Perhaps the only team in the “lottery” with the Spurs whose future decision on Thursday evening is rather readable, the Rockets seem to be approaching a consensus, three days before the Draft.
Since the results of the “lottery” last month, and therefore obtaining this 4th choice, the Houston club seems in fact in a logical position to select Amen Thompson, surely the best player available with his great potential in playmaking and defense, and a long-term response to the position of point guard, alongside Jalen Green. So it’s no surprise that Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report’s draft specialist, reported on Monday that the now former resident of the Overtime Elite held the rope in this “race” for 4th place.
A race against Cam Whitmore, says Jonathan Wasserman. Quite unanimously tipped as the 5th choice of the Draft, when the Pistons will announce their decision, the “freshman” of Villanova has apparently reduced the gap with Amen Thompson, in particular thanks to a great “workout”, and therefore remains in consideration.
Only one rookie in the squad next season?
Our colleague adds that if Amen Thompson remains the favorite, it is in particular because uncertainty still reigns around a potential return of James Harden. Without certainty, the leaders should then play it safe and choose the best talent available, even if the “fit” is undoubtedly more logical with Cam Whitmore.
Another interesting information reported by Jonathan Wasserman: most franchises expect the Rockets not to keep their 20th choice. With a core of young people to be developed already in place (the future 4th choice, therefore, but also Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr, Tari Eason and Alperen Sengun, or even TyTy Washington), the Texan club could quite logically prefer to integrate a single rookie in September.
This 20th choice could then be transferred to obtain an “asset” to be used in the future. Especially since Ime Udoka has been clear about his desire to start surrounding these young veterans, especially in the position of leader.
| Shots | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | bp | Int | CT | party | Points |
| Jalen Green | 76 | 34.2 | 41.6 | 33.8 | 78.6 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 22.1 |
| Kevin Porter, Jr. | 59 | 34.3 | 44.2 | 36.6 | 78.4 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 5.7 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 19.2 |
| Alperen Sengun | 75 | 28.9 | 55.3 | 33.3 | 71.5 | 3.2 | 5.8 | 9.0 | 3.9 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 14.8 |
| Eric Gordon | 47 | 30.2 | 43.9 | 34.7 | 81.5 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 13.1 |
| Jabari Smith, Jr. | 79 | 31.0 | 40.8 | 30.7 | 78.6 | 1.5 | 5.7 | 7.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 12.8 |
| Kj Martin | 82 | 28.0 | 56.9 | 31.5 | 68.0 | 1.5 | 4.0 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 12.7 |
| Tari Eason | 82 | 21.6 | 44.8 | 34.3 | 75.2 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 6.0 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 9.3 |
| Jae’sean Tate | 31 | 21.9 | 48.0 | 28.3 | 72.5 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 3.4 | 9.1 |
| Josh Christopher | 64 | 12.3 | 46.5 | 23.6 | 75.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 5.8 |
| Garrison Mathews | 45 | 13.4 | 35.3 | 34.2 | 91.1 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 4.8 |
| Tyty Washington, Jr. | 31 | 14.0 | 36.3 | 23.8 | 55.6 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 4.7 |
| Bruno Fernando | 31 | 11.7 | 51.6 | 0.0 | 68.2 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 4.1 |
| Daishen Nix | 57 | 16.0 | 34.2 | 28.6 | 66.7 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
| Darius Days | 4 | 6.2 | 41.7 | 30.0 | 100.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 3.8 |
| Boban Marjanovic | 31 | 5.5 | 68.3 | 0.0 | 74.1 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 3.3 |
| Usman Garuba | 75 | 12.9 | 48.6 | 40.7 | 61.7 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 4.1 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 3.0 |
| Frank Kaminsky | 10 | 5.9 | 31.6 | 20.0 | 100.0 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.8 |
| Trevor Hudgins | 5 | 5.7 | 22.2 | 25.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.8 |
