In most 2022 NBA mock drafts, Duke forward Paolo Banchero is quickly becoming the popular choice for the Houston Rockets at No. 3 overall in the first round. But is it the best fit for both sides?
Kevin O’Connor, NBA insider for The Ringer, says he has some concerns about Banchero’s potential fit with the Rockets due to issues on the defensive end of the floor. In the video version of his latest mock draft, where O’Connor does project Banchero to Houston, he explains:
I don’t love the fit for Banchero, and I don’t love it for culture reasons. I’d prefer Banchero to go to a place where there’s already a level of accountability and a level of understanding that in order to get consistent minutes, you need to be playing defense at a high level. Detroit would be one of those teams. I think Cade Cunningham is the level of player who is setting that tone, and holding players accountable.
With that said, that doesn’t mean Houston can’t develop that over the course of time. That is something Banchero can grow into. At 6-10, 250 pounds, he has size and quickness. It’s the fundamentals and effort, that’s what needs to change. His defensive effort fluctuated in high school and absolutely evaporated in college. It was very disappointing what he did defensively at Duke.
But the positive side, he’s strong and quick. He could become versatile, and he’s not a bad help defender by any means, when you have that type of size. Pairing him with (Alperen) Sengun in the frontcourt, it’s not perfect.
O’Connor was far more positive about Banchero on offense, especially due to a potential pairing with Jalen Green. Among his comments:
Pairing him with Jalen Green on offense, that’s where I get fired up. … You could see Banchero as a screener for Jalen Green, pick-and-pop and attacking closeouts. You could see him rolling to the rim and finishing with finesse inside, with either hand inside. Short-roll playmaking. Banchero is a really good passer. He can handle the ball and create. If you have other guys who can initiate the offense, that’s what unlocks Jalen Green as a guy who runs off of screens and handoffs, and cuts to the rim for lob dunks.
The Banchero-Green dynamic on offense is incredibly exciting, it’s just about how do you build the rest of the roster around those guys. That’s where the challenge would come, where there are defensive questions about each of them. But offensively, Houston could do much worse than Paulo Banchero. It’s a win for them to land him, at this point.
Of course, it’s possible that Banchero may not even be on the board at No. 3 for Houston to select. In his most recent article, Sports Illustrated’s draft insider Jeremy Woo suggests that Oklahoma City could potentially select Banchero one spot ahead of Houston at No. 2. If that’s the case, either Auburn forward Jabari Smith or Gonzaga big man Chet Holmgren would likely be the best prospect available to the Rockets.
The 2022 NBA draft will take place Thursday, June 23. Until then, expect many more twists and turns on the rumor mill.
