After selecting Jalen Green with the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, a bright future was expected with the backcourt tandem of Green and Kevin Porter Jr. That was not the case for the early juncture of the season as both individuals were struggling with their efficiency and finding their rhythm offensively as the scoring forces of the Houston Rockets.
It has been another unfortunate campaign for the Rockets as they plummeted to one of the lowest seeds in the Western Conference. It was not a surprise because Houston is still on a rebuilding phase after trading away James Harden and Russell Westbrook in the last couple of seasons. The positive sign for Houston is they are on track to add another top-tier talent in the 2022 NBA Draft. It is definitely a talented bunch as well with numerous NBA-ready bodies already. Thus, these are some names who would fit tremendously in the Rockets culture and environment.
3 early Rockets 2022 NBA Draft targets
Paolo Banchero
With the Rockets building their guard core around Green and Porter Jr., it would be brilliant for them to add a combo forward who possesses incredible versatility and athleticism. There are certain nights wherein Green and Porter Jr. still lack the initiative or willingness to take charge and catapult their team to key victories, but Banchero has proven that attitude in the collegiate level.
The NCAA scene is vastly different, but the character and mentality of a player is habitual for any individual. Banchero still has numerous weaknesses that he needs to addresses before entering the NBA stage, but his relentlessness and eagerness to give his all-out effort in the NBA is a much-needed necessity in the Rockets roster. Moreover, their forward rotation has been underperforming, but having Banchero may just be the answer for coach Stephen Silas.
Chet Holmgren
One may say that Houston already has Christian Wood and Alperen Sengun on their squad, so selecting Holmgren could be repetitive. However, that is a false statement because Holmgren’s repertoire is a selection that Houston cannot skip. He is arguably the best prospect in this class with the most unique skill set in his batch.
Wood and Sengun do not bring the rim protection and defensive awareness that Holmgren has proven to portray in his first year at Gonzaga. At 7-feet tall, Holmgren is athletic and quick, so there would not be many mismatches on the perimeter for the enormous fellow. Additionally, Houston will also love his playmaking and ball handling for his size. The prototypical big man as the foundation of a rebuilding franchise, Houston must not miss the chance of grabbing Holmgren and gradually developing his arsenal.
Jabari Smith Jr.
This could be the perfect answer for the glaring holes of the Rockets as Jabari Smith Jr. is a 6’10” forward or center who could fit perfectly with Green, Porter Jr., Wood, and Sengun. He could flourish as an off-ball threat for ball-dominant guys like Green and Porter Jr. because of his superb shooting ability. As seen through the deals shooters receive in the free agency market, that facet of the NBA game is very vital.
The defensive force is not similar to Holmgren’s rim protection , but he has the speed and agility to defend any sort of talented player in this era. The competitive fire and consistent effort is essential in developing as a world-class defender as his size would complement the roster construction of Rafael Stone and the Houston front office. It would be tough to decide between Smith Jr. or Holmgren, but it seems like they cannot go wrong with any selection.
The Rockets have two first-round picks this year with one coming from the Harden trade last season, but it is their own pick that is so much more important for the evolution of their squad. These three individuals are immensely talented, thus they must choose the most durable one along with the one who could fit more in the system and culture they have been continually wanting to impart in this new iteration of the Rockets.
