2025 NBA Mock Draft: Rockets solve biggest issue in latest mock

The Houston Rockets need shooting.

They've needed shooting all year. They needed shooting last year. This has been a longstanding fundamental issue with the squad.

To some extent, they tried to remedy it in last year's draft. The Rockets picked Reed Sheppard with the third overall pick. He's one of the best shooting prospects we've ever seen.

Unfortunately, he's struggled to make an impact in 2024-25. Sheppard's diminutive height has kept him off the floor. That's arguably a contributing factor as to why he's shooting 31.4% from long range. Sheppard has struggled to find his rhythm without regular playing time and shots.

Could Houston risk taking the same risk in the next draft?

Rockets land sharpshooter in latest mock

Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor thinks so. He's got the Rockets taking Jase Richardson with the 12th overall pick in his latest mock draft. He's also quick to understand the dilemma he's suggesting.

"After selecting Reed Sheppard in the lottery last year, it might seem a bit silly to go with another undersized guard this time around."

-Kevin O'Connor, Yahoo Sports

Fair enough. Rockets fans watched Sheppard struggle all year. At times, he's flashed the type of potential that would inspire a lottery team to give him heavy minutes and usage all year. The winning Rockets are different. They can't live with a functional limitation like Sheppard's height unless he's able to contribute to winning anyway.

So, drafting Richardson would be a bold decision.

It could also be the right one.

Rockets badly need shooting

Let's start with a basic fact - Richardson is 6'3". He's a small guard, but Sheppard is typically listed between 6'1" and 6'2". It feels like the former is more realistic. A couple of inches doesn't sound like much, but they can count in primary coverage against a fellow guard.

More significantly - and stop me if you've heard this before - the Rockets need shooting. Dear God, the Rockets need shooting. The Rockets are 21st in three-point percentage (35.0%) and 20th in three-point attempts per game (35.8) in 2024-25.

Richardson shot 41.2% from long-range for Michigan State this year. He's not exclusively a specialist either. Richardson has flashed enough in the pick-and-roll to suggest primary playmaker potential at the NBA level. He can score from all three levels. Richardson has star potential.

So does Sheppard. Selecting Richardson could set up an internal competition between the two young guards. That said, if a few inches of height means that Richardson can survive in Udoka's defense-first environment, he may win that competition.

Either way, the Rockets should be adding a shooter to the rotation.