The Houston Rockets were one of the better success stories of last season. They built a hard-nosed, defensive-minded team that competed at the top of the highly competitive Western Conference. Unfortunately, their elite defense wasn’t enough to get them out of the first round of the 2024-25 NBA playoffs. This has sparked many Houston Rockets rumors about where they will find more offense next season. One place to look could be the top Rockets’ draft pick from last season.
A recent report by the Athletic’s Kelly Iko claims that the Rockets’ coaching staff is looking into expanding the role of last season’s number three overall pick, Reed Sheppard.
Sheppard’s stats during his rookie season weren’t that impressive. He played in 52 games, averaging 12.6 minutes per game. He had 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game in his limited minutes.
He did shoot almost 34% from the three-point line, which, although it isn’t blowing anyone’s socks off, is still a decent clip for a young rookie.
Iko reported that although Reed didn’t have the best rookie season, the Rockets’ organization still believes he has tons of potential.
If the Rockets are going to improve offensively without making a big trade, an increased role for Reed could be key to that growth.
This Houston Rockets rumor is quite believable because Reed’s shooting could help unlock another level to the Rockets' offense.
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Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun aren’t known as great outside shooters, and having someone like Reed to space the floor could open up a lot of opportunities for those two offensively.
Despite his enticing shooting, however, the Rockets need to be careful playing Reed too much next season. Because of his size and frame, Reed will likely never be a great defender in the NBA.
By playing Reed over someone like Aaron Holiday or Dillon Brooks, the Rockets risk their defense taking a hit. Maybe Reed gets a bigger leash during the regular season next year, but don’t expect to see a ton of him on the floor when the games really count.
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