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2024 NBA Draft Thread - the hawks might be on the clock
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by addict4sneakers,
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Post that mock.
addict4sneakers
addict4sneakers
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1. Orlando Magic
JABARI SMITH
AuburnFreshman
PF
6’10” | 210 | Wingspan: 7’1”
Age on draft night: 19.1
Smith is arguably the best shooter in the draft — he hit 42% from 3 on 5.5 attempts per game.
Smith has the size, length and athleticism to defend multiple positions, and plenty of scouts believe he has the highest upside in this class. He already possesses an elite skill set with his outside shooting.
Smith, who turned 19 last week, is six months younger than Banchero and a full year younger than Holmgren.
Orlando has young talent at every position but has a glaring need for a consistent floor spacer, as the Magic ranked near the bottom in the league in 3-point field goal percentage.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
CHET HOLMGREN
GonzagaFreshman
PF/C
7’0” | 195 | Wingspan: 7’6”
Age on draft night: 20.1
Holmgren is perhaps the most unique prospect to enter the NBA in years with his ability to protect the rim at a high level, space the floor with efficiency, handle the ball and pass — he’s earned the right to be labeled a unicorn.
There are going to be questions about his size and frame and if he’ll be able to add muscle, but there are no concerns about his toughness and willingness to compete against bigger and stronger players.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey are franchise cornerstones, and adding Holmgren to the mix would fill an important piece to OKC’s rebuilding puzzle and provide the Thunder with shooting and rim protection.
3. Houston Rockets
PAOLO BANCHERO
DukeFreshman
PF/C
6’10” | 250 | Wingspan: 7’0”
Age on draft night: 19.6
Despite finishing with the worst record in the NBA for the second season in a row, the Rockets have reasons to be optimistic after drafting Jalen Green, Alperen Şengün and Josh Christopher last July.
Green has superstar potential written all over him and is expected to rank among the league’s scoring leaders next season after averaging 22.1 points per game after the All-Star break.
Banchero is the most NBA-ready of the Tier 1 prospects in the 2022 NBA draft class. At 6’10” and 250 pounds, he has the body to handle the upgrade in physicality and could even see minutes as a small-ball center. We’ve seen in the NBA playoffs how traditional centers can be played off the floor no matter how good they are on the defensive end.
Banchero would give Rockets a weapon who can score on three levels and serve as a secondary playmaker.
4. Sacramento Kings
JADEN IVEY
PurdueSophomore
SG
6’4” | 200 | Wingspan: 6’9”
Age on draft night: 20.4
Ivey should be the first guard off the board and could sneak into the top three according to the NBA scouts I’ve talked to.
He is a relentless competitor who can change games with his athleticism and can play both guard spots.
Ivey to Sacramento creates an interesting fit, considering the Kings need outside shooting and already have De’Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell in the backcourt.
5. Detroit Pistons
SHAEDON SHARPE
KentuckyFreshman
Shooting Guard
6’ 5” | 215 |
Age on Draft Night: 19.1
Sharpe is the biggest wildcard in the draft after electing to skip college basketball and enter the NBA after a strong summer in the 2021 Nike EYBL and a partial season on Kentucky’s roster.
At his pro day on Monday, Sharpe showcased his athleticism and shooting touch for NBA personnel, many of whom were seeing him in person for the first time.
His size, athleticism, advanced shotmaking and defensive potential push Sharpe ahead of the more experienced college stars.
I covered more of Sharpe’s unique journey here.
6. Indiana Pacers
KEEGAN MURRAY
IowaSophomore
W
6’9” | 223 | Wingspan: 7’0”
Age on draft night: 21.8
Murray put up monster numbers in his sophomore season at Iowa, displaying a well-rounded offensive game and defensive versatility. He’s an inside/outside scoring threat who excels as a transition finisher.
Murray’s outside shooting would greatly benefit the Pacers, as he connected on 39.8% of his attempts from deep on a little under five attempts per game.
7. Portland Trail Blazers
BENNEDICT MATHURIN
ArizonaSophomore
Wing
6’7” | 210 | Wingspan: 6’9”
Age on draft night: 20.0
Portland is looking for a quick return to the playoffs and a player who can come in and complement Damian Lillard and contribute to winning right away.
Mathurin is an athletic, plug-and-play wing who can defend multiple positions and knock down open shots.
He’s a developing and much-improved ball-handler and playmaker who could end up being more than just a 3-and-D wing that makes athletic plays in transition.
His defined role as a shooting and transition finisher fits what the Blazers need.
8. New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers)
AJ GRIFFIN
DukeFreshman
W
6’7” | 195 | Wingspan: 7’0”
Age on draft night: 18.8
Griffin shot a sizzling 44.7% from 3 in a limited role, but showed flashes of what made him such a highly touted recruit and a projected top-5 pick who has drawn comparisons to Miami Heat All-Star Jimmy Butler.
Griffin’s medical records will likely determine his draft position, as he missed time with lower leg injuries in high school and college.
Duke brought Griffin along slowly this season, and he settled for a role as a 3-point specialist in contrast to the athletic, slashing, and shot-creating prospect he was in high school.
9. San Antonio Spurs
JALEN DUREN
MemphisFreshman
C
6’11” | 250 | Wingspan: 7’5.25”
Age on draft night: 18.6
Duren is an athletic, rim-protecting interior presence with an NBA-ready body despite being one of the youngest prospects in the draft at age 18.
He’s still a little raw offensively, but he showed glimpses of a low-post game and passing instincts as a freshman.
Duren projects as a vertical lob threat who scores off hustle and energy plays, as he’s an excellent finisher around the rim with great hands.
10. Washington Wizards
JOHNNY DAVIS
WisconsinSophomore
Shooting Guard
6’5” | 195
Age on draft night: 20.3
Washington has an interesting offseason ahead, as it could lose Bradley Beal in free agency.
Assuming they keep Beal, the Wizards’ most glaring need is at point guard, so they could take a long look at TyTy Washington and combo guards Dyson Daniels and Blake Wesley. But Davis is a more highly rated prospect, making him a more natural pick here.
Davis had a breakout sophomore season, averaging 19.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He is a fierce competitor who excels on both ends of the floor.
Davis is one of the best shotmakers in this draft class and would be an excellent long-term pick for Washington, especially if Beal leaves this summer.
11. New York Knicks
BLAKE WESLEY
Notre DameFreshman
G
6’5” | 185 | Wingspan: 6’11”
Age on draft night: 19.3
Now that I’ve taken a deeper dive into game film and watched Wesley work out in Las Vegas, he is the biggest riser on my latest mock draft.
