Who the Rockets could target at 23 and 24
The Rockets are in a somewhat favorable position despite their 17-55 worst-in-NBA record last year. Between promising young players like Kevin Porter Jr, KJ Martin, Jae’Sean Tate and the 2nd overall pick in this year's draft, the Rockets have some building blocks for their next playoff team. But while everyone debates who the Rockets will choose with that 2nd pick, I wanted to look at who the Rockets could acquire with their other 1st round choices (the 23rd and 24th.) Here are just 3 players the Rockets could select at those spots.
Sharife Cooper, Auburn, Guard
20 years old, 6”1, 180lbs,
20.2 PTS 4.3 REB 8.1 AST 4.2 TO 0.3 BLK 1.0 STL 39.1 FG% 22.8 3P% 82.5 FT%
Sharife Cooper is a tremendous athlete and an excellent finisher. He is a willing passer and he has a great handle. He is also a great rebounder for his size and a solid defender. His points and assists per game make him seem like a top 10 pick but his low 3 point shooting percentage is very worrying. The modern NBA calls for everyone to be able to shoot the 3, especially guards. He also can play carelessly on offense sometimes which can be seen in his turnovers per game. Despite these flaws the Rockets should consider themselves lucky should Cooper be available to them and jump on that opportunity. His persistence and craftiness at the rim are incredible to watch and his ability to create points for others is nearly unmatched.
Miles McBride, West Virginia, Guard
20 years old, 6”2, 200lbs,
15.8 PTS 3.9 REB 4.9 AST 1.8 TO 0.3 BLK 1.9 STL 43.0 FG% 41.4 3P% 81.3 FT%
Miles McBride is a great athlete and better defender who has tools that will help him succeed at the next level. His ability to create open looks off the dribble has made him an interesting prospect as has his ability to shoot from deep. He also possesses an excellent fadeaway However his shot can be streaky and he needs to prove himself as a true point guard at the next level. McBride is seen as more of a second round pick by most.
Usman Garubas, Real Madrid, Forward
19 years old, 6”8, 230lbs
4.7 PTS 0.8 AST 4.6 REB 1.0 TO 0.5 BLK 0.7 STL 47.1FG% 31.6 3P% 65.9FT%
Marca.com
Usman Garuba is the best player listed in this blog. Don’t let the numbers fool you, he is a great athlete who can jump out of the gym and muscle people on both sides of the ball. He can shoot the ball from outside, but most of his offensive game is dunks and layups. He has tremendous length and speed which makes him great in transition and as a help side defender. There are still some questions as to how he will perform offensively in the NBA as most of his points came from his offensive scheme. Also, the fact that he is playing in a pro league and has been since 2018 is an added plus as his level of competition is higher than any college player. The Rockets should consider it a mistake by all preceding teams if he is still available.
Ultimately the Rockets could go in many different directions with their 2 later selections, but what is important is that they make these picks count. Players like Paskal Siakam, Immanuel Quickley, Jarrett Allen, OG Anunoby, Clint Capela, and Rudy Gobert have all been selected in or near the 23rd and 24th pick and they all are major contributors on the teams they are on now. With proper attention to the players selected and patience on their development they could blossom into future stars or even just solid role men.
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