2023 NBA Draft Top Lottery Questions and Scenarios
Our own Nathan Grubel examines the top of the 2023 NBA Draft and answers questions related to the picks of the San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Houston Rockets.
Around this time of the year, hardcore NBA fans are looking to lock in on specific prospects for the upcoming NBA Draft to figure out who their favorite teams might take.
While this is a noble cause (and one we have you covered on at No Ceilings in case you need extra reading and listening material!), there’s more to the draft than just evaluating players.
Teams are worried about draft position for a variety of reasons, a few of them extending past getting the first overall pick to draft a generational talent (in this case, Victor Wembanyama). Depending on where a specific pick falls, it means exploring other options than just drafting the best player available on a team’s board.
Are there certain teams that would benefit from trading their first-round pick in exchange for veterans that are geared towards win-now scenarios? Or is it smarter for some teams to trade back, gain some valuable assets, and still have a prime lottery pick to get a good player to build with for the future? What about if a team DOES stay where it’s at to select a certain player at the top? What are the next steps to actually building a winning situation around said talent?
These are real questions that will have to be answered sooner rather than later over this next month. And while plenty of rumors will swirl around the clubs selecting in the Top 4 of the 2023 draft, it’s worth examining the discourse surrounding these selections and what it could mean for the league as a whole beyond June 22nd.
That’s why I wanted to take a look at legitimate scenarios that are in play for the San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Houston Rockets. What these teams choose to do could impact next season and beyond for not just their particular situation, but for others as well depending on potential trades and free agent signings.
Let’s break down the current positions of each of these teams and evaluate which direction(s) they should go during the 2023 draft and offseason!
*All statistics courtesy of Dunks and Threes and Basketball-Reference*
How Should the Spurs Build Around Victor Wembanyama Next Season?
We all know what Victor Wembanyama is capable of and has the potential to do from day one in the NBA. And if for some reason you’re coming in fresh and haven’t seen the 7’4” alien take the court for Metropolitans 92, we have you covered with some highlights below!
This dude is unbelievable. A center who can handle the ball, create shots off the bounce, operate from the elbows as well as the post, dominate in the short roll, and cover nearly the entire floor on defense? We’ve never seen a player quite like Wembanyama.
Which begs the question, how should the San Antonio Spurs look to build around Wembanyama to make sure he’s given the best chance to succeed during his rookie year and onward?
The current Spurs depth chart has pieces all over the board at multiple positions, with talented wings and forwards such as Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Doug McDermott, and Malaki Branham. Between mismatch scoring, perimeter shooting, secondary playmaking, and in the case of Sochan, versatile defensive ability, San Antonio actually has some decent pieces to work with when surrounding a franchise centerpiece.
Bringing in Wembanyama helps make the lives easier for each of these guys currently on the roster. Johnson and Sochan will thrive off the spacing provided by Wembanyama, Vassell, and Branham get a partner in pick-and-roll that they haven’t had the chance to play with, and McDermott can let it fly and work off a talented big like Victor.
What this team is missing though are two key ingredients to taking the next step in the Western Conference outside of experience and development: a veteran point guard who can organize the offense and hit outside shots, AND a backup at center to Wembanyama who has plenty of experience to help mentor the young fella.
In this day and age, teams are always looking to throw assets and contracts at two-way wings who can get their own shot and defend their position. San Antonio has a number of those guys already, meaning there’s an opportunity to spend on a lead guard should the right player become available.
Could Chris Paul become available given the current debacle going on in Phoenix in terms of turning a few of their top names around Kevin Durant and Devin Booker into depth at the wing and forward spots? How about if Fred VanVleet doesn’t accept his $22 million player option and becomes an unrestricted free agent? Or one of the most fun scenarios of them all: In having anywhere between $34-54 million in projected cap space, could the Spurs throw an offer sheet at Austin Reaves for the max it can offer?
Any of these three guards know how to play out of pick-and-roll, can hit outside shots, and bring winning experience to a team that desperately needs an injection of it to further bring along the young bucks.
Other options that could be available include D’Angelo Russell and Russell Westbrook in the unrestricted free market should the team feel frisky enough to roll the dice, as well as Gabe Vincent (restricted free agent) who has played his tail off for the Miami Heat in the playoffs.
While there could be a few other guards who come on the market closer to the draft and during the free agency period, these are some names I would strongly consider throwing a bag at (ideally any of the Paul, VanVleet, and Reaves trio) to get Wembanyama someone who provides more offensive value than current options Tre Jones (also an RFA) and Blake Wesley.