At 6’5” Wesley can play both guard spots and is a crafty and creative ball-handler who can attack the rim and make advanced passing reads. He has some of the same juice as Tyrese Maxey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
While the Knicks would have other options at point guard, I believe Wesley has the brightest future as a lead playmaker and multipositional defender.
If the Knicks embrace a youth movement, Wesley would have plenty of opportunity in New York.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LA Clippers)
JEREMY SOCHAN
BaylorFreshman
F
6’9” | 230 | Wingspan: 7’0”
Age on draft night: 19.1
Sochan emerged as a potential lottery pick late in the season. His energy and his combination of size, athleticism and defensive talent allow him to guard up to five positions — he has the makings of an All-NBA defender. He’s smart, tough and competitive, with a motor that never stops.
He’s also a solid offensive threat, as he can score in the post or attack off the dribble. The biggest concern is his outside shooting, as he only shot 29.6% from 3 and 58.9% from the foul line. But he’s shown promise as a passer and he scored in double figures in eight of his last 10 games.
Adding Holmgren and Sochan would give the Thunder two of the best defenders in this class.
13. Charlotte Hornets
MARK WILLIAMS
DukeSophomore
Center
7’0” | 243 | Wingspan: 7’7”
Age on draft night: 20.5
I’ve had Mark Williams moving from Durham to Charlotte in my few mock drafts, as I believe he’s the perfect defensive-minded vertical lob threat to play next to LaMelo Ball.
Williams understands his role as a rim protector, rebounder and hustle player who finishes efficiently around the rim and brings energy and effort every night.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers
DYSON DANIELS
G League Ignite (via Australia)W
6’6” | 200 | Wingspan: 6’7”
Age on draft night: 19.3
Daniels is a big guard who could initiate the offense and relieve Darius Garland from some of his ball-handling duties. He has the size of a wing and the IQ and instincts of a natural point guard.
Daniels reminds me of Lonzo Ball, a connective-tissue player who can defend multiple positions and complement any primary ball-handler.
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I feel like Trevion would be incredible on the Warriors.
I would argue he has the best court vision/best passer in this draft.
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Who should go No. 1 in the NBA Draft? We asked Eric Musselman to rank the top 3 candidates
There will be a serious and spirited debate over the next month about what order Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, Duke’s Paolo Banchero and Auburn’s Jabari Smith should be picked in the 2022 NBA Draft. Each has a strong case to go No. 1, and none is likely to fall outside the top three with Orlando, then Oklahoma City, then Houston getting the honor of selecting one of the center-sized stars with guard skills. So how do those three stack up against each other?
Few are as qualified to answer that question as Arkansas coach Eric Musselman, the former Timberwolves, Magic, Hawks and Grizzlies assistant and Warriors and Kings head coach, whose team faced each of those elite prospects in the span of a month this season. Smith had 20 points and nine rebounds and hit 6 of 16 shots in a loss to the Razorbacks. Holmgren had 11 points and 14 boards and fouled out in 23 minutes during a Sweet 16 loss to Arkansas. Banchero went for 16 points, seven boards and three assists in an Elite Eight win over the Hogs.
“I could see a reason to pick all three of them,” Musselman told The Athletic this week. “They’re all legitimate top-three picks. If you’re drafting that high and there’s not much separation, trade the pick. But these guys are all worthy. The amazing thing to me about all three of them is what they can do at their size and age. These are freshmen. We aren’t talking about somebody in their fourth or fifth year who is maxed out. So now it’s what is their work ethic and what kind of organization do they end up with? That’ll determine how these three careers unfold. But they each have the tools you’re looking for at the top of the draft. In the NBA, it’s simple: What super skill do you have that sets you apart from others? If you don’t have one, then you’re just a rotation guy.”
Holmgren’s super skill is “shot blocking and length,” Musselman said. Smith’s is “being 6-foot-10 and an elite shot-maker.” Banchero’s is “being 6-10 and excelling in all three phases: off the bounce, mid-post and at the rim.” Bottom line: They all do something so exceptionally that Musselman is confident they will succeed as pros.
In 2017, after his Nevada team faced Markelle Fultz at Washington (and won), he was not at all convinced he’d just seen the eventual No. 1 pick. In fact, he was “absolutely shocked” when it went down that way on draft night.
“Having coached in the NBA, I didn’t even think he was a first-round pick, let alone the No. 1 pick,” Musselman said. “But the most interesting thing about this process is how much research the winning teams that draft so well truly do, and on the flip side how little some others do. The only teams who called me about Fultz were the winning teams. Anyone who asked, I could’ve told them that was a mistake. If you cannot help your college team win, there should be a concern — unless it’s a guy like Anthony Edwards, who had no pieces around him but just stood out so much physically — and that’s what I love about these three guys this year. They won at a high, high, high level.”
Unlike Fultz, and despite Georgia’s struggles in 2020, Musselman had zero doubt that the Timberwolves made the right call taking Edwards No. 1 that year.
“I watched the layup line when we played Georgia and could tell you, ‘This guy is a bona fide starter right out of the gate,’” Musselman said. “That night, we had no answer for Edwards. He was bionic. He was superhuman. The lift on his jump shot, he was getting off the ground like three feet higher than our guys, it felt like, and we couldn’t even contest his shot. We could not bother him. His strength and his athleticism, it was just different than everybody else. That’s what you’re looking for at No. 1. And you can argue all three of the guys this year have it.”
But one of them has to come off the board first. So in what order would Musselman go after scouting, game-planning and facing each of them? It’s Banchero, Smith, then Holmgren for him.
“If I was in a draft room, that would be my feeling, but every team has got different needs and timelines,” he said. “Somebody might want to draft Chet because they have more of a long-term plan. Somebody might need perimeter shooting and a guy who can space the floor, and Jabari would be that guy. But just playing against the three, Paolo was the hardest for us to deal with.”
Which brings us to the scouting reports. Here’s how Musselman views the Big Three, in his order:
1. Paolo Banchero, Duke
On offense: “He was the one we just had no answer for. Our scouting report couldn’t take anything away from him. When they needed a basket, it went to him. He got the ball off where we couldn’t double-team or soft-trap him. He makes 3s and just kept improving as a 3-point shooter over the year. He knows how to draw fouls. He’s excellent in the midrange. He’s got a good jab-step, pull-up jump shot. Got a really good turnaround jump shot. Can run the floor. Actually, you know what? I think he might be even more athletic than Jabari. It’s probably about even.”
On defense: “We couldn’t get a mismatch because they had so many equal-sized guys and then they went zone, so I did not get a good feel for him as a defender. But we didn’t go at him a lot. We didn’t feel like we had an advantage to post him up at all and didn’t feel like we had an advantage off the bounce to try to go at him or get him in foul trouble. So we really just kind of stayed away from him.”
