Assuming the Houston Rockets keep their pick at No. 3 overall in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft, it remains unclear who will be on the board when the clock starts on Thursday, June 23.
The consensus top-three prospects are Gonzaga big Chet Holmgren, Duke forward Paolo Banchero, and Auburn forward Jabari Smith, with conventional wisdom suggesting that Houston will select whoever is left after Orlando and Oklahoma City make the first two picks.
In a post-lottery podcast, ESPN league insider Adrian Wojnarowski and draft expert Mike Schmitz are predicting that Banchero will be one still available to the Rockets at No. 3. If that’s the case, both appear to be high on Banchero’s fit with Jalen Green and the young Rockets.
“I can see Paolo (Banchero) being a natural fit,” Woj said on the podcast. “It fits where they are, positionally. Jalen Green is going to have the ball in his hands, and you can see Paolo complementing him.”
.@Mike_Schmitz: “Banchero is such a talent. You can add a guy who was a potential No. 1 pick at times this year.”
“Watching Banchero push in transition and Jalen Green catching lobs, that’s exciting. It’d be really, really hard to pass on that.”https://t.co/Mueu5DhouF
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) May 18, 2022
“Banchero is such a talent,” Schmitz added. “You can add a guy who was a potential No. 1 pick at times this year.”
“Watching Banchero push in transition and Jalen Green catching lobs, that’s exciting. It’d be really, really hard to pass on that. Defensively, that’s an area where (Banchero) needs to improve, but the offensive upside of Banchero is as high as anyone in the draft. There just aren’t a lot of guys at 6-10, 255 (pounds) who can create offense like that.”
While noting a difference in skillsets, Schmitz pointed to how Denver often plays through both big man Nikola Jokic and guard Jamal Murray as an example of how Banchero and Green could co-exist.
The complete episode can be listened to below.
