Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard overwhelming pick for Houston Rockets in NBA mock draft

The Houston Rockets have glaring holes in their quest to become a competitive club. They also have a lot of talent, both winning and young developing players, that they are trying to integrate into their rotation and schemes.

It goes without saying that decisions will have to be made over the long term. General manager Rafael Stone has some decisions to make, and it starts with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, an event less than two weeks away.

The Rockets’ overwhelming selection among every mock draft has been Kentucky Wildcats star guard Reed Sheppard — although occasional mocks see UConn big man Donovan Clingan ending up in Houston.

Should Sheppard be the pick for Houston though?

One of the team’s biggest issues, despite some improvement last season, was shooting and spacing. Whether the team decides to run the offense through Jalen Green or Alperen Sengun – two options that significantly change the team’s outlook – playmaking and floor spacing are necessary.

In both of these options, Sheppard seems like a good choice. He’s a pure athlete and marksman, a combination that will most likely translate to the NBA, and quickly. At 6-foot-2 and 182 pounds, he’s a bit smaller, but his ability to knock away shots incredibly well and using his athleticism, he can mask that.

With a crowded rotation, Sheppard still seems like a solid pick. The Kentucky product only started in five of his 33 appearances for the Wildcats, although he averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

Sheppard has been very productive off the bench in Lexington, so he would fit in nicely behind Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green until some possible roster consolidation takes place. Alongside Amen Thompson, the backcourt would be complementary off the bench and the Rockets’ depth would be strong.

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