The Houston Rockets were one of the biggest winners of the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery. Houston acquired the Brooklyn Nets' first-rounder thanks to the James Harden trade of 2021.
That pick jumped all the way from the ninth slot in the lottery to the third for the Rockets. They are in pole position to add another top prospect to their burgeoning young core. Reed Sheppard and Donovan Clingan look like the best choices for the Rockets with that third pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
More shooting for the Rockets
The most popular player mocked to the Rockets with the third pick has been Kentucky's Reed Sheppard. Sheppard is arguably the best shooter in this year's class. He posted shooting splits of .536/.555/.521/.831 in his lone season at Lexington. Sheppard thrived as a standstill shooter and also when he put the ball on the deck. That ability will help him fit on just about any team in the league, including Houston.
There's more to his game than just his shooting. Sheppard averaged 6.2 assists per 40 minutes to just 2.8 turnovers. He also fights defensively, though he isn't the biggest guy in the world at 6-foot-3 and 187 pounds. He makes up for it with solid instincts and an absurd 42-inch vertical. Sheppard should not be a negative on that end of the floor.
On paper, the Rockets wouldn't appear to need another guard. They've used three first-round picks on guards in the last three years with Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, and Ty-Ty Washington. Houston also signed Fred VanVleet to a three-year $128.5 million deal last offseason.
However, Sheppard may project to be a more complete player than either of those three. He is a better playmaker entering the league than Green was. Thompson's lack of a jump shot rendered him to a reserve role and a niche as an inverted rim roller. The Rockets also have a team option on VanVleet's third year of his deal. They could move on from him after this season.
While it doesn't seem like Houston needs Sheppard now, they could end up needing a player like him down the road. The Rockets' best shot at getting one is using the third pick on him. It would be a great fit.
Another center?
A lot of teams have dominant centers but struggle to play without them on the frontcourt. That's in large part because most of those teams do not have a capable backup center. The Rockets could avoid that fate by using the third pick on UConn's Donovan Clingan.
Alperen Sengun can do many things offensively, but he isn't the best defensive player in the league by any stretch. The Rockets can bolster their interior defense with Clingan. He was arguably the best defensive player in all of college basketball who anchored the Huskies' defense en route to their second consecutive National Championship.
In addition to that, Clingan is an outstanding passer on offense. He can do some of the things Houston asks of Sengun.
Most pundits have the Rockets taking Clingan in mock drafts if they don't have Sheppard landing there. The fit is a bit questionable, however. Sengun has already established himself as one of the best young centers in the NBA. When he missed time during the regular season, the Rockets found success with Jabari Smith Jr. sliding up as a small-ball five.
The Rockets probably could use another option at the center spot, but the opportunity cost of doing so with the third pick is probably too much. That doesn't mean Clingan isn't a great player or wouldn't help the Rockets. It just means that Sheppard projects as a better fit for Houston than Clingan does.
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