Bruce Thornton showed why the Rockets shouldn't regret passing on Meleek Thomas

The NBA Las Vegas Summer League has officially ended. Houston Rockets fans have reason to feel proud. Their team made it to the semifinals behind the strong play of top rookie Bruce Thornton.

However, some Rockets fans may be feeling uneasy. Despite Thornton's impressive performance, another player stole even more of the spotlight: Meleek Thomas, the Cleveland Cavaliers' 34th overall pick.

Thomas led Summer League in scoring, leaving some Rockets fans wondering whether Houston made the right choice by selecting Thornton. Fortunately for Houston, there are good reasons to believe they did.

Summer League always favors players like Thomas

Meleek Thomas was nothing short of spectacular in Summer League. He averaged 27.3 points and 3.8 assists while shooting 50.0% from the field and 43.8% from three.

However, Summer League is a perennial showcase for offensively gifted guards. Young NBA players have barely spent any time with their coaching staffs or teammates, making it difficult for teams to build effective defensive or offensive systems. As a result, guards who can create their own offense often dominate.

Thomas fits that mold perfectly. His predraft comparisons included players such as Jordan Clarkson. He projects as a microwave scorer, but his slender frame could create challenges against the NBA's physicality.

Bruce Thornton is the type of player Houston needs

Ime Udoka has established a tough, defensive-minded culture in Houston since arriving as head coach. His offense has often left something to be desired, and the Rockets still need more consistent shooting and shot creation to become a true championship contender.

Meleek Thomas is not the answer to that problem. Udoka has a history of limiting the roles of players he does not trust defensively (poor Reed Sheppard). Thomas' scoring ability may have earned him minutes, but his defensive concerns likely would have prevented him from carving out a meaningful role in Houston.

Bruce Thornton is a different story. Thornton has his own size limitations, but he is significantly stronger and more physical than Thomas. He used that physicality to finish third in the entire Summer League in total steals.

Thornton can still provide plenty of offensive value as well. He averaged 18.6 points and 4.4 assists while shooting 40.6% from three. Those numbers are behind Thomas' production, but Thornton's two-way impact more than makes up the difference.

Thomas had an outstanding Summer League and deserves all the praise he has received. Still, Rockets fans should not be second-guessing Houston's decision. Thornton also had an excellent Summer League and projects to become the far superior defensive player. More importantly, he is exactly the type of player Ime Udoka trusts when the games matter most.

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