2. Jabari Smith, Auburn
On offense: “He’s so unique with his ability to make shots from so deep and doesn’t need a lot of dribbles to get them off. He can shoot over people. There’s just not a lot of guys his age or size who can shoot transition 3s off the run and catch like he can. It’s a little bit like Klay Thompson, who doesn’t dribble a lot and can be in a dead sprint, catch, plant and stick it. Jabari does that really well, which is a remarkable thing at 6-10. Our plan was just to crowd him, not let him go left at all. We felt like if he got the left-hand, 1-2 dribble, he was virtually unstoppable. He’s really unique, because you don’t often see a right-handed player love to put the ball on the deck with his left hand. We went through all his makes and felt like he was probably the most unique right-hand guy we’ve ever seen.”
On defense: “He’s so long, the only thing we tried to do is maybe get a switch where a smaller guy could try to attack off the bounce. Even then, you might have a lateral-quickness advantage with a smaller guy, but Jabari’s reach makes it really hard. I thought he was great at slapping and jabbing at the ball.”
3. Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
On offense: “Tremendous upside with his length, shooting and passing. He’s really intriguing. For us, the game plan was to get up under him out on the perimeter, get as low as we possibly could and try to swallow up any dribbles that he might take. And then in the post, it was to use our low center of gravity and try to be as physical as possible. Any time he sets screens, just be as physical as we could and try to impede his path anywhere that he was on the floor. We wanted our strongest, most physical player on him.”
Arkansas assigned 6-foot-6, 225-pound Trey Wade, a journeyman who averaged six points per game at three schools and then got an NFL mini-camp tryout as a tight end, to guard the slender, 7-foot, 195-pound Holmgren. This highlights one major concern about Holmgren at the next level: whether he can hold up physically.
On defense: “We said no floaters when we went to the basket. Try to get him in rotations and attack his body physically on our dribble drives. We didn’t want to settle and take midrange shots against him. If he came over from the weak side, our goal was to score inside the restricted area, basically, and to go through his body and try to draw fouls. (Holmgren fouled out for just the third time all season.) No soft layups. It was a relentless attack at the rim if you saw him come from the weak side. We knew he would block a couple shots, but we wanted to be aggressive getting into his body on our last dribble into the shot. Right now, that’s going to be the way you go after him — but there’s just not many guys his size and age who can dribble, pass and shoot as well as he can. Plus, he’s a great shot-blocker with good ability and mobility at that size. There’s a lot to like about that kid, too.”
There will be a serious and spirited debate over the next month about what order Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, Duke’s Paolo Banchero and Auburn’s Jabari Smith should be picked in the 2022 NBA Draft. Each has a strong case to go No. 1, and none is likely to fall outside the top three with Orlando, then Oklahoma City, then Houston getting the honor of selecting one of the center-sized stars with guard skills. So how do those three stack up against each other?
Few are as qualified to answer that question as Arkansas coach Eric Musselman, the former Timberwolves, Magic, Hawks and Grizzlies assistant and Warriors and Kings head coach, whose team faced each of those elite prospects in the span of a month this season. Smith had 20 points and nine rebounds and hit 6 of 16 shots in a loss to the Razorbacks. Holmgren had 11 points and 14 boards and fouled out in 23 minutes during a Sweet 16 loss to Arkansas. Banchero went for 16 points, seven boards and three assists in an Elite Eight win over the Hogs.
“I could see a reason to pick all three of them,” Musselman told The Athletic this week. “They’re all legitimate top-three picks. If you’re drafting that high and there’s not much separation, trade the pick. But these guys are all worthy. The amazing thing to me about all three of them is what they can do at their size and age. These are freshmen. We aren’t talking about somebody in their fourth or fifth year who is maxed out. So now it’s what is their work ethic and what kind of organization do they end up with? That’ll determine how these three careers unfold. But they each have the tools you’re looking for at the top of the draft. In the NBA, it’s simple: What super skill do you have that sets you apart from others? If you don’t have one, then you’re just a rotation guy.”
Holmgren’s super skill is “shot blocking and length,” Musselman said. Smith’s is “being 6-foot-10 and an elite shot-maker.” Banchero’s is “being 6-10 and excelling in all three phases: off the bounce, mid-post and at the rim.” Bottom line: They all do something so exceptionally that Musselman is confident they will succeed as pros.
In 2017, after his Nevada team faced Markelle Fultz at Washington (and won), he was not at all convinced he’d just seen the eventual No. 1 pick. In fact, he was “absolutely shocked” when it went down that way on draft night.
“Having coached in the NBA, I didn’t even think he was a first-round pick, let alone the No. 1 pick,” Musselman said. “But the most interesting thing about this process is how much research the winning teams that draft so well truly do, and on the flip side how little some others do. The only teams who called me about Fultz were the winning teams. Anyone who asked, I could’ve told them that was a mistake. If you cannot help your college team win, there should be a concern — unless it’s a guy like Anthony Edwards, who had no pieces around him but just stood out so much physically — and that’s what I love about these three guys this year. They won at a high, high, high level.”
Unlike Fultz, and despite Georgia’s struggles in 2020, Musselman had zero doubt that the Timberwolves made the right call taking Edwards No. 1 that year.
“I watched the layup line when we played Georgia and could tell you, ‘This guy is a bona fide starter right out of the gate,’” Musselman said. “That night, we had no answer for Edwards. He was bionic. He was superhuman. The lift on his jump shot, he was getting off the ground like three feet higher than our guys, it felt like, and we couldn’t even contest his shot. We could not bother him. His strength and his athleticism, it was just different than everybody else. That’s what you’re looking for at No. 1. And you can argue all three of the guys this year have it.”
But one of them has to come off the board first. So in what order would Musselman go after scouting, game-planning and facing each of them? It’s Banchero, Smith, then Holmgren for him.
“If I was in a draft room, that would be my feeling, but every team has got different needs and timelines,” he said. “Somebody might want to draft Chet because they have more of a long-term plan. Somebody might need perimeter shooting and a guy who can space the floor, and Jabari would be that guy. But just playing against the three, Paolo was the hardest for us to deal with.”
Which brings us to the scouting reports. Here’s how Musselman views the Big Three, in his order:
1. Paolo Banchero, Duke
On offense: “He was the one we just had no answer for. Our scouting report couldn’t take anything away from him. When they needed a basket, it went to him. He got the ball off where we couldn’t double-team or soft-trap him. He makes 3s and just kept improving as a 3-point shooter over the year. He knows how to draw fouls. He’s excellent in the midrange. He’s got a good jab-step, pull-up jump shot. Got a really good turnaround jump shot. Can run the floor. Actually, you know what? I think he might be even more athletic than Jabari. It’s probably about even.”
