The Houston Rockets only had one draft pick in 2023, which they used to select Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard. Sheppard is an elite shooter who shot over 50% from behind the arc in college and is also a solid playmaker and defender. He is a high-floor prospect with the potential to be a significant contributor for the Rockets.The Houston Rockets only had one draft pick in 2023, which they used to select Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard. Sheppard is an elite shooter who shot over 50% from behind the arc in college and is also a solid playmaker and defender. He is a high-floor prospect with the potential to be a significant contributor for the Rockets. The Rockets also signed Oregon center N’Faly Dante to a two-way contract. Dante is a 6-foot-11 shot-blocking machine that can also finish plays at the rim. He is a solid role player that can provide some depth for the Rockets. Overall, this was a good draft for the Rockets. They added two players who can help them improve their team, and they did so without giving up any of their young talent.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The Rockets only had one draft pick this year, and they chose to select Reed Sheppard out of Kentucky. Houston was one of the worst teams in the league in 3-point percentage, so they ended up taking one of the best shooters in the entire draft. Sheppard shot over 50% from behind the arc, showing great consistency and accuracy. The 6-foot-3 guard is more than just a shooter, as he is great at stealing steals.
He has great instincts and can get steals or deflections when he jumps the passing lanes. What sets Sheppard apart from most sharpshooters is that he is a very good playmaker and has the ability to create open shots for teammates. The Kentucky native is a three-level scorer who has a great feel for the game and seemingly always makes the right play. The biggest concern for Sheppard is his difficulty spacing defenders.
He doesn’t have an advanced grip and lacks burst off the dribble. Creating open looks for himself could be a major problem in the NBA. Fortunately, he’ll be playing alongside Amen Thompson, who should thrive alongside Sheppard. Thompson is a 6-foot-7 lead guard who is a special athlete with elite passing skills and consistently pressures the rim, but he struggles to shoot the ball particularly well. Sheppard has a very high floor, so at the very least, he should be a significant contributor for a Rockets team looking to take the next step forward next season.
The Rockets signed just one rookie to a two-way contract, and that was N’Faly Dante out of Oregon. The 6-foot-11 center was very productive in his final year of college. He was a defensive playmaker for the Ducks, as he did a great job of changing shots around them by using his size, length and leaping ability. Dante is always a lob threat who excels as a screener and roller and as a play finisher around the rim. On the other hand, he has struggled to defend in space, not exactly a versatile defender. He has struggled to stay healthy throughout his college career, so there are questions about whether his body can hold up for an 82-game season. There is a chance that Dante could eventually become a solid role player for an NBA team, as he has the tools to be a productive center in the NBA.
Even though Sheppard was the Rockets’ only draft pick this year, they’ve clearly improved their roster. They needed a great shooter and someone who would fit well next to Thompson and they found that in Sheppard. The only downside to this roster is that there’s a lot of young talent and perhaps too many mouths to feed, so a year from now they may have to make some tough decisions to free up minutes for a guy like Sheppard.
It is almost certain that the Kentucky native will be a very good NBA player who will have a long career in the league, whether that is as an elite role player or a star player in the NBA. The Dante free agent acquisition was quite underrated, as there is a real chance that he can be a solid role player in the NBA. Overall, this was a very good draft for the Rockets and all fans should be very excited about the future.
Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook And follow us on twitter to stay up to date with the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the cover.
