It’s time to address Houston’s issues from three-point land.
As the Houston Rockets seek avenues to improve upon their 19-game turnaround from this past season, one facet of the game that never hurts to keep adding to is three-point shooting. Although Houston made strides in that area this season, they still finished in the bottom third of the league in terms of percentage.
Improvement should rightfully be expected as a good majority of the roster is still in the infant stages of their careers, but allocating some dollars to an elite shooter in free agency should also be at the forefront. The addition of Fred VanVleet turned out to be the biggest modification in the Rockets’ three-point shooting when compared to the bottom dwelling numbers of 2022-23 season.
In addition to VanVleet, the Rockets also received a jump in efficiency from Jabari Smith Jr., and they also got pleasant results from incomers, Dillon Brooks, Aaron Holiday and Cam Whitmore. While those contributions made a positive impact, it’s important to emphasize that the Rockets will collectively need to take a much larger step in their perimeter shooting going forward in order to keep up with the rest of the league.
It comes as no coincidence that a majority of the NBA’s best teams find themselves among the top three-point shooting teams in the league. While it is generally a team effort involving multiple guys firing on all cylinders, it is also incredible how the presence of just one sharpshooter can open the floor for the rest of the unit. Even though this year’s free agent class isn’t all so great, there will still be some firepower out there for the Rockets to boost their downtown viability.
At the top of the list for me is Buddy Hield. It’s true that he had a down year that saw his trade value diminish, but it’s also factual that he has consistently been one of the most prolific three-point shooters in NBA history. Although he can be a defensive liablity, I’m really only here to focus on what these players can provide in terms of outside shooting. Only four players have made more threes in a season than Hield and that puts him in company with Steph Curry, James Harden, Klay Thompson and Paul George. Not too shabby.
Signing him outright would have been difficult in years past, but a rough year between two stops could make him one of the steals of the summer should he have a bounce back year. Houston should strike first if he’s open to signing at the non-taxpayer midlevel exception on a one-year prove it deal.
Doug McDermott, aka Dougie McBuckets, should also be considered here. He may not have brought the same level of scoring prowess into the league that he once showed at Creighton, but you’d be a fool to underestimate his ability to splash it home. I could see him occupy the Reggie Bullock role from last year when Ime Udoka was searching for someone that could potentially spread the floor.
An unlikely candidate, but someone I still think worth mentioning is Gary Trent Jr. I imagine he’d be searching for something closer to the $18 million he was paid last season and way more than what Houston could offer him, but the market will ultimately dictate what he gets. If he can’t find common ground with Toronto on a contract, maybe he looks elsewhere.
A popular report that has been kicked around Rockets’ land is a potential pursuit of Malik Beasley. Beasley had a pretty good season as Damian Lillard’s backcourt mate during a turbulent Milwaukee Bucks season. The eight-year sharpshooter will garner plenty interest around the league, but Houston presents a solid opportunity for him.
Beasley’s skills are directly in line with what the Rockets need and if he’s playing well, we all know Ime Udoka won’t hesitate to stick with the hot hand, even at the expense of others. Personally, Beasley would be my 1B to Hield’s 1A should any of these negotiations come to be.
Another player that I believe is worth considering is Taurean Prince. He’s the last person you’d think of here as a deadeye shooter, but he did enjoy his best season this past year with the Los Angeles Lakers. Even if last season’s 39.6 percent was an aberration, Prince has remained an above average shooter for his career. He also gets a nod among these options for providing the most outside of perimeter shooting.
Outside of a trade, these are the best three-point options for the Rockets this offseason – unless they want to go scorched earth and make a run at Klay Thompson…
Haha. That will never happen.
Otherwise, they can look to address perimeter shooting in the draft. Does anybody else hear Reed Sheppard’s music playing?