Houston Rockets: 37 best prospects in the 2021 NBA Draft

Houston Rockets NBA Draft big board 11-15

Rank  Player                   Ave Rank      Range

#11   Kai Jones:                  13.6          10-20

#12   James Bouknight:  13.9           7-23

#13   Moses Moody:        13.9           8-20

#14   Corey Kispert:         13.9           9-22

#15   Jalen Johnson:        15.8           6-35

For prospects 11 through 14, and really 10 through 14, the difference in average ranking is from 13.4 (Moritz Wagner) to 13.9 (James Bouknight, Moses Moody, Corey Kispert). What this means for the Rockets is that there is a good chance that a player who is a lottery pick talent will be available outside of the lottery.

Kai Jones lands at 11th on the back of the confidence scouts have in him as no worse than a top-20 prospect but no better than a top-ten player. Jones has incredible upside but was tremendously inconsistent in college, his combination of low-ceiling and high-floor as a prospect is nothing like his actual potential. If he drops the Rockets might want to take a swing.

Players 12 through 14 all have an average rank of 13.9. James Bouknight, Moses Moody, and Corey Kispert are all also viewed as top-ten players at best and in the low 20s at worst. These are all players that the Rockets should have on their radar as they could be able to land one of them by trading up, being patient, or, god-forbid if they end up with the 18th pick.

Jalen Johnson comes in at 15 and there is a small drop between him and the players ranked 10th through 14th. His average ranking of 15.8 sees him as high as sixth and as low as 35th. This is a player that the Rockets should target aggressively.

His wide range in ranking has a lot to do with him deciding to forgo the rest of his collegiate season after only 13 games at Duke. Johnson wasn’t an unstoppable force for Duke but he was highly productive, efficient from the field, and was widely considered a top-ten high school recruit.

Some viewed his decision to leave Duke as him quitting on his team. A more leveled and fair perspective would also take into account that Duke wasn’t very good, there was a pandemic going on, and Johnson didn’t want to get hurt or a virus when he was mere months away from playing the basketball that actually leads to a paycheck.

Johnson, if he drops, is a gamble that the Rockets should consider. Players with top-ten talent aren’t usually available outside of the lottery. If he is, the Rockets have the assets to move up and snag him.

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