On defense: “We couldn’t get a mismatch because they had so many equal-sized guys and then they went zone, so I did not get a good feel for him as a defender. But we didn’t go at him a lot. We didn’t feel like we had an advantage to post him up at all and didn’t feel like we had an advantage off the bounce to try to go at him or get him in foul trouble. So we really just kind of stayed away from him.”
2. Jabari Smith, Auburn
On offense: “He’s so unique with his ability to make shots from so deep and doesn’t need a lot of dribbles to get them off. He can shoot over people. There’s just not a lot of guys his age or size who can shoot transition 3s off the run and catch like he can. It’s a little bit like Klay Thompson, who doesn’t dribble a lot and can be in a dead sprint, catch, plant and stick it. Jabari does that really well, which is a remarkable thing at 6-10. Our plan was just to crowd him, not let him go left at all. We felt like if he got the left-hand, 1-2 dribble, he was virtually unstoppable. He’s really unique, because you don’t often see a right-handed player love to put the ball on the deck with his left hand. We went through all his makes and felt like he was probably the most unique right-hand guy we’ve ever seen.”
On defense: “He’s so long, the only thing we tried to do is maybe get a switch where a smaller guy could try to attack off the bounce. Even then, you might have a lateral-quickness advantage with a smaller guy, but Jabari’s reach makes it really hard. I thought he was great at slapping and jabbing at the ball.”
3. Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
On offense: “Tremendous upside with his length, shooting and passing. He’s really intriguing. For us, the game plan was to get up under him out on the perimeter, get as low as we possibly could and try to swallow up any dribbles that he might take. And then in the post, it was to use our low center of gravity and try to be as physical as possible. Any time he sets screens, just be as physical as we could and try to impede his path anywhere that he was on the floor. We wanted our strongest, most physical player on him.”
Arkansas assigned 6-foot-6, 225-pound Trey Wade, a journeyman who averaged six points per game at three schools and then got an NFL mini-camp tryout as a tight end, to guard the slender, 7-foot, 195-pound Holmgren. This highlights one major concern about Holmgren at the next level: whether he can hold up physically.
On defense: “We said no floaters when we went to the basket. Try to get him in rotations and attack his body physically on our dribble drives. We didn’t want to settle and take midrange shots against him. If he came over from the weak side, our goal was to score inside the restricted area, basically, and to go through his body and try to draw fouls. (Holmgren fouled out for just the third time all season.) No soft layups. It was a relentless attack at the rim if you saw him come from the weak side. We knew he would block a couple shots, but we wanted to be aggressive getting into his body on our last dribble into the shot. Right now, that’s going to be the way you go after him — but there’s just not many guys his size and age who can dribble, pass and shoot as well as he can. Plus, he’s a great shot-blocker with good ability and mobility at that size. There’s a lot to like about that kid, too.”
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Damn
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Same thing with Ben Simmons
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Houston Rockets draft combine confidential 2.0: Sights, sounds and what I’m hearing
A lot has happened at the NBA Draft Combine this week. From the scrimmages, to the measurements, to the everyday conversations that take place in the lobby of the Marriott Marquis, the draft combine is a melting pot. Version 1.0 of our notebook was a precursor to this week’s events.• At this stage in the offseason, it’s unclear how the Rockets will proceed with the No. 3 pick – which is understandable. The draft lottery took place less than 48 hours ago. There will be lots of debate among Houston’s decision makers over the coming days and weeks as they weigh the pros, cons and potential fits of each top prospect.
But after spending a week in Chicago, I can say, with absolute certainty, that Duke’s Paolo Banchero has the makings of a star. His on-court persona is well known. He possesses a nice blend of size, ballhandling, playmaking and scoring prowess, all of which help explain why he’s heralded as a top option. But there’s a certain aura to him that you tend to see in budding young stars. When Banchero enters a room, he instantly draws everyone’s attention. Players like Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren and Auburn’s Jabari Smith Jr. also have that effect to some degree, but Banchero’s presence feels important. It’s similar to that of Jalen Green during his rookie season. At some point, the Rockets want to be an attractive option for free agents. Something about Banchero screams “it” factor, and that, in combination with Green, could assist Houston’s push for outside help in the coming years.
The Rockets have a decent feel for Banchero’s game and will be able to paint a clearer picture as their evaluation deepens. The draft is often a crapshoot, and it’s possible one of Holmgren or Smith will remain on the board when Houston is on the clock. But if they’re not, Banchero should be close to a no-brainer.
• We’ll have more on this next week, but the Rockets are focusing a lot on defense for next season. A. Lot. It’s all anyone within the organization talks about now. Head coach Stephen Silas has watched as many playoff games as possible, and he’s been most impressed with the way the best teams in the league clamp down in the postseason, using multiple schemes and executing them to perfection.
It’s a bit ironic for Silas given that one of the reasons he got the job in Houston two years ago was deploying an offensive scheme designed to get the best out of James Harden and Russell Westbrook, but things change quickly in the NBA. The Rockets finished the 2021-22 season ranked last in points allowed per 100 possessions (116.4, per Second Spectrum). If you tweak the range to post All-Star break, they ranked 26th, but the actual figure drops to 117.6. No one expected Silas and his staff to turn frail young players into defensive stalwarts in Year 1, but it’s obvious the Rockets will need to generate stops for the style of basketball they want to play. The need for improved defense will impact their offseason moves, from coaching hires to roster construction.
• The Athletic reported this week on a Rockets shakeup, with assistant coaches Will Weaver and Jeff Hornacek not returning for the 2022-23 season. During a rebuild, changes like this are not out of the norm. As of now, there is no immediate rush to fill the positions. There’s enough time to survey the landscape and figure out which candidates best fit the profile the Rockets want. As stated earlier, defense is a priority. Another important determining factor is a commitment to player development. There were some initial whispers of Houston attempting to lure former assistant and defensive guru Jeff Bzdelik back, but it’s understood he is no rush to return to the sidelines and is enjoying his time away from the game. Bzdelik last served in the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2020.
One name to watch, however, is Rio Grande Valley Vipers head coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah. Sources told The Athletic that he is considered a strong candidate for one of the open assistant jobs. Abdelfattah is coming off a G League Finals win and has great relationships with Silas and the organization. Thursday’s scene at Wintrust Arena featured Chuck Hayes, Silas, Abdelfattah and Ed Pinckney watching scrimmages, with general manager Rafael Stone and assistant GM Eli Witus making the rounds. Abdelfattah has been with the franchise dating back to the days of Mike D’Antoni and is highly respected by members of the Rockets and Vipers. “There’s great communication between me and the coaching staff up in Houston, between me and the front office,” he told me last month. “And they provide as much support as we need in order to be successful.”
