The Houston Rockets are in full rebuild mode after trading away James Harden in January. The 2020/21 season was a massive disappointment for the team, but they banked on getting numerous picks in the 2021 NBA Draft. That's exactly what they did.
The Rockets had three selections: No. 2, No. 23, and No. 24. Houston was able to nab arguably the best player in this class, Jalen Green. They also traded two future first-rounders to OKC in exchange for the No. 16 pick, Alperen Sengun. Usman Garuba (23rd overall) and Josh Christopher (24th overall) rounded out their picks.
With that being said, let's grade each choice the Rockets made in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Jalen Green: A+
If Green actually chose to play in college instead of taking his talents to the G-League last season, he could've been the top pick. But, instead, the 19-year-old competed against grown men and absolutely thrived. Green profiles to be the future of the Rockets' backcourt, likely playing alongside Kevin Porter Jr.
The shooting guard heavily impressed with the G-League Ignite, averaging 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 37% from downtown. He's a three-level scorer who possesses impressive shooting abilities and should have no problem growing into a primary ball-handler for the Rockets. Green also has tremendous hops and athleticism. After already playing professionally for a season, Green will be coming into the NBA with more confidence than a lot of players in the draft class.
The Rockets were spot on with this pick.
Alperen Sengun: B+
Sengun is another polished prospect who has been playing professionally in Turkey since 2018. He's capable of playing both power forward and center, but will probably serve as a backup to Christian Wood on the Rockets. The 19-year-old won the Turkish League MVP last season with Besiktas, averaging 19.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.7 blocks per contest. At 6 foot 10 and 240 pounds, he's a good size for his age and shows the ability to consistently score the ball and rebound at a high level. His shooting needs some work though, draining under 25% of his attempts from long range. But, the youngster did shoot 81% from the charity stripe in 2020/21, which is promising.
Sengun was even expected to potentially sneak into the top-10 and the Rockets wanted to target him at 23rd overall, but they believed he wouldn't be available. Thankfully, Houston was able to acquire him. This gives Stephen Silas's squad another capable big man in their frontcourt who can contribute right away.
A solid pick for the Rockets.
Usman Garuba: B
Garuba is another polished player who the Rockets selected, coming from Euroleague standouts Real Madrid. While a buyout still needs to happen in order for him to join Houston, they selected a player who could significantly help their defense.
The 19-year-old just finished up playing for Spain in the Tokyo Olympics, which is impressive in itself. He also featured for Madrid from 2019-2021, even winning the EuroLeague Rising Star last season. At 6 foot 8, Garuba typically plays PF and possesses a ridiculous 7 foot 2 wingspan.
Given Sengun's offensive strengths, Garuba could complement him very well from a defensive standpoint in the frontcourt. He's a physical presence around the glass and is extremely developed for a teenager. The Spaniard has a high motor and is a tireless worker when it comes to containing oppositions. While his scoring output is limited with only around four points per game in 2020/21, Garuba is basically a defensive stopper. That's why the Rockets took him here. It fills a need for Houston and gives how young he is, Garuba has a high ceiling and lots of room to grow at the NBA level.
Josh Christopher: B-
The Rockets nabbed Christopher at 24th overall out of Arizona State, giving their backcourt even more depth. The shooting guard has a natural ability to score the ball, averaging 14.3 points, 4.7 boards, and 1.4 assists in his lone year with the Sun Devils. However, his struggles from beyond the arc could be a problem at the next level. Christopher shot just 30% from downtown last season and given his lack of confidence when it comes to shooting, NBA teams could force him to take deep shots and prevent him from getting inside and finishing because that's where he thrives. The 19-year-old is athletic and quick off the dribble, generating most of his offense at the cup.
Christopher's defense and work ethic are definitely a positive for the Rockets though. I'm not sure how much playing time he could get especially considering he plays the same position as Green, but it's not a bad pick. If he can translate his scoring to the next level and improve the jumper, Christopher could prove to be a nice piece that could contribute to the Rockets not too far down the road.
Rockets did well
All in all, this was a very productive draft for the Houston Rockets. They added a possible franchise piece in Green, two formidable bigs in Sengun and Garuba, and another guard in Christopher. The Rockets addressed both offense and defense and should be pleased with their business.
It may be a while until this team is back in the playoffs, but they're certainly heading in the right direction.
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