1-Sentence evaluations of 14 NBA Draft prospects for the Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets are in fine shape. After years of mining the NBA draft for talent, they've started turning a corner. That's all you can hope for after three summers of making selections in the lottery.

This summer, the Rockets will make another lottery selection. In this case, the pick is coming via the Brooklyn Nets. This is the fallout from the deal that sent James Harden to the Nets just a few years ago.

This draft is not considered especially strong. In fact, it's developed a horrible reputation. Still, rest assured that there's talent in the lottery.

Here's a one-sentence evaluation for 14 NBA draft prospects the Rockets could choose from.

14. Stephon Castle, PG/SG, UConn

A 6'6" combo guard who can defend multiple positions, but can the Rockets afford another shaky three-point shooter (27.3%)?

13. Cody Williams, SF, Colorado

A 6'8" wing who's a consistent jumper away from being a complete prospect - at 41.5%, why did he shoot just 1.7 threes per game this season?

12. Ja'Kobe Walter, SG, Baylor

Another suspect shooter, Walter could be a prototypical three-and-D guard with shot creation if he can improve on his 33.3% three-point shooting.

10. Isaiah Collier, PG/SG, USC

Collier has one of the higher ceilings in this draft, but there are concerns that he'll be an empty calories offensive guard at the NBA level.

9. Dalton Knecht, SG/SF, Tennessee

By contrast, Knecht is safe - he may never be a star, but with reliable shooting and plus positional size (6'6"), he could be a day one contributor in the NBA.

8. Kel'el Ware, PF/C, Indiana

He's not typically mocked this high, but as a big man who can shoot, protect the rim and defend in space, Ware has a chance to shoot up big boards with a strong combine showing.

7. Matas Buzelis, SF/PF, G-League Ignite

A 6'8" do-it-all wing, Buzelis is another questionable shooter who may do enough to justify a Best Player Available selection for the Rockets.

6. Ron Holland, SF/PF, G-League Ignite

See Buzelis, Matas - Holland may have a higher ceiling than his Ignite teammate, but his assist-to-turnover ratio and poor shooting are areas of concern for NBA scouts.

5. Rob Dillingham, PG/SG, Kentucky

Dillingham is one of the more gifted scorers in his class, but concerns about small guards (6'3") may deter a Rockets team trying to mold the 6'7" Amen Thompson into a lead guard.

4. Donovan Clingan, C, UConn

Clingan looks like a defensive monster who will be an elite rim protector at the NBA level, but will the Rockets sink their pick into a big man with Alperen Sengun on the rise?

3. Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Kentucky

A knockdown shooter who puts surprising pressure on the rim, Sheppard has intriguing upside, but he could also make a living as a longterm combo guard reserve in the big leagues.

2. Zaccharie Risacher, SF, JL Bourg

There are questions about Risacher's creation abilities, but with so much young talent, the Rockets could covet the 6'8" 3-and-D wing as Dillon Brooks' long-term replacement.

1. Alex Sarr, PF/C, Perth

There will be questions about Sarr's fit with Sengun as well, but he may be nimble enough on the perimeter to work alongside him - and his ceiling as a defensive anchor may be too high for the Rockets to pass up regardless.