As for big men, two interesting names that could be available given the flux of their team are Nikola Vucevic and Andre Drummond, both coming off years with the Chicago Bulls. Should Chicago look to retool the roster, both could become available to sign.
In the case of Drummond, he would be a more traditional backup that would provide size and strength behind Wembanyama that the starting lineup would lack. As for Vucevic, he’s a good study for Wembanyama in terms of learning the dance in the pick-and-pop game, especially if a veteran PG is brought in. Not to mention he’s been in big games and knows how to leverage his physicality on the glass to provide more muscle as a super sixth man.
Other bigs to watch for include Thomas Bryant, Bismack Biyombo, and Mo Wagner, which offer additional floor spacing and/or toughness at the center position.
Grabbing some of these pieces would provide needed rotational depth at key positions where younger players generally struggle to come in and impact from day one. Sure, the Spurs have a few young guards that provide intriguing upside in the long term. But which of them is providing what Wembanyama needs from day one in comparison to the names mentioned as potential spending targets? And for centers, where is the true size on this roster behind Victor?
I would expect San Antonio to evaluate these options and plenty more as it prepares for Wembanyama’s rookie season. For a team that couldn’t score or defend well (29th in offensive rating and 30th in defensive rating), Wembanyama helps in both regards in a major way. The next challenge is building around the margins with the veterans that matter for all young, developing rosters.
Should the Charlotte Hornets Draft Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller?
In case you missed it last week, we published a group article going over this very topic that is certainly worth checking out in addition to what you’ll read here!
And even though I was one of those participants, it’s worth bringing up this topic again because it’s going to lead to a fierce debate in the draft community, and I want to make sure my position is clear in terms of my personal draft philosophy.
Look, I’m best player available regardless of fit at the end of the day. It’s what led me to mocking Jalen Green to the Houston Rockets a few years ago, and why I argued for the Sacramento Kings to take Jaden Ivey despite what Keegan Murray did for the team in his rookie year.
Talent wins in the NBA, but SOMETIMES fit has to be taken into account depending on what established stars are already on a team’s roster. That’s why the Kings didn’t want to invest in another combo guard to jam into the puzzle that was the De’Aaron Fox/Domantas Sabonis pick-and-roll combo. Murray not only presented upside of his own, but also spaced the floor around that key combination and boy, did that pay off even in the playoffs against the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
For those reasons, Brandon Miller has soared up boards and has even passed the preseason consensus #2 prospect in Scoot Henderson.
A 6’9” wing who showed much more comfort towards the end of the college year at handling the ball, making plays for others on the break as well as in the halfcourt, and a lethal outside shooter at high volume, Miller’s game is everything the modern NBA wants at that position. It’s fairly easy to envision him impacting every roster in the league, and versatility and translatable fit provide real value when projecting who will have the most OPPORTUNITY to develop into a potential star.
Henderson, however, is a more specific prospect given the position that he plays. Whether he’s on or off the ball, Henderson is a guard through and through. Despite his stature and wingspan, he’s still 6’2” and is primed to lead as a point guard. No matter where he’s drafted, he won’t be scaling too far up the lineup meaning that his fit is pretty locked in as far as different combinations are concerned.
So why would a team pass on a guy who doesn’t have to be pigeonholed specifically?
Because Henderson, that player in question, is damn good at what he does.
In my time evaluating prospects for the NBA Draft (12 years), I’ve NEVER come across a guard quite like Scoot. His pacing and poise within the pick-and-roll for a 19-year-old floor general are quite advanced. There’s a certain cadence and timing that’s involved in determining what decisions to make out of one of the league’s most common play types, and through two years in the G-League Ignite program, Henderson has proven he has the tools and instincts to make the most out of a spread offensive attack.
Hitting the roll man in stride, operating in two-man, give-and-go style attacks, kickouts, and skip passes. Henderson has every trick in the book on top of an explosive first step, the ability to change gears and stop on a dime, and the strength to deal out as much punishment as he can take on drives to the rim.
I can keep going on and on about Henderson’s positives on offense (yes, the jumper from deep is his biggest negative right now) but even those qualities aren’t the full picture as to why I’m banging the table to take him at 2 if I’m in charge of the Charlotte Hornets.
Henderson’s background intel and overall character analysis are both off the charts from everything that I’ve heard from sources close to his situation. He’s going to do EVERYTHING in his power to succeed and reach his absolute peak as a professional basketball player. And to be honest, I’m not even sure what that ceiling looks like given how polished he already is as a prospect.
