The 2023 NBA draft is two days away on Thursday, June 22, which means big boards are being finalized by teams across the league and the pre-draft period is entering its final hours.
In Houston, the top priority for general manager Rafael Stone is making the correct decision with the No. 4 pick. Be it making the selection, trading up or down in the first-round order or trading out for a veteran, the Rockets need to maximize the premium asset as they enter the next phase of a franchise rebuild.
The leading option, if they stay put, looks to be guard prospect Amen Thompson of the Overtime Elite. Per Jackson Gatlin of “Locked on Rockets,” Thompson was quite impressive during his recent workout in front of Stone and other scouts and executives in Houston.
Here’s a roundup of Tuesday’s news and notes related to the Rockets. With rumors reaching a crescendo on the NBA’s annual draft week, we’ll do this each day leading up to Thursday’s big day.
Amen Thompson dazzles in Houston workout
Amen Thompson crushed his workout in Houston, per source, impressing with his potential to be a high-level playmaker and versatile defender.
“He’s the best athlete anyone has ever seen.”
Prohibitive cost to trading up
There is certainty that to the Spurs goes the Victor. But after Wembanyama — considered the most coveted prospect in 20 years — is introduced as the first pick, the order of the next two picks before the Rockets are on the clock still seems unsettled.
Arguments can be made for Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson to go second. Both are so promising that the price to trade up to get them has seemed prohibitive.
Amen Thompson draws LeBron James comparison
Eastern Conference executive:
It sounds crazy, but (Amen’s) got a little LeBron in him, back in the day. He’s got the big-time body. Not quite as big, but, wow. Remember LeBron in high school; he couldn’t shoot it, very athletic, he was very much a facilitator, too.
Both of them (Amen and Ausar Thompson, his twin brother) have a chance to be really good.
Cam Whitmore slipping in draft?
ESPN's @DraftExpress just said on SportsCenter that they have Cam Whitmore slipping some, that workouts haven't been great and they're going to mock him to the Jazz at No. 9. So that's a little surprising.
— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) June 19, 2023
Portland not considering Amen Thompson at No. 3?
Trail Blazers update leading into the draft via @wojespn:
– Prepared to draft whoever is left between Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller.
– Very engaged around the league about turning No. 3 into a star-level player, but it would take a “tremendous” package to trade out.
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 20, 2023
