No surprises here.
According to multiple reports, most namely ESPN and Bleacher Report, the Houston Rockets are showing “serious interest” in Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard with the number three pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Jeremy Woo of ESPN says that the Rockets “are intrigued by his fit as a shooter and playmaker next to their established young talent,” which isn’t surprising considering that Sheppard appears capable to fill Houston’s dire need for shooting. And with Amen Thompson still up in the air about his long term position and Aaron Holiday not likely to return this season, the Rockets have a need for a backup point guard with some playmaking chops both in the immediate and for the future.
The 19-year-old Sheppard averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game while shooting 52 percent from beyond the arc this past season for the Wildcats and is one of, if not the top shooter in the draft.
Word on the street is that the Rockets are also looking at trade possibilities with that number three pick, preferring to move it for either a help-now vet or some future assets, but should Houston elect to keep the pick, Sheppard is certainly in the running for Rockets GM Rafael Stone.
With this draft so light on top-end talent, it makes since to look a lot at team needs, and with Sheppard fitting so many of the open spaces in Houston’s roster, should the Rockets elect to stand pat, Sheppard looks to be a fine addition to a growing, young collection of talent that Ime Udoka hopes to mold into a champtionship contender.
We don’t have much longer to wait to find out, with the draft slated for June 26 and 27 at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York.