Rockets' Reed Sheppard remains third in recent redraft

When the Houston Rockets selected Reed Sheppard with the third overall pick, it was an uncontroversial decision. He was widely mocked in that range. Sheppard even garnered some consideration at the number one spot.

Hindsight is 20/20.

By now, plenty of Rockets fans wish the team had taken a different direction. To be sure, Sheppard has been disappointing. Granted, his opportunities have been limited. Sheppard is playing a modest 11.6 minutes per game in 2024-25.

Still, it would be difficult to argue that he's made the most of his opportunities. Sheppard is averaging just 10.8 points and 3.4 assists per 75 possessions. He's got a True Shooting % (TS%) of 41.0% and a Box Plus/Minus (BPM) of -2.7. That is not good.

A recent redraft suggests that he should have been the third overall pick anyway.

Rockets' Reed Sheppard maintains position in redraft

That's what Bleacher Report's Dan Favale thinks. He just published a 2024 redraft.

He's got Alex Sarr replacing Zaccharie Risacher at the top spot. He's got Stephon Castle leaping to second overall. Then, the Rockets make the same choice at 3 by selecting Sheppard.

"Sheppard projected as a transcendent, multi-level shot-maker on- and off-ball with the handles and vision to one day spearhead good-to-great offense. We have not seen nearly enough to think that's changed"

-Dan Favale, Bleacher Report

Favale makes a compelling case. Rockets fans ought to be a bit more patient.

We don't know who any of these guys are yet.

Rockets' Sheppard still has immense potential

I understand the temptation to lament Sheppard's rookie season. Still, Favale's words hold true.

Normally, I'd use this space to argue that redrafting the most recent class is an exercise in futility. Perhaps it is. Still, Favale's process is admirable here. He's doing a redraft the right way if a redraft must be done.

Specifically, he's sticking to his prior convictions. Favale liked Sheppard predraft. He understands that his assessment should not change just because Sheppard has struggled as a rookie.

We all wish Sheppard was performing better. His inability to get his shot off can be jarring to watch. Let's give him a couple of years before we cast absolute judgments.

If his rookie campaign is anything like Amen Thompson's, his role will ramp up after the All-Star break. That said, Thompson is a tailor-made Ime Udoka player. Udoka may continue to feel that Sheppard is too substantial a defensive liability to handle major minutes for these Rockets.

That's fine. It should motivate Sheppard to work on his defense during the offseason. It could make him a better player in the long-run. The main point is that we don't know who he may be at the NBA level yet:

So, it's too early for him to slip in a redraft.