Rockets can address glaring weakness with ready-made second-round shooter

The Houston Rockets enter the NBA Draft without a first-round pick. However, due to a deal with the Chicago Bulls, they do have the 39th selection in this year’s draft, as well as their own second-round pick at No. 53. It is hard to find a star that deep into the draft, but the Rockets can absolutely find an impact player.

One player projected to be in the Rockets’ range is Louisville’s Ryan Conwell. He is ranked No. 43 on FanSided’s Big Board and second on FanSided’s list of potential fits in Houston’s drafting range.

Conwell gives Houston the shooting it badly needs

The first thing that jumps out about Conwell is his shooting. He has shot over 40 percent from three in both his sophomore and junior seasons. One of Houston’s primary weaknesses is its lack of floor spacers, especially after the team’s half-court offense was exposed in the playoffs.

Conwell would not solve every issue, but he would immediately give the Rockets something they lack: a reliable shooter who can punish defenses off the ball.

Aside from just shooting, Conwell is also sturdily built and ready to contribute right away. Many prospects coming out of college need a couple seasons in the weight room before they can compete against NBA competition.

Conwell’s 215-pound frame at only 6’2” gives plenty of confidence that he will not be pushed around at the NBA level. His grown-man frame also gives confidence that he could develop into a well-rounded scorer who can knock down shots from outside and fight through contact on the inside.

There is a reason Conwell is projected to fall into the second round

Now, Conwell may be an elite shooter who is ready to contribute right away, but there is a reason he is projected to fall into the second round. Firstly, he never showed an ability to take on much playmaking responsibility.

In his senior year, he barely had a 1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Standing at just 6’2”, his inability to create for others might limit his overall impact on offense.

Conwell also has questions surrounding his overall athleticism. He has excellent strength for his size, but his speed and lateral quickness are less than ideal. He may have difficulty matching up against quicker guards at the NBA level. That could limit his defensive ceiling.

To summarize Conwell’s weaknesses: he is a forward trapped in a guard’s body.

In the modern NBA, with so much focus on versatility and positionless basketball, that is not the weakness it once was. Conwell may be able to play up a couple positions if his future team has the right personnel around him. If he cannot find a way to succeed despite his weaknesses, then he may be relegated to a smaller bench role in the NBA.

When drafting someone with the 39th pick, taking a shot on a player who is NBA-ready and has potentially elite shooting is not a bad idea. Conwell most likely would not give Houston a future superstar, but he would be a low-risk option who could address one of the Rockets’ biggest weaknesses off the bench. That is a pretty good option with the 39th pick.

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