Houston Rockets: Complete 2017 offseason grades
2017 NBA Draft
As usual, the Rockets were quiet on draft night, having just two mid-second round selections (the latter being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for a 2018 second round pick). The Rockets used the 43rd pick in the 2017 NBA Draft on the German big man Isaiah Hartenstein.
Hartenstein has a lot of potential and room to grow, especially as he stays overseas next season to work on his game. Hartenstein possess potential on both ends of the floor, making him an intriguing big man and second round selection.
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So far in his play overseas, he has been a good rebounder and shot-blocker. On the other end of the floor Hartenstein is a versatile scorer, and can spread the floor as a stretch-5 in the NBA. Hartenstein has good size, making him a physical presence on the floor at all times.
With his ability to hit from the perimeter or in the paint, he can score in a variety of ways, making him harder to guard. Simply put, Hartenstein has good potential on the offensive end of the floor.
A big concern with Hartenstein (and the reason he fell to the middle of the second round) is his basketball IQ and decision-making. Often times he isn’t disciplined enough defensively, and he doesn’t own a polished offensive game on the other end of the floor.
For Houston, Hartenstein might not even see an NBA floor until the 2018-19 season, in which case it’s even harder to evaluate their selection of him. The Rockets wanted to “draft and stash” this summer in order to maintain as much cap space as possible.
In the end, Hartenstein is a player with good potential on both ends of the floor, but also serious concerns that can prevent him from ever becoming a solid NBA player.
Grade: B