• There’s another name the Rockets should consider: Sacramento’s Stacy Augmon. But it should be noted that this comes with a caveat. (This is also me purely using logic.) The caveat being Houston’s long-term commitment to forward Christian Wood.
Augmon currently works in player development with the Kings, having served under Luke Walton and Alvin Gentry, both of whom are no longer coaching the team. It’s unclear if Mike Brown, the Kings’ newly hired head coach, will retain Augmon.
So why Augmon? And why Houston? There’s an incredible amount of love and respect between Wood and Augmon. It was then-assistant Augmon who recruited Wood to UNLV nearly a decade ago, with Wood from Long Beach, Calif., and Augmon from Pasadena, Calif. One source close to both men stressed Wood’s adoration for Augmon and believes Augmon can help Silas and lead assistant John Lucas get the very best out of him. The Athletic understands Augmon made it a point to speak with Wood some time following the Jan. 1 outburst, where Wood refused to sub into the game against the Denver Nuggets and was subsequently benched. The Rockets were in Sacramento for a pair of road games Jan. 14-16. Again, Augmon’s candidacy depends on if Houston is all in on Wood as part of the team’s long-term core.
• Members of the Rockets’ brass met with combine participants Thursday before making their way to Wintrust Arena to watch the first of the day’s scrimmages. Think of these team interviews as speed dating in a way. There isn’t a whole lot of time to get to know these players individually in the period allotted because of the players’ many commitments and the large pool of interviewees, but teams try to make the best of it.
Malaki Branham was one such player who made an impression. The 6-foot-5 wing out of Ohio State has been projected to go anywhere from just outside the lottery to the lower end of the first round. But it’s not his play style that impressed me, it was his demeanor. Branham is a pure scorer — he impressed in the NCAA Tournament and proved he can knock down perimeter shots consistently — but nothing about him screams cocky. He speaks with confidence, humility and honesty. “It was good,” Branham said of his interview with Houston. “Great energy, young players. We gonna get out and run. It’s gonna be fun if I get drafted there.”
The message Branham wanted to communicate is that his work ethic goes way beyond his scoring ability. Branham studied a lot of Caris LeVert tape, citing similarities with his movement and scoring.
• Houston also spoke with is Patrick Baldwin Jr., the 6-foot-9 forward who played one season at Milwaukee. The big question about Baldwin has been if he’ll stick around for the entire draft process. He seemed a bit uneasy when asked if he’d stay in the draft or returning to college. His season was more on the underwhelming side, as he shot a mere 26 percent from 3. But he has the size and skill set to at least be intriguing.
Baldwin said his conversation with the Rockets was great. “They had some really good questions, but overall, just getting to know me and me just getting to know them.”
In an attempt to get a glimpse into how these team interview sessions go, I asked Baldwin about what stood out to him with Houston. He said the Rockets asked him what basketball advice he would give to his hypothetical son. His answer: no matter how tall you think your kid is going to be, develop his game as a guard. Reason being, if you’re one of those individuals who is taller at a young age but caps out at around 6-foot-2 or 6-foot-3, you’re doing yourself a disservice without those guard skills. “You might be a 6-2 center, which limits your potential,” Baldwin said. “Always have those guard skills, passing skills, feel for the game, which makes the transition easier at the next level.”
• Kentucky’s TyTy Washington Jr. hasn’t talked to Houston yet, but he spoke to John Wall on Thursday. The former All-Star guard and fellow Wildcat has a good relationship with Washington. I’ve thought Washington is a potential Rockets target at No. 17, especially if there’s a sudden burning hole at backup point guard (assuming Dennis Schröder leaves).
Wall first spoke with Washington in October, before the NCAA season. After the Nov. 9 showdown with Duke, a 79-71 loss in which Washington scored just nine points on 3-for-14 shooting, Wall entered the locker room after the game and had an emergency sit-down with both Washington and coach John Calipari in his office. Washington described it as a “serious talk,” in which Wall stressed to Washington that he couldn’t have any performances like that if Kentucky wanted to go far.
Washington played more of an off-ball role this past season, saying Calipari wanted to feature him more as a scorer to help the team. One area in which he improved was his operation of pick-and-rolls. Washington said that earlier in the year, he wasn’t running his man into the screens properly, rendering them ineffective. Now, he’s comfortable making advanced reads, whether they are pocket passes, lift passes, or others. In regards to a prior ankle injury, Washington said he’s now 100 percent and feels the difference.
• LSU’s Tari Eason said his conversation with Houston was great, and the team is eager to get him in for a workout. Eason said he watches tape of two-way players like the Pelicans’ Herb Jones and Detroit’s Saddiq Bey, as well as veteran stars like Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. He leans a lot on his versatility and believes he is positionless. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine … wherever you put me, I’ll make something happen,” Eason said.
G League Ignite’s MarJon Beachamp also has a workout scheduled in Houston — his first one — sources told The Athletic. We’ll have more on him in the coming days. Be on the lookout for that.
• Thursday’s scrimmages didn’t have the same pop as last year’s, but I thought Terquavion Smith out of North Carolina State played well. He finished with 17 points, six rebounds and two assists, but it was more how he handled the ball driving downhill and made simple reads to unlock the defense in tight spaces. I also was impressed with Vanderbilt’s Scotty Pippen Jr., who finished the day with 11 points and six assists. He rushed some of his shots, but as a playmaker, he looked poised with the ball and confident in his passes.
• Usman Garuba has been said to look “fantastic” in workouts at Houston’s facilities. The same goes for Kevin Porter Jr., who has been in town for nearly three weeks working on his body and preparing for another physical campaign. Another frequent visitor of the Toyota Center: Eric Gordon, who has been getting shots up and working on his strength and conditioning while being an example for the young players to follow.
In Version 2.0, we take a deeper look at the Rockets’ current situation. Let’s dive in.
A lot has happened at the NBA Draft Combine this week. From the scrimmages, to the measurements, to the everyday conversations that take place in the lobby of the Marriott Marquis, the draft combine is a melting pot. Version 1.0 of our notebook was a precursor to this week’s events.• At this stage in the offseason, it’s unclear how the Rockets will proceed with the No. 3 pick – which is understandable. The draft lottery took place less than 48 hours ago. There will be lots of debate among Houston’s decision makers over the coming days and weeks as they weigh the pros, cons and potential fits of each top prospect.
