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Houston Rockets: 5 players to avoid in the 2017 NBA Draft

By Brian Sampson

January 5, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Ivan Rabb (1) shoots a basket against the UCLA Bruins during the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 5, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Ivan Rabb (1) shoots a basket against the UCLA Bruins during the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 26, 2017; New York, NY, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard PJ Dozier (15) shoots the ball against Florida Gators guard Chris Chiozza (11) during the first half in the finals of the East Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2017; New York, NY, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard PJ Dozier (15) shoots the ball against Florida Gators guard Chris Chiozza (11) during the first half in the finals of the East Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

3. P.J. Dozier, SG, South Carolina

P.J. Dozier is younger than the two guys ahead of him on this list, but that doesn’t mean the Rockets should consider him any more.

Dozier appearing on this list ensures that we have had one player in each of the three second-round categories so far. He’s a sophomore guard out of South Carolina who could probably benefit from staying in college for another season or two.

Dozier’s biggest offensive weakness is what makes him very unattractive to the Rockets’ brass. He only shot 28.5 percent from the three-point line on a whopping 137 attempts last year. This lack of shooting would severely limit Dozier’s effectiveness in the Rockets’ offense.

He also shot below 60 percent from the free throw line, which is typically an indicator of future struggles from a shooting standpoint. This inefficient shooting from key spots on the floor is what has scared a lot of scouts away and why Dozier is projected to go in the second-round.

Dozier is a good athlete with good athleticism and measurements. He is 6’7″ and has a 6’11” wingspan. These two attributes combined give him the potential to be a defensive stopper at the NBA level. However, his fundamentals will need to improve considerably if that is to happen.

Even with his defensive potential, Houston cannot ignore his awful shooting percentages. Part of what made the Rockets so successful last year was their ability to spread the floor and allow James Harden space to create for himself or his teammates. With someone like Dozier on the floor, that plan would not be a possibility.

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