It’s why I’ve compared him to 2.0 versions of two Hall-of-Fame guards that have succeeded at the highest levels in Chris Paul and Isiah Thomas. Both of these guys impacted their organizations in a major way from the second they stepped on the floor for the first time. And while almost all rookies struggle to impact winning or play efficient brands of basketball early on, I see Henderson in that same light in terms of ceiling based on how he reads and processes the game.
IF that outcome is legitimately on the table, that’s one that shouldn’t be passed on at the top of the draft UNLESS that player ahead is named Victor Wembanyama. For all that I’ve watched Miller and like him as a prospect (3rd overall on my personal big board), I do not believe he has the ingredients to strike and lead as the second-best or at times best player on a team that is competing deep into the playoffs to win a championship.
“But Nathan, even if you don’t believe in Miller the same ways that you do Henderson, WHY are you taking another point guard when All-Star caliber guard LaMelo Ball is already on the roster?”
That’s a great question that’s likely coming from someone reading this column. My honest answer to it is that I’m not completely sold on Ball leading a team in the same way that I trust Henderson to within a few years.
Ball is as talented as they come in terms of jumbo initiators that can see over the defense, create their own shot from distance, and control the pace of a game. In terms of pure talent, there’s a reason why some have dubbed Ball as a real challenger to be the next face of the league at some point in his career.
That being said, Ball doesn’t play the same way that Henderson does. He doesn’t pressure the rim or finish at a high level, he’s still a streaky shooter from distance, and while he has the vision of a high-level playmaker, his turnovers can come off as sloppy and careless more so than experimental and creative.
And even if these are rather harsh criticisms for a player who is still adapting to the NBA and hasn’t exactly had a talented cast of characters around him in Charlotte, his style of play doesn’t lend itself to winning at the highest level. Henderson looks to set the tone on both ends of the floor when the lights are on, and I’m going to bet on that player to lead my team 10 times out of 10.
I say all of this not to suggest the Hornets should explore trade possibilities around Ball from the minute Henderson would be drafted. Great players tend to figure out how to play with other great players.
Henderson could thrive off Ball in different ball screen actions in the halfcourt as well as in transition. Henderson leaking out in transition would be the perfect target for Ball’s signature hit-ahead passes. Ball’s catch-and-shoot game could become even better off perfectly placed kick-out looks from Henderson’s penetration. And the Hornets having a guard that can attack the basket with force gives the team a different look that’s needed when Ball isn’t at the helm.
Even if the experiment wouldn’t work out after a few seasons, either guard could likely fetch a significant offer from another team, which would yield the assets needed to continue building toward a championship. Henderson would likely stick around as the younger prospect who has the leadership and style of play to complement other guys recently drafted such as Mark Williams.
There is an opportunity here for Charlotte to focus on more than just the product on the floor. Drafting Henderson is an opportunity to further add to the culture that’s being constructed under Steve Clifford.
Having a player who would challenge Ball to be his best and hold him accountable along with the other veterans on the roster could be just what this organization needs to take a meaningful step forward.
And I’m saying none of this to take away from Miller, who I expect to have a great career as a starting-caliber wing.
I just believe Henderson has the upside to be much, much more.
Trade Options For the Portland Trail Blazers
It’s no secret that there are plenty of reports and rumors swirling around the Portland Trail Blazers’ options in regards to possibly moving off the #3 pick in the draft.
Damian Lillard is still the captain of the team, and someone who deserves every chance he can get to potentially win a title.
Given that the Trail Blazers may not run into another Top 3 pick for quite some time if Lillard has anything to say about it, now is a great inflection point for the franchise. Is this the time to draft the type of player that can fit around Lillard and its core, as well as possibly lead the organization well after Lillard is gone?
Or does Portland move the pick in a package to bring back another star player to slot alongside Lillard for the next few seasons?
Threading the needle between winning now and building for the future is a nearly impossible task, just ask the Golden State Warriors how that one is going. So is it fair to ask Portland to straddle that same line between looking to contend and preparing for life without Lillard?
Ultimately, I strongly believe the Trail Blazers will exhaust all options to surround Lillard with a co-star that can help the team remain relevant and make the most of what it has with arguably the most important figure in franchise history (yes, I know a few other historic figures would like a word).
Why do I feel that way? Well, there’s been enough dialogue in the media over recent years to move off Lillard and embrace the dynamic backcourt of Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe. That line of thinking is easier said than done!