But after spending a week in Chicago, I can say, with absolute certainty, that Duke’s Paolo Banchero has the makings of a star. His on-court persona is well known. He possesses a nice blend of size, ballhandling, playmaking and scoring prowess, all of which help explain why he’s heralded as a top option. But there’s a certain aura to him that you tend to see in budding young stars. When Banchero enters a room, he instantly draws everyone’s attention. Players like Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren and Auburn’s Jabari Smith Jr. also have that effect to some degree, but Banchero’s presence feels important. It’s similar to that of Jalen Green during his rookie season. At some point, the Rockets want to be an attractive option for free agents. Something about Banchero screams “it” factor, and that, in combination with Green, could assist Houston’s push for outside help in the coming years.
The Rockets have a decent feel for Banchero’s game and will be able to paint a clearer picture as their evaluation deepens. The draft is often a crapshoot, and it’s possible one of Holmgren or Smith will remain on the board when Houston is on the clock. But if they’re not, Banchero should be close to a no-brainer.
• We’ll have more on this next week, but the Rockets are focusing a lot on defense for next season. A. Lot. It’s all anyone within the organization talks about now. Head coach Stephen Silas has watched as many playoff games as possible, and he’s been most impressed with the way the best teams in the league clamp down in the postseason, using multiple schemes and executing them to perfection.
It’s a bit ironic for Silas given that one of the reasons he got the job in Houston two years ago was deploying an offensive scheme designed to get the best out of James Harden and Russell Westbrook, but things change quickly in the NBA. The Rockets finished the 2021-22 season ranked last in points allowed per 100 possessions (116.4, per Second Spectrum). If you tweak the range to post All-Star break, they ranked 26th, but the actual figure drops to 117.6. No one expected Silas and his staff to turn frail young players into defensive stalwarts in Year 1, but it’s obvious the Rockets will need to generate stops for the style of basketball they want to play. The need for improved defense will impact their offseason moves, from coaching hires to roster construction.
• The Athletic reported this week on a Rockets shakeup, with assistant coaches Will Weaver and Jeff Hornacek not returning for the 2022-23 season. During a rebuild, changes like this are not out of the norm. As of now, there is no immediate rush to fill the positions. There’s enough time to survey the landscape and figure out which candidates best fit the profile the Rockets want. As stated earlier, defense is a priority. Another important determining factor is a commitment to player development. There were some initial whispers of Houston attempting to lure former assistant and defensive guru Jeff Bzdelik back, but it’s understood he is no rush to return to the sidelines and is enjoying his time away from the game. Bzdelik last served in the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2020.
One name to watch, however, is Rio Grande Valley Vipers head coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah. Sources told The Athletic that he is considered a strong candidate for one of the open assistant jobs. Abdelfattah is coming off a G League Finals win and has great relationships with Silas and the organization. Thursday’s scene at Wintrust Arena featured Chuck Hayes, Silas, Abdelfattah and Ed Pinckney watching scrimmages, with general manager Rafael Stone and assistant GM Eli Witus making the rounds. Abdelfattah has been with the franchise dating back to the days of Mike D’Antoni and is highly respected by members of the Rockets and Vipers. “There’s great communication between me and the coaching staff up in Houston, between me and the front office,” he told me last month. “And they provide as much support as we need in order to be successful.”
• There’s another name the Rockets should consider: Sacramento’s Stacy Augmon. But it should be noted that this comes with a caveat. (This is also me purely using logic.) The caveat being Houston’s long-term commitment to forward Christian Wood.
Augmon currently works in player development with the Kings, having served under Luke Walton and Alvin Gentry, both of whom are no longer coaching the team. It’s unclear if Mike Brown, the Kings’ newly hired head coach, will retain Augmon.
So why Augmon? And why Houston? There’s an incredible amount of love and respect between Wood and Augmon. It was then-assistant Augmon who recruited Wood to UNLV nearly a decade ago, with Wood from Long Beach, Calif., and Augmon from Pasadena, Calif. One source close to both men stressed Wood’s adoration for Augmon and believes Augmon can help Silas and lead assistant John Lucas get the very best out of him. The Athletic understands Augmon made it a point to speak with Wood some time following the Jan. 1 outburst, where Wood refused to sub into the game against the Denver Nuggets and was subsequently benched. The Rockets were in Sacramento for a pair of road games Jan. 14-16. Again, Augmon’s candidacy depends on if Houston is all in on Wood as part of the team’s long-term core.
• Members of the Rockets’ brass met with combine participants Thursday before making their way to Wintrust Arena to watch the first of the day’s scrimmages. Think of these team interviews as speed dating in a way. There isn’t a whole lot of time to get to know these players individually in the period allotted because of the players’ many commitments and the large pool of interviewees, but teams try to make the best of it.
Malaki Branham was one such player who made an impression. The 6-foot-5 wing out of Ohio State has been projected to go anywhere from just outside the lottery to the lower end of the first round. But it’s not his play style that impressed me, it was his demeanor. Branham is a pure scorer — he impressed in the NCAA Tournament and proved he can knock down perimeter shots consistently — but nothing about him screams cocky. He speaks with confidence, humility and honesty. “It was good,” Branham said of his interview with Houston. “Great energy, young players. We gonna get out and run. It’s gonna be fun if I get drafted there.”
The message Branham wanted to communicate is that his work ethic goes way beyond his scoring ability. Branham studied a lot of Caris LeVert tape, citing similarities with his movement and scoring.
• Houston also spoke with is Patrick Baldwin Jr., the 6-foot-9 forward who played one season at Milwaukee. The big question about Baldwin has been if he’ll stick around for the entire draft process. He seemed a bit uneasy when asked if he’d stay in the draft or returning to college. His season was more on the underwhelming side, as he shot a mere 26 percent from 3. But he has the size and skill set to at least be intriguing.
Baldwin said his conversation with the Rockets was great. “They had some really good questions, but overall, just getting to know me and me just getting to know them.”
In an attempt to get a glimpse into how these team interview sessions go, I asked Baldwin about what stood out to him with Houston. He said the Rockets asked him what basketball advice he would give to his hypothetical son. His answer: no matter how tall you think your kid is going to be, develop his game as a guard. Reason being, if you’re one of those individuals who is taller at a young age but caps out at around 6-foot-2 or 6-foot-3, you’re doing yourself a disservice without those guard skills. “You might be a 6-2 center, which limits your potential,” Baldwin said. “Always have those guard skills, passing skills, feel for the game, which makes the transition easier at the next level.”
