With roster competition mounting and fresh talent arriving in Houston, the former third-overall pick faces a crowded backcourt that could push his development to the sidelines.
Bruce Thornton got to see what it felt like to be the first pick, albeit on the second night. Still, choosing to move all the way up shows how much interest Rafael Stone had in this rookie, as covered here on Roundtable.
That level of interest does make me concerned for Reed Sheppard though. The Houston Rockets drafted him third overall back in 2024 and I’m still not sure what his role is. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s just as confused.
While he did get over 26 minutes per game last season, there were still occasions when he’d seemingly get pulled for missing a couple of shots or a few defensive lapses.
You’d still see the odd night where Aaron Holiday and even JD Davison would get minutes over Sheppard. Even though both of those guards could be off of the roster next season, they’re being replaced by two guards who are presumably improvements.
We haven’t seen Fred VanVleet post injury, and we don’t know what kind of player Bruce Thornton will be, but we can make some assumptions.
Assuming Freddy returns, he’s set to make $25 million and will undoubtedly be getting significant minutes. While Thornton’s contract isn’t set yet, it’s reasonable to assume he’ll get a standard contract and will also command minutes.
My fear is that Ime Udoka will gravitate towards the new rookie and old vet for their two way possibilities. Reed Sheppard, a former 3rd overall pick, could be pushed to the side once again.