Think about the buzz and business that comes from having a superstar like Lillard suit up. Ticket sales, local awareness, ratings, national media attention: these things come with Lillard remaining in the building. Not only that, but Lillard hasn’t wanted to leave! He’s loyal to Portland, and he wants to give his all towards winning a championship in this city, not another.
Therefore, the odds that this is when Portland will push its star out the door in a different kind of trade are slim, meaning it’s time to figure out the best use of lottery luck and the 3rd pick!
In any projected Trail Blazers move, the names that will come to mind in terms of stars will be wings because Portland hasn’t had a great small forward in quite some time. Lillard’s greatest players that have been in the building alongside him have been guards or forwards in CJ McCollum and LaMarcus Aldridge.
Not only do the current names not inspire much hope on the wing in terms of contending for a championship (Cam Reddish, Matisse Thybulle, Nassir Little, and Justise Winslow), but by metrics, the Trail Blazers struggled at defending the three-point line and scoring from areas on the floor inside the arc that are usually reserved for top-tier shot makers with size.
Who are the guys who could become available in a deal with the Blazers? I have some ideas, but it’s important to examine any trade possibility from BOTH sides, and what each package not only returns in value but sends out as well.
I came up with four names that have either reportedly been on the table in trade talks over the last year, or who are projected to become available should the right team come calling: Jaylen Brown, DeMar DeRozan, OG Anunoby, and Paul George.
Each of those projected targets offers a level of risk in making a deal for them. Brown and DeRozan both only have one year left on their current deals and would be looking at multi-year extensions, while Anunoby and George have player options for the 2024-25 season.
While having the flexibility to sign those guys on contracts that could further secure the future of Lillard and crew with guaranteed support on the wing, those players could just as easily demand out and refuse to sign an extension meaning that real assets were exchanged out for a potential rental.
These dynamics, along with everything that goes into the locker room off the court, are things that aren’t always brought up when thinking about potential trades (along with of course the value of the deal and the assets going both ways in said deal).
But because we like to have fun here at No Ceilings, I came up with trade offers centered around the best collection of assets the Trail Blazers have to offer being any combination of Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, Nassir Little, 3rd and 23rd picks in the 2023 draft, as well as the team’s first-round pick in 2029.
Let’s start with a player who is at the forefront of everyone’s mind given some poor results in the Eastern Conference (sorry Rucker):
Boston Celtics Get: Anfernee Simons, Nassir Little, 2023 Portland Trail Blazers 1st-Round Pick, 2029 Portland Trail Blazers 1st-Round Pick
Portland Trail Blazers Get: Jaylen Brown
I can see why both teams would accept OR reject this potential deal (any of these trade offers, the framework can be tinkered with but most of the assets would remain the same).
On the Portland side of things, Brown is arguably the best realistic trade target the team could find on the wing. Even though he will need to be signed on an extension, the 26-year-old All-Star just came off an All-NBA caliber season in which he averaged 26.6 PPG on 49.1/33.5/76.5 shooting splits. Brown can defend the other team’s best perimeter option while serving as a secondary creator and shot-maker next to Lillard.
But, would the Trail Blazers be giving up too much in this deal, as well as some of the others I can present in this exercise? Simons is locked up on a four-year deal, and just came off his age 21 season averaging over 21 PPG. A combo guard who is becoming more comfortable leading an offense, not just scoring within it, Simons has the type of All-Star talent that the franchise could build with long after Lillard is gone, and adding the third pick and Sharpe into that equation is a solid foundation.
Whether Simons himself as well as draft capital would be enough for Boston to do the deal, or if Sharpe could be negotiated in, there’s a real argument for the Celtics also not saying yes to this projected trade.
Either Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller are fantastic pieces to build within on the perimeter and could fit into what Brown did for the team OR offer a different dimension at point in the case of Henderson. Boston would get a real talent on a cheaper contract than Brown’s, while also having the flexibility to continue to make deals with other players on the roster to find a combination that best fits around Jayson Tatum.
But the real question here is, can Tatum be sold on taking potentially one step back to take a few forward within the next year or two? That’s a hypothetical I honestly don’t know the answer to, and one that shouldn’t be speculated on by any outside of the organization, myself included.
Yes, the East feels pretty wide open after the collapse of the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Brooklyn Nets. But that doesn’t mean the Celtics could cakewalk to the Finals after removing one of the team’s core pillars over the last five years.
So if that deal is complicated, how much easier are any of the others to pull off?