• Kentucky’s TyTy Washington Jr. hasn’t talked to Houston yet, but he spoke to John Wall on Thursday. The former All-Star guard and fellow Wildcat has a good relationship with Washington. I’ve thought Washington is a potential Rockets target at No. 17, especially if there’s a sudden burning hole at backup point guard (assuming Dennis Schröder leaves).
Wall first spoke with Washington in October, before the NCAA season. After the Nov. 9 showdown with Duke, a 79-71 loss in which Washington scored just nine points on 3-for-14 shooting, Wall entered the locker room after the game and had an emergency sit-down with both Washington and coach John Calipari in his office. Washington described it as a “serious talk,” in which Wall stressed to Washington that he couldn’t have any performances like that if Kentucky wanted to go far.
Washington played more of an off-ball role this past season, saying Calipari wanted to feature him more as a scorer to help the team. One area in which he improved was his operation of pick-and-rolls. Washington said that earlier in the year, he wasn’t running his man into the screens properly, rendering them ineffective. Now, he’s comfortable making advanced reads, whether they are pocket passes, lift passes, or others. In regards to a prior ankle injury, Washington said he’s now 100 percent and feels the difference.
• LSU’s Tari Eason said his conversation with Houston was great, and the team is eager to get him in for a workout. Eason said he watches tape of two-way players like the Pelicans’ Herb Jones and Detroit’s Saddiq Bey, as well as veteran stars like Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. He leans a lot on his versatility and believes he is positionless. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine … wherever you put me, I’ll make something happen,” Eason said.
G League Ignite’s MarJon Beachamp also has a workout scheduled in Houston — his first one — sources told The Athletic. We’ll have more on him in the coming days. Be on the lookout for that.
• Thursday’s scrimmages didn’t have the same pop as last year’s, but I thought Terquavion Smith out of North Carolina State played well. He finished with 17 points, six rebounds and two assists, but it was more how he handled the ball driving downhill and made simple reads to unlock the defense in tight spaces. I also was impressed with Vanderbilt’s Scotty Pippen Jr., who finished the day with 11 points and six assists. He rushed some of his shots, but as a playmaker, he looked poised with the ball and confident in his passes.
• Usman Garuba has been said to look “fantastic” in workouts at Houston’s facilities. The same goes for Kevin Porter Jr., who has been in town for nearly three weeks working on his body and preparing for another physical campaign. Another frequent visitor of the Toyota Center: Eric Gordon, who has been getting shots up and working on his strength and conditioning while being an example for the young players to follow.
In Version 2.0, we take a deeper look at the Rockets’ current situation. Let’s dive in.
HOU$TON
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I'm on board w/ Davis or TyTy for the Wizards.
Point guard is the most obvious need but if Davis is on the board @ 10 he might be too good to pass up.
Point guard is the most obvious need but if Davis is on the board @ 10 he might be too good to pass up.
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I got Johnny Davis on my bust list...I like Dyson Daniels for the Wizards.
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I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum. I don't think there's any way he's going to be bad.
Just for the simple fact his motor is extremely high on both ends of the floor. Really gets after it on defense...constantly looking to blow actions up. Quick feet. Never quits on plays. Hits the glass hard. On offense, he needs to expand his range to really boom but he's a legit threat in the PnR. If how he plays is any indication of his work ethic, I'd bet big on him booming.
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HOU$TON
formerly convertibleburt
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Houston Rockets draft combine confidential 2.0: Sights, sounds and what I’m hearing
A lot has happened at the NBA Draft Combine this week. From the scrimmages, to the measurements, to the everyday conversations that take place in the lobby of the Marriott Marquis, the draft combine is a melting pot. Version 1.0 of our notebook was a precursor to this week’s events.• At this stage in the offseason, it’s unclear how the Rockets will proceed with the No. 3 pick – which is understandable. The draft lottery took place less than 48 hours ago. There will be lots of debate among Houston’s decision makers over the coming days and weeks as they weigh the pros, cons and potential fits of each top prospect.
But after spending a week in Chicago, I can say, with absolute certainty, that Duke’s Paolo Banchero has the makings of a star. His on-court persona is well known. He possesses a nice blend of size, ballhandling, playmaking and scoring prowess, all of which help explain why he’s heralded as a top option. But there’s a certain aura to him that you tend to see in budding young stars. When Banchero enters a room, he instantly draws everyone’s attention. Players like Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren and Auburn’s Jabari Smith Jr. also have that effect to some degree, but Banchero’s presence feels important. It’s similar to that of Jalen Green during his rookie season. At some point, the Rockets want to be an attractive option for free agents. Something about Banchero screams “it” factor, and that, in combination with Green, could assist Houston’s push for outside help in the coming years.
The Rockets have a decent feel for Banchero’s game and will be able to paint a clearer picture as their evaluation deepens. The draft is often a crapshoot, and it’s possible one of Holmgren or Smith will remain on the board when Houston is on the clock. But if they’re not, Banchero should be close to a no-brainer.
• We’ll have more on this next week, but the Rockets are focusing a lot on defense for next season. A. Lot. It’s all anyone within the organization talks about now. Head coach Stephen Silas has watched as many playoff games as possible, and he’s been most impressed with the way the best teams in the league clamp down in the postseason, using multiple schemes and executing them to perfection.
It’s a bit ironic for Silas given that one of the reasons he got the job in Houston two years ago was deploying an offensive scheme designed to get the best out of James Harden and Russell Westbrook, but things change quickly in the NBA. The Rockets finished the 2021-22 season ranked last in points allowed per 100 possessions (116.4, per Second Spectrum). If you tweak the range to post All-Star break, they ranked 26th, but the actual figure drops to 117.6. No one expected Silas and his staff to turn frail young players into defensive stalwarts in Year 1, but it’s obvious the Rockets will need to generate stops for the style of basketball they want to play. The need for improved defense will impact their offseason moves, from coaching hires to roster construction.
• The Athletic reported this week on a Rockets shakeup, with assistant coaches Will Weaver and Jeff Hornacek not returning for the 2022-23 season. During a rebuild, changes like this are not out of the norm. As of now, there is no immediate rush to fill the positions. There’s enough time to survey the landscape and figure out which candidates best fit the profile the Rockets want. As stated earlier, defense is a priority. Another important determining factor is a commitment to player development. There were some initial whispers of Houston attempting to lure former assistant and defensive guru Jeff Bzdelik back, but it’s understood he is no rush to return to the sidelines and is enjoying his time away from the game. Bzdelik last served in the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2020.
