Although Reed Sheppard hasn’t yet played in an official game for the Houston Rockets, he’s already garnering significant attention across the league due to his strong showing in the Las Vegas Summer League.
As the NBA season gradually approaches, anticipation builds around rookies making their debuts. Among them, Sheppard’s impact on the Rockets and his role will be one of the most closely watched narratives.
While it’s early to draw firm conclusions about this year’s rookie class, CBS Sports’ Kyle Boone has already taken a shot at re-drafting the 2024 NBA Draft. Originally, Zaccharie Risacher was the top pick, but in this re-draft scenario, Sheppard claims the No. 1 spot, hypothetically joining the Atlanta Hawks.
Boone noted, “Risacher’s Summer League performance was impressive, but Reed Sheppard, the Rockets’ No. 3 pick, showed superstar potential, standing out as a top talent in his class.”
Sheppard has indeed generated considerable excitement, averaging an impressive 20 points per game in Summer League. He appears to be a home-run pick for the Rockets, though in this re-draft, they hypothetically land UConn center Donovan Clingan.
Boone also speculates about how Clingan might have fit into Houston’s plans, raising questions about whether the Rockets would have retained Alperen Şengün or pivoted towards a defensive identity. Despite the intriguing possibilities, it’s hard to imagine the Rockets being anything but thrilled with how things have unfolded.