Chicago Bulls Get: Anfernee Simons, Nassir Little, 2023 Portland Trail Blazers 1st-Round Pick
Portland Trail Blazers Get: DeMar DeRozan
Other draft assets that could be included in the deal aside, this would seem to me like too much for Portland to give up for an aging wing in DeRozan who has had two spectacular years in Chicago but could also reach a point where he’s not able to return the same value that was given up to get him.
If I were the Bulls, I would absolutely say yes in the deal as there is no guarantee the current trio of DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic will be on the roster next year. Having a young centerpiece in Simons to build with along with either of Henderson or Miller would be excellent for the Bulls, while the Trail Blazers likely still top out at a first-round exit with the quartet of Lillard, DeRozan, Sharpe, and Jusuf Nurkic.
Toronto Raptors Get: Anfernee Simons, 2023 Portland Trail Blazers 1st-Round Pick, 2023 New York Knicks 1st-Round Pick, 2029 Portland Trail Blazers 1st-Round Pick
Portland Trail Blazers Get: OG Anunoby
It was rumored during the previous trade deadline that Anunoby was worth as many as THREE first-round picks, which is what the Trail Blazers would give up here along with Simons to make the money work.
Again, while Anunoby is a starting small forward that EVERY NBA team would love to have, is THIS the right price to pay for that player? Depleting draft capital for a team that could jump to a rebuilding phase any day now for a guy who has at most two years and then has to be re-signed?
Lillard deserves more help on the wing, but Anunoby has not proven he’s more than a spot-up threat who can defend a few positions. As valuable as Anunoby could be to have in the playoffs, there’s a reason why he wasn’t moved at the deadline if that’s the true asking price in my opinion. I can’t see a scenario in which a version of this deal is ultimately offered by Portland.
LA Clippers Get: Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, Jusuf Nurkic, 2023 Portland Trail Blazers 1st-Round Pick, 2029 Portland Trail Blazers 1st-Round Pick
Portland Trail Blazers Get: Paul George, Ivica Zubac
This last deal is very similar to the Boston Celtics offer pitched for Brown, except George is on the other side of that age range AND has dealt with multiple injuries over the last years. For as much as Kawhi Leonard’s absence has hampered the success of the Clippers, George wasn’t available for the recent postseason exit to the Phoenix Suns.
If George is healthy, he’s still one of the best wings in the NBA who can score and shoot at will, make plays for others, and take the toughest opposing assignment defensively. That is a big IF though, especially given the fact that Lillard has also suffered injuries that have limited his play the last few years.
Giving up the assets to make the deal work both financially and value-wise for a player of George’s caliber would be one hell of a gamble, one that could prove to be a favor for the Clippers as a soft reset around Leonard.
Again, those proposed deals could all be modified to take back different salaries and/or draft assets, but the main point still stands: trading the 3rd overall pick is far from an easy exercise to complete.
Is it just easier to take one of Miller or Henderson at #3 and then look to use the 23rd overall pick to address size and versatility behind Jusuf Nurkic or hunt for more depth on the wing? Absolutely. Committing to going after success in the playoffs is riskier than it sounds, and sometimes DRAFTING the best talent available is the RIGHT choice to make.
What Should the Houston Rockets Do At 4?
Speaking of options, the Houston Rockets have PLENTY with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft.
There is no guaranteed path to success for the Rockets with its current young nucleus, albeit a talented one. Jalen Green, Jabari Smith, Alperen Sengun, and Tari Eason are all very talented players that fill a multitude of position groups. Kevin Porter Jr. is still along for the ride, along with guys like Josh Christopher, TyTy Washington, Usman Garuba, and others.
Now bringing in Ime Udoka, it’s clear this organization was looking for a strong voice in charge to bring along the young guys and show them what winning basketball looks like.
In doing so, there’s still plenty of work to be done as far as evaluating the current pieces on the roster, determining which veterans are best to have long term, and most importantly figuring out WHO to bring in next with this year’s draft selections.
Currently, the Rockets have pick #4 as well as #20. Houston does have some Brooklyn Nets picks to deal along with their own after 2028. There are some pieces here for the Rockets to make a number of deals both to move up or possibly for more experienced talent to add to this core.
But WHAT should Houston do to maximize on its collection of assets and build back to the playoffs in the Western Conference?
My answer remains the same: explore ALL possibilities to trade up for Scoot Henderson.
If I’m in charge of the Rockets, that’s my top priority. Henderson is the type of point guard this roster desperately needs to get Green, Sengun, and Smith the types of shots they need to be successful. A two-man game around Henderson and Sengun could be lethal given Henderson’s explosive pop and driving ability, and not to mention having Green as a secondary option out of those sets is icing on the cake. On top of all the skill offensively, Henderson would bring tenacity defensively to the top of the court and help to limit penetration and stop the ball.