One name to watch, however, is Rio Grande Valley Vipers head coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah. Sources told The Athletic that he is considered a strong candidate for one of the open assistant jobs. Abdelfattah is coming off a G League Finals win and has great relationships with Silas and the organization. Thursday’s scene at Wintrust Arena featured Chuck Hayes, Silas, Abdelfattah and Ed Pinckney watching scrimmages, with general manager Rafael Stone and assistant GM Eli Witus making the rounds. Abdelfattah has been with the franchise dating back to the days of Mike D’Antoni and is highly respected by members of the Rockets and Vipers. “There’s great communication between me and the coaching staff up in Houston, between me and the front office,” he told me last month. “And they provide as much support as we need in order to be successful.”
• There’s another name the Rockets should consider: Sacramento’s Stacy Augmon. But it should be noted that this comes with a caveat. (This is also me purely using logic.) The caveat being Houston’s long-term commitment to forward Christian Wood.
Augmon currently works in player development with the Kings, having served under Luke Walton and Alvin Gentry, both of whom are no longer coaching the team. It’s unclear if Mike Brown, the Kings’ newly hired head coach, will retain Augmon.
So why Augmon? And why Houston? There’s an incredible amount of love and respect between Wood and Augmon. It was then-assistant Augmon who recruited Wood to UNLV nearly a decade ago, with Wood from Long Beach, Calif., and Augmon from Pasadena, Calif. One source close to both men stressed Wood’s adoration for Augmon and believes Augmon can help Silas and lead assistant John Lucas get the very best out of him. The Athletic understands Augmon made it a point to speak with Wood some time following the Jan. 1 outburst, where Wood refused to sub into the game against the Denver Nuggets and was subsequently benched. The Rockets were in Sacramento for a pair of road games Jan. 14-16. Again, Augmon’s candidacy depends on if Houston is all in on Wood as part of the team’s long-term core.
• Members of the Rockets’ brass met with combine participants Thursday before making their way to Wintrust Arena to watch the first of the day’s scrimmages. Think of these team interviews as speed dating in a way. There isn’t a whole lot of time to get to know these players individually in the period allotted because of the players’ many commitments and the large pool of interviewees, but teams try to make the best of it.
Malaki Branham was one such player who made an impression. The 6-foot-5 wing out of Ohio State has been projected to go anywhere from just outside the lottery to the lower end of the first round. But it’s not his play style that impressed me, it was his demeanor. Branham is a pure scorer — he impressed in the NCAA Tournament and proved he can knock down perimeter shots consistently — but nothing about him screams cocky. He speaks with confidence, humility and honesty. “It was good,” Branham said of his interview with Houston. “Great energy, young players. We gonna get out and run. It’s gonna be fun if I get drafted there.”
The message Branham wanted to communicate is that his work ethic goes way beyond his scoring ability. Branham studied a lot of Caris LeVert tape, citing similarities with his movement and scoring.
• Houston also spoke with is Patrick Baldwin Jr., the 6-foot-9 forward who played one season at Milwaukee. The big question about Baldwin has been if he’ll stick around for the entire draft process. He seemed a bit uneasy when asked if he’d stay in the draft or returning to college. His season was more on the underwhelming side, as he shot a mere 26 percent from 3. But he has the size and skill set to at least be intriguing.
Baldwin said his conversation with the Rockets was great. “They had some really good questions, but overall, just getting to know me and me just getting to know them.”
In an attempt to get a glimpse into how these team interview sessions go, I asked Baldwin about what stood out to him with Houston. He said the Rockets asked him what basketball advice he would give to his hypothetical son. His answer: no matter how tall you think your kid is going to be, develop his game as a guard. Reason being, if you’re one of those individuals who is taller at a young age but caps out at around 6-foot-2 or 6-foot-3, you’re doing yourself a disservice without those guard skills. “You might be a 6-2 center, which limits your potential,” Baldwin said. “Always have those guard skills, passing skills, feel for the game, which makes the transition easier at the next level.”
• Kentucky’s TyTy Washington Jr. hasn’t talked to Houston yet, but he spoke to John Wall on Thursday. The former All-Star guard and fellow Wildcat has a good relationship with Washington. I’ve thought Washington is a potential Rockets target at No. 17, especially if there’s a sudden burning hole at backup point guard (assuming Dennis Schröder leaves).
Wall first spoke with Washington in October, before the NCAA season. After the Nov. 9 showdown with Duke, a 79-71 loss in which Washington scored just nine points on 3-for-14 shooting, Wall entered the locker room after the game and had an emergency sit-down with both Washington and coach John Calipari in his office. Washington described it as a “serious talk,” in which Wall stressed to Washington that he couldn’t have any performances like that if Kentucky wanted to go far.
Washington played more of an off-ball role this past season, saying Calipari wanted to feature him more as a scorer to help the team. One area in which he improved was his operation of pick-and-rolls. Washington said that earlier in the year, he wasn’t running his man into the screens properly, rendering them ineffective. Now, he’s comfortable making advanced reads, whether they are pocket passes, lift passes, or others. In regards to a prior ankle injury, Washington said he’s now 100 percent and feels the difference.
• LSU’s Tari Eason said his conversation with Houston was great, and the team is eager to get him in for a workout. Eason said he watches tape of two-way players like the Pelicans’ Herb Jones and Detroit’s Saddiq Bey, as well as veteran stars like Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. He leans a lot on his versatility and believes he is positionless. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine … wherever you put me, I’ll make something happen,” Eason said.
G League Ignite’s MarJon Beachamp also has a workout scheduled in Houston — his first one — sources told The Athletic. We’ll have more on him in the coming days. Be on the lookout for that.
• Thursday’s scrimmages didn’t have the same pop as last year’s, but I thought Terquavion Smith out of North Carolina State played well. He finished with 17 points, six rebounds and two assists, but it was more how he handled the ball driving downhill and made simple reads to unlock the defense in tight spaces. I also was impressed with Vanderbilt’s Scotty Pippen Jr., who finished the day with 11 points and six assists. He rushed some of his shots, but as a playmaker, he looked poised with the ball and confident in his passes.
• Usman Garuba has been said to look “fantastic” in workouts at Houston’s facilities. The same goes for Kevin Porter Jr., who has been in town for nearly three weeks working on his body and preparing for another physical campaign. Another frequent visitor of the Toyota Center: Eric Gordon, who has been getting shots up and working on his strength and conditioning while being an example for the young players to follow.
In Version 2.0, we take a deeper look at the Rockets’ current situation. Let’s dive in.
I actually watched a lot of Viper games and Mahmoud draws up a ton of good stuff. I actually wanted him to replace Silas all together
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I wonder if the Wizards would take #4 and a throw in for Beal. Idk if you get a better deal.
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There's going to be some really good value available for some playoff teams in the late first
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I need to start doing some Christian Koloko homework.
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