Houston Rockets: 37 best prospects in the 2021 NBA Draft

Houston Rockets NBA Draft big board 21-25

Rank    Player                    Ave Rank           Range

#21   Usman Garuba:         21.6                15-27

#22   Isaiah Jackson:          21.6                11-32

#23   Cameron Thomas:   21.8                 14-29

#24   Ziaire Williams:        22                    10-31

#25   Tre Mann:                  23.3                 10-42

What should be exciting for Rockets fans is that the 19th ranked player (21 average rank) and 24th ranked player (22 average rank) are separated by exactly one in average rank. Since the Rockets have the 23rd and 24th picks they’ll be able to land a prospect that could have realistically gone five or six spots higher.

Usman Garuba and Isaiah Jackson the 21st and 22nd ranked players have the exact same average rank of 21.6. Garuba’s range, from 15-27, is much smaller than Jackson’s, 11-32, and with news that Jackson has withdrawn from the NBA Draft Combine there’s a good chance neither are there at picks 23 and 24.

Cameron Thomas comes in at 23rd with an average ranking of 21.8 and a draft range between 14 and 29. Most boards don’t appear to view Thomas as a lottery talent but there is a good chance he is available for the Rockets.

Ziaire Williams is an interesting prospect for the Rockets to take a look at. He’s 24th on this list with an average ranking of 22 but was a top-ten recruit out of high school. His lone collegiate season wasn’t encouraging but his upside might be too much to ignore if he’s still available.

The differences in opinion on Tre Mann are what see him the 25th ranked prospect, even though one board has him 10th and three more have him outside of the 20s. Mann flashes potential as a scorer and ball-handler and the fact that he grew two inches after his freshman season could mean that his upside is even greater than what has been scouted. If the Rockets select Mann with the 23rd or 24th pick then they might have measured something that makes them think that Mann isn’t fully grown.

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