2015 NBA Draft Prospects Houston Should Already Be Considering
With the NCAA tournament coming up, we might as well be on the lookout for some NBA draft prospects for the Houston Rockets.
I know it's early, but March Madness will be the last time to see some of the premier college players on the national stage before the draft in June.
The Rockets held onto that New Orleans Pelicans’ pick at the trade deadline, so they’ll get to choose from some quality players in the first round. Right now, the Pels are flip-flopping with the OKC Thunder for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. Once Kevin Durant returns, however, New Orleans will probably come up short, which bodes well for Houston.
The pick is protected if it lands in the top three or beyond No. 20, but the Rockets should not be too concerned. Most likely, the pick will land in that 14th spot that’s all too familiar for Houston fans (e.g., Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris).
The Rockets also have a couple of promising second-round picks: one from the New York Knicks and one from either the Denver Nuggets or Minnesota Timberwolves. Both of these should be early on in the second round, where general manager Daryl Morey has worked some magic before (e.g., Chandler Parsons).
The Rockets have some glaring needs to address on draft day. The disappointing season Patrick Beverley is having has exposed Houston’s need for a backup point guard. The teams need someone off the bench who can facilitate and also create his own scoring.
Next up on the priority list is probably an extra big man off the bench. Dwight Howard’s health has been an issue all season long. As admirable as Joey Dorsey’s hustle has been this season, Houston would benefit from an upgrade in the paint.
It’s unclear what direction Morey will lean toward this summer in terms of free agency. He will, of course, chase his third star to some extent, which could also impact the futures of guys such as Josh Smith and Corey Brewer. We can only speculate at this point, but for the time being, we know that point guard and center will likely be critical areas of need.
Here are some key players to keep an eye on as the Madness ensues.
Jerian Grant
1 of 7
Notre Dame, PG, 6'5", Senior
The Rockets desperately need a point guard, and Jerian Grant is a potentially great fit.
The top-rated point guards are Emmanuel Mudiay and D'Angelo Russell, but they are projected to land somewhere in the top five of the draft. Grant is third on the list, but he is a much more realistic option at the end of the lottery.
Grant can play either the 1 or the 2, which could come in handy. He's a great passer who can facilitate, and he can also create his own scoring when necessary. His athleticism helps him slash the lane and get to the free-throw line quite often. Does that ring any bells?
Plus, Grant is an above-average defender. Considering the Rockets' newfound focus on that end of the floor, his defensive skill set would be a nice bonus.
At 6'5", Grant has good size and quickness for his position. He is averaging 16.6 points and 6.5 assists in his senior season at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish just won the ACC tournament and could make a big push in the Big Dance, so watch out for Grant.
Kris Dunn
2 of 7
Providence, PG, 6'3", Sophomore
Like Grant, Dunn is another big, athletic guard who can run the point.
Dunn is a score-first guard who has a solid jump shot. He can handle the ball and also create his own scoring with ease. The Rockets need someone like him coming off the bench.
Even though he's only 6'3", Dunn's wingspan is 6'8", which helps him grab a ton of steals. The Rockets snag the second-most steals per game in the league, so Dunn could be an interesting addition.
He is fast in transition and adept at attacking the basket. He needs to watch his turnovers a bit, though. He also sometimes struggles with shot selection, but Morey and his analytics could certainly help with that problem.
Providence is currently projected as a sixth seed in the tourney, so Dunn could make some noise this March.
Frank Kaminsky
3 of 7
Wisconsin, C, 7'0", Senior
Kaminsky is a big name in college basketball these days. His Wisconsin Badgers have been a top-10 team all season long and could even steal a No. 1 seed this March.
Frank the Tank is perhaps the most skilled big man in the draft. He isn't an exceptional athlete or anything like that, but he has the fundamentals down, which is impressive for a 7-footer.
The 21-year-old can score both inside and out, which would fit nicely in the Rockets system. He has an offensive game similar to Donatas Motiejunas, where he can score in the post or hit the outside shot.
Kaminsky still needs to bulk up and get tougher in the paint before he can excel in the NBA. The good news is that the skills are already there, and the toughening up is easier to learn along the way. If he somehow drops down to the end of the lottery, which is plausible, Kaminsky could be in a Houston uniform next season.
Willie Cauley-Stein
4 of 7
Kentucky, C, 7'0", Junior
Cauley-Stein is thriving as part of John Calipari's platoon brigade in Kentucky. The 7-footer wreaks havoc in the paint for the Wildcats.
He is athletic for his size and can block shots better than anyone in this draft class. His offensive skills are still quite raw, which is why NBADraft.net has him falling down to Houston at 14th overall in its latest mock draft.
For Kentucky this season, Cauley-Stein is averaging 8.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. That's impressive considering he splits minutes with Karl Anthony-Towns and Dakari Johnson, who are also both first-round-talent big men.
The Rockets need a quality rim-protecter when Howard isn't in the game. D-Mo and Dorsey have done a decent job throughout Howard's injury, but there is definitely room for improvement in that category. Cauley-Stein could be that guy off the bench next season.
Kentucky has yet to lose this season, so Cauley-Stein could play till the very end.
Tyus Jones
5 of 7
Duke, PG, 6'1", Freshman
Only a freshman, Tyus Jones has shown spectacular potential already. He may not be ready to contribute right away at the NBA level, but he has the skills to develop into a quality point guard.
Unlike the first couple of point guards I mentioned, Jones is an actual true point guard. He has good court vision and basketball IQ. He is averaging 11.6 points and 5.8 assists for coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke.
Even though he is primarily a passing guard, Jones can also score. He has a good outside shot, which we know the Rockets like, hitting 38.3 percent of his attempts from behind the arc this season. He's currently predicted to go late in the first round, but the Rockets will catch him if he drops to the early second round.
Duke is a projected one seed this year, and even though Jones isn't the highest-rated prospect on the team, he still is a key part of the offense at the point.
Gary Payton II
6 of 7
Oregon State, PG, 6'3", Junior
The Beavers may not be dancing this year, but the former Seattle SuperSonics great Gary Payton has a son on the team who could get drafted this summer.
Payton II has a similar game to his dad in that he is a great defender. He gets after it on defense, racking up 1.2 blocks and 3.1 steals per game. He reminds me of Patrick Beverley a bit, but with slightly better shot.
The last thing Houston needs is another Beverley that is a liability offensively, but Payton II could be a possible cheaper replacement. Right now, he is projected to go in the second round or possibly undrafted. Even if he doesn't get picked, I wouldn't be surprised if the Rockets try to add him as an undrafted free agent for his defending and shooting skills.
Amida Brimah
7 of 7
UConn, C, 7'0", Sophomore
Brimah was a big part of that championship run for the Huskies last season. His presence inside helped UConn shock the world in a dramatic run to the Final Four.
You can never sleep on those Huskies, who are threatening to sneak into the tournament once again this season under head coach Kevin Ollie. If they make it, keep an eye out for Brimah, because this guy has potential.
Like a lot of 21-year-old 7-footers, Brimah's offensive skill set is still unpolished. He's also not nearly as strong as he needs to be once he gets to the Association, but no one should overlook his athleticism and size.
The Rockets need another rim-protecter, and Brimah is a nice candidate. He is averaging 3.3 blocks per game, so Morey should keep him on his radar, and so should you. Brimah is a potential second-rounder whom Houston could wind up taking with the New York or Denver/Minnesota pick.
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