So what would it cost to move up a few spots? What would trades with either the Charlotte Hornets or Portland Trail Blazers look like?
Charlotte Hornets Get: 2023 Houston Rockets 1st-Round Pick, 2023 LA Clippers 1st-Round Pick, Either of Brooklyn’s 2024 or 2026 1st-Round Picks, Tari Eason
Houston Rockets Get: 2023 Charlotte Hornets 1st-Round Pick, Nick Richards
In this type of scenario, Houston would trade up to take the best player available in Henderson to pair with Green and Sengun for the long term, while also picking up a player who has first-round value in Richards that could back up Sengun and provide depth and size in the middle. Yes, this trade sends Eason out the door but you have to give up talent to acquire it.
From Charlotte’s perspective, the fourth pick could still yield a talented forward like Cam Whitmore or Jarace Walker to help provide defensive ability and scoring punch, along with Eason who was one of the league’s most productive young players off the bench. He could be an answer for Charlotte at the small forward position, and would play great into the strengths of LaMelo Ball and his transition attack.
Would either team make this deal? I certainly think this type of framework could help both teams build for sure. Whether this trade is what would happen or if some modifications would need to be made, the majority of what’s listed above is how a deal would have to be started in negotiations. And if Houston has the chance to get Henderson, all options should be exhausted.
Portland Trail Blazers Get: 2023 Houston Rockets 1st-Round Pick, Either of Brooklyn’s 2024 or 2026 1st-Round Picks, Either of Tari Eason/Jae’Sean Tate
Houston Rockets Get: 2023 Portland Trail Blazers 1st-Round Pick, Nassir Little
I’m sure Houston fans would LOVE to move up by using this year’s Clippers pick instead of one of the future Brooklyn picks, but you have to give something to get, as would be the case with moving either of Eason or Tate in the deal.
Yet, this would also yield a top prospect to build with in return, and comes into play if Charlotte were to select Miller instead of Henderson.
No matter which way you look at it, the Rockets have real deals on the table to move up and this is a draft I would do so to get the best player not named Victor Wembanyama.
Should the Rockets NOT want to trade up, there are still a number of intriguing prospects projected to be in play including Amen or Ausar Thompson, Cam Whitmore, and Jarace Walker. All provide different strengths and weaknesses, but could help the core of Green, Smith, and Sengun excel on both ends of the floor.
Amen Thompson seems to be the consensus target for Houston since the conclusion of the draft lottery, and he would make quite a bit of sense for the Rockets given the need at point. Thompson would be handed the keys next to Green, and his first-step quickness and ability to pressure the rim and kick out would give the Rockets TWO of those guys in the starting lineup. Despite Thompson not being the most active off-ball cutter during his time with Overtime Elite, what better way to unlock that part of his game than playing with a high-post facilitator like Sengun?
Ausar shouldn’t be ruled out of this spot either. His off-ball game is more NBA-ready than Amen’s, and if the offense is going to be run through not only Sengun but also Green out of screen-and-roll sets, then why can’t Ausar provide spacing, cutting, and live-ball playmaking ability as the other option in the backcourt? Not to mention he projects to be a significant defensive upgrade over someone like Porter IF his upside pans out.
Amen is the cleaner fit of the two, along with the prospect having the highest ceiling should the rest of his scoring package round out. If either of those two wouldn’t stand out to Houston’s scouting department, Whitmore or Walker could bolster the frontcourt and give the Rockets one of the best forward rotations across the league in terms of raw talent. Not to mention, guard or wing could still be targeted with the 20th pick as well as center depth if an option like Dereck Lively or James Nnaji would be on the table.
My personal favorite outside of selecting either of Amen or Ausar is drafting Whitmore at #4, taking the preferred prospect of choice at #20, and then using a few future assets to trade back into the first round and finding a guard like Marcus Sasser to support the backcourt. Even though he’s similar in stature to that of recent draftee Washington, Sasser projects better as a starter given his defensive profile, shot creation ability, and leadership qualities he expressed during his time as a Cougar underneath Kelvin Sampson.
No matter which direction the Rockets go, this team has plenty of options. And that’s the important thing to keep in mind, especially with the possibility of one James Harden on the horizon. Flexibility is something every great organization has, so let’s see if Houston can capitalize and strike to move back into the thick of the race in the Western Conference.