Houston Rockets 2024 NBA Draft Picks: Who did 2-time NBA champions pick? 

Weeks leading into the 2024 NBA draft, multiple reports came out that the Houston Rockets had “serious interest” in Reed Sheppard. Those talks proved true as Rockets GM Rafael Stone used the team’s No. 3 pick to select the former Kentucky star. Houston has acquired the player most scouts consider to be the best shooter to enter the league in years.

Sheppard played one season for the Wildcats, averaging 12.5 points per game on 53.6% shooting, including a blistering 52.1% clip from deep. He was named the SEC Freshman of the Year, NABC Freshman of the Year and USBWA Freshman of the Year. He joins a team that is already loaded with potential.

Reed Sheppard may have to come off the bench in his rookie season under coach Ime Udoka. Jalen Green is expected to be the starter at shooting guard for the Houston Rockets. Sheppard, though, can play three positions so he could get his chance to play with Green in a small ball lineup.

The Rockets’ rookie also plays bigger than his size. He has a 42-inch vertical and is an underrated defender. Sheppard averaged 2.5 steals per game for the Wildcats but that part of his game has been overlooked by his exceptional shooting. Udoka will be confident the former Kentucky standout will have a two-way impact even in his first year with the team.

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Houston Rockets also have No. 44 pick

The Houston Rockets were armed with two picks heading into the 2024 NBA draft. They seemed to have gotten the player they’ve coveted when they landed Reed Sheppard. Who the Rockets will pick at No. 44 in the second round will depend on how the draft board will fall.

The second round of the draft doesn’t start until Thursday so Houston will have all sorts of options before it will be on the clock. Two of the names that often come up in mock drafts for Houston are Pelle Larsson from Arizona and Jaylen Wells of Washington State.

Like Sheppard, Larsson and Wells were known as solid shooters in college. The Houston Rockets are likely doubling down on their perimeter threat so one of the two could be picked at No. 44.

Jalen Bridges is another option the Rockets could consider in the second round. He doesn’t have the outside touch of Pelle Larsson or Jaylen Wells but has solid defense on the perimeter. If Rafael Stone thinks he can develop his shot from deep to pair with his defense, Bridges could be in “H-Town” by Thursday.

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