received the highest number of votes (seven) for the rookie most likely to be the best pick from the 2024 NBA Draft. His impressive performance as the Rockets’ point guard in the NBA Summer League showcased his potential, marking him as a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year and displaying flashes of All-Star talent.
Executives believe that for Sheppard to maximize his impact, the Rockets need to ensure he gets ample playing time this season. Choosing Sheppard over trading for a veteran might prove to be a brilliant move if his Summer League performance is a sign of things to come, possibly making him a future All-Star for Houston.