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The Houston Rockets got to work quickly in Day 2 of the NBA draft, trading their two second-round picks this year and a 2029 Kings second-rounder for pick 31 and pick 55.
The player they picked at 31, however, wasn’t listed by ESPN as one to watch for at that stage of the draft.
Bruce Thornton wasn’t projected to be picked in the 30s, but Houston jumped at the opportunity to pick him
ESPN projected Thornton to be the 49th overall pick, but the Rockets traded up for his services. It might stink of negligence on Houston’s part, but a slightly deeper look tells you everything you need to know.
Thornton finished off his career at Ohio State as one of the most accomplished players in program history, clinching the school’s all-time scoring record.
His height is an area of concern entering the NBA, as he’s listed at 6-foot-2, and Houston have plenty of undersized guards on their roster.
However, he’s a low-turnover, high-output player, and he was a great three-point shooter in college. His archetype, disregarding the height dilemma, gives Houston another option at a position that needed improvement and depth entering the draft.
For a squad that’s working on retooling its bench, getting a point guard with elite experience isn’t that bad of a gamble, and depending on Fred VanVleet’s health situation, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets measurable rotation minutes next season.
Was this pick a reach? Maybe, but it was a calculated one at least from Houston.
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