The Houston Rockets had keyed in on former Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft.
There was a chance that he could go No. 1 to the Atlanta Hawks, a team that needed to rework their backcourt. The San Antonio Spurs, who had the No. 4 and No. 8 picks, were interested in Sheppard as well. Notably, they were also linked to the Hawks in trade talks for the No. 1 pick. Yet, unlike 2022 —when the Orlando Magic snatched Paolo Banchero right out of their hands —the Rockets didn’t have to move to Plan B.
Houston got their man. Kentucky native Isaiah Reed Sheppard, whose father (Jeff) had a brief stint with the Hawks, was selected third overall. What’s happened in the short time since has only confirmed what Rockets general manager Rafael Stone believed.
Rockets’ Reed Sheppard Earns Fred VanVleet Comparisons
“He was just steady,” Rockets Summer League head coach Garrett Jackson said of Sheppard after his first Summer League game, per The Athletic’s Kelly Iko.
“Let the game come to him, making the right reads. Any time we could get him playing pick-and-roll in space, especially high on the court, he was able to make reads, attack bigs, pull up and shoot.”
No. 3 overall pick Reed Sheppard was PHENOMENAL in his #NBA2KSummerLeague debut leading the @HoustonRockets to victory!
23 PTS
— NBA (@NBA) July 13, 2024
“Those types of instincts kind of remind me of Fred (VanVleet),” Jackson continues. “Fred’s not the tallest guy, but he’s very smart. Defensively, he’s got quick hands and knows how to jump lanes. Reed is very similar.”
Fred VanVleet’s Replacement?
In many ways, Sheppard simply complements what the Rockets already have.
He’s an intelligent and crafty combo guard who’s efficient on offense and effective on defense. This helps him balance with Fred VanVleet, a more experienced playmaker, but one who doesn’t score consistently inside the arc. He’s also the yin to Jalen Green’s yang, Green possessing an athleticism Sheppard can only dream of while the rookie thrives off of technical precision.
In projecting his future outlook, Sheppard could thrive as a sixth man. Indeed, coming in to spell VanVleet or Green, he could excel in that role for the reasons listed above. Yet, interestingly, most teams have the best defensive guard coming off the bench because of their offensive deficiencies.
As a result, Sheppard could be better in the first unit.
Of course, all eyes are on Green if Sheppard is in line for a promotion. For years, the Rockets have waffled on the former No. 2 pick. Unlike Sheppard or VanVleet, he’s not steady. In fact, his game-by-game performances are like rocket ships; explosive and perhaps on the brink of history, but volatile and prone to destruction.
Yet, Sheppard’s comparisons to VanVleet are no accident. Like VanVleet, Sheppard lacks the ideal height for an off-guard at 6-foot-2. However, he has a high enough basketball IQ for him to be a lead guard. Furthermore, VanVleet has a team option on his contract for 2025-26. With that being said, he may be training his replacement this offseason.
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