Before the 2024 NBA Draft even started, the Houston Rockets were the talk of the league. After a spending spree in free agency last offseason, the Rockets improved from 22 wins to 41 wins. The team's future looked bright, especially after a late-season 11-game winning streak that nearly landed them in the NBA Play-in Tournament.
Houston wasn't done tinkering with their roster, though, and rumors suggested they seemed primed to make a blockbuster move. It started when the team swapped a number of draft picks with the Brooklyn Nets, giving back some of the picks they acquired in the James Harden trade and taking on some of the Phoenix Suns' future picks that Brooklyn owned from the Kevin Durant deal.
The move looked like a precursor to a possible deal that would land themselves Durant's services. With Durant's future in Phoenix unclear, Houston wanted to be the team that could incentivize the Suns to move on from their future Hall of Famer.
The madness surrounding Houston leading up to the draft led many to believe they would make a massive move involving their No. 3 overall pick (that was owed to them from Brooklyn). The team decided to not make a trade and instead drafted Reed Sheppard with that pick. Let's grade the decision.
Rockets draft Reed Sheppard
Reed Sheppard isn't a perfect prospect, but he is a damn good player and an exceptional fit in Houston. The 2024 NBA Draft was considered a weak draft class, but Sheppard filled a lot of needs for Houston, nonetheless. In fact, it can be argued that the guard who spent one year at Kentucky was the best fit in the class for the Rockets' roster.
Sheppard is a jack of all trades, and his versatility will be valued on a Houston roster that already has an exciting young core. He is a plug-and-play prospect who can make an impact from Day 1, but he also has the potential to become a key player for Houston going forward.
The shooting guard most thrives as a shooter, and he was by far the best sniper from beyond the arc in the 2024 draft class. Sheppard shot 52.1% from deep in his lone season in college, which is a historically incredible rate, especially for a freshman. The sharpshooter isn't just a catch-and-shoot threat, though, as he can get shots up in a variety of ways. Sheppard is excellent off the dribble and as a movement shooter.
His ability to knock down jump shots will be valued on a roster with slashers like Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, and Amen Thompson. Those exceptional drivers need spacing around them, and they will surely draw in the defense and get Sheppard plenty of open looks. Not to mention Alperen Sengun is one of the best passing centers in the league, and he also needs capable shooters around him.
Sheppard is not to get confused as a shooter-only, though. In fact, the guard doesn't have many flaws to his game. Sheppard can attack the rim, he works as a playmaker, and he gives effort defensively. The only gripe with Sheppard is he's undersized and lacks athleticism. The 2-guard is much more of a secondary creator than a lead guard, yet he measured in at the combine under 6-foot-2 without shoes.
In most cases, this would be unideal, but it seems destined to work out in Houston. The Rockets have already found success with an undersized guard in Fred VanVleet, including so on the defensive end. Plus, the Rockets can surround Sheppard with plenty of size. Sheppard, who came off of the bench in college, will likely be paired off the bench in the backcourt alongside Amen Thompson, a 6-foot-7 guard and freak athlete who will fit incredibly well on the court with the Kentucky product.
Rockets' decision not to trade the No. 3 pick
Considering the Rockets decided to keep the No. 3 pick, selecting Sheppard was the right choice. The decision not to make a big move left a lot of Rockets fans wanting more. Not making a move, at least not yet, was the right move, though.
Now, Houston has options. The team still has a surplus of future draft picks, so they can still make a massive trade later down the road. Sheppard could be used as trade bait later, or he could fit in with whatever star the team decides to bring in, considering his versatility and the spacing he provides.
The Rockets took a huge step forward last season, and Sheppard will help them take the next step forward again this year. While trading for a star like Durant can help Houston become title contenders, it hasn't necessarily worked out for the last two teams that did that. Both the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns formed superteams after trading for Durant, but the legendary forward has only led his teams to one postseason series victory in the four years he spent split between the two teams.
Age and injuries are starting to become factors in the twilight of Durant's career, where as Reed Sheppard turned 20 years old just days before the draft. Plus, history has shown that a Durant trade costs an arm and a leg. Houston has the assets to make a trade work for Durant, but fans might not be happy with how much the team would have to give up.
Overall, Houston was smart to hold onto their pick and select Reed Sheppard. No matter the course Houston decides to take going forward, the addition of their first-rounder gives them options and improves their future outlook. For those reasons, we give the Rockets a solid grade of B+.
Rockets draft grade for Reed Sheppard pick: B+
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