After finishing at No. 4 in the 2023 NBA draft lottery, the Houston Rockets didn’t land the ultimate prize of No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama, who went to the San Antonio Spurs.
But with two first-round selections, general manager Rafael Stone did add to Houston’s talented young prospect core, headlined by a potential point guard of the future in No. 4 pick Amen Thompson.
Later in the round, the Rockets shocked the NBA world by landing Villanova’s Cam Whitmore at No. 20 overall. Days earlier, Whitmore was believed to be in competition with Thompson!
While the 2023 draft night won’t be quite as memorable in Houston as it was in nearby San Antonio, Stone adapted quite well to the lottery hand he was dealt, and the Rockets emerged with key pieces that may help the franchise take the next step in its ongoing rebuild.
With that in mind, early draft grades from expert analysts across the NBA were favorable. Here’s a look at some of their assessments.
ESPN’s Kevin Pelton: A
Whitmore’s slide was perhaps the biggest story of the draft as it unfolded. A month ago, the Rockets taking Whitmore would have been assumed to be the No. 4 pick. Instead, they were able to take a high-upside swing on Thompson and still get Whitmore with their second pick late in the first round.
Only time will tell whether the medical concerns that played into Whitmore’s fall are legitimate. My assessment is that teams tend to overvalue the long-term downside of injury risk as compared to the risk of drafting someone who can’t contribute when healthy. At the point he was taken, Whitmore — third overall in my projections, which don’t include the Thompsons — was easily worth the gamble.
USA TODAY’s For The Win: A+
Not only do they get the more talented Thompson twin, but they took Whitmore, a top-10 talent who dropped due to various pre-draft concerns. That’s what you do when you’re a rebuilding team — you take swings at home runs.
New York Post: A+
The Rockets wind up with two top-five talents without trading up from No. 20. They end up as one of the big winners of this draft, following up high-upside point guard Amen Thompson of Overtime Elite at No. 4 with Villanova’s Cam Whitmore, a projected top-five pick, at 20. A combo forward who can shoot it from deep, the 6-foot-7 Whitmore fell due to a combination of poor workouts and concerns over his medicals. He’s well worth the risk.
Sporting News: A+
The Rockets, themselves, probably can’t even believe what they came away with on draft night. After filling a need for an athletic and defensive-minded playmaker like Thompson with the No. 4 pick, Houston picked up the steal of the draft at No. 20.
Whitmore is a prospect who many had mocked to the Rockets at No. 4, but his medicals reportedly scared away some teams, allowing him to fall into Houston’s lap with its second first-round pick.
The Rockets landed two building blocks for the future of their franchise in one draft.
The Score: A+
The addition of Amen Thompson gives the Rockets a dynamic one-two punch in their backcourt. His playmaking skills complement Jalen Green’s score-first mentality, and he’s got the tools to be a perimeter stopper. Thompson’s jumper is the biggest question mark in his game, but he’s got the potential to be Houston’s long-term answer at the point.
The Rockets scooped up another athletic specimen in Villanova freshman Cam Whitmore with their second first-rounder. The former McDonald’s All-American was projected to go as high as No. 5 but reportedly slid due to a combination of poor workouts and interviews. Whitmore’s upside certainly outweighs the potential character concerns, especially at this stage of the draft.
Sports Illustrated’s Draft Digest: A-
At fourth overall, the Houston Rockets got their alleged guy in Overtime Elite guard Amen Thompson, who is sure to infuse to team with athleticism, playmaking, and high basketball IQ.
At No. 20, they got someone they apparently were considering fourth in Villanova wing Cam Whitmore, who saw one of the biggest slides of the night due to potential medical issue.
Regardless of whether Whitmore pans out, a shot at No. 20 is well worth it for the Houston Rockets, who have finished in the bottom three in each of the last three seasons. Thompson and Whitmore could end up being one of the better drafts for Houston in their new era.
NBC Sports Edge: A
Thompson has been the expected pick for a long time, and he fills a huge need for them. He’s a true point guard and a freak athlete, and he should start from day one, which would move Kevin Porter Jr. to the bench. Thompson and Jalen Green will form one of the most athletic young backcourts ever.
However, with their second pick, they were able to nab Whitmore, who was initially expected to go in the top five. Rumors suggest that Whitmore has a poor medical history, but he assured the media in his introductory press conference that he is healthy. So, as of now, it appears that Houston got a major, major steal. So much talent, and now it’s on Ime Udoka to make it all work.
Cleveland.com: A+
Houston might’ve emerged with two of the top five prospects in this draft without having to sacrifice anything in a trade.
Thompson is an insane athlete who is a reliable jump shot away from becoming the best player on Houston’s already talented roster. He can already defend and pass, which are two skills the Rockets desperately need.
Whitmore is also an explosive athlete with elite defensive potential and a jump shot that showed signs of improvement during his lone season at Villanova.
The Rockets need an adult — besides new coach Ime Udoka — to organize all their youngsters. But after Thursday night, Houston boasts an incredible stable of talent.
Red Nation Hoops: A+
Unlike the last two seasons, Houston’s draft haul tonight has real bust potential — Thompson for his shooting and Whitmore for whatever injury concerns are out there.
However:
- It’s unlikely that they both bust.
- They would still the right selections in their spot if they busted.
- Houston is at the stage of their rebuild where they can afford to have guys bust.
After a three-year teardown period, the Rockets are headed into this summer with over $60 million in cap space, loads of raw talent and athleticism, and hope. This is the polar opposite of Houston’s situation three years ago when they were trying to improve an aging roster with limited financial flexibility and a barren war chest. What GM Rafael Stone has accomplished to this point is remarkable.
Let’s see what he has in store for free agency.
