Houston Rockets: 2018 NBA Draft grades

No. 52: Vincent Edwards, Purdue (via Utah Jazz)

As the NBA Draft was coming to a close and the final few players were hearing their names called to realize their professional basketball dreams, the Rockets’ front office was working the phones. They reached an agreement with the Utah Jazz to acquire Vincent Edwards at No. 52.

As a four-year starter for the Boilermakers, Edwards has had time to build the strength and work ethic that could see him contributing at the NBA level in his first season. At Purdue, he was a vital two-way player for Matt Painter’s teams in good years and bad.

He improved on his scoring numbers each year as a Boilermaker and averaged 14.5 points per game during his senior year where he played 31.6 minutes per game. Purdue went to the tournament every year that Edwards was on the team, making it as far as the Sweet 16 in both 2017 and 2018.

Even though Edwards proved that he was a capable scorer at the college level, he could become a steal in the draft because of his defense. Purdue was known for playing an NBA-style defense where they switched assignments on a consistent basis. This could bode well for Edwards’ chances of making the opening night roster.

Edwards also showed his willingness to be a scrappy player in his final year at Purdue as he improved his rebounding numbers from 4.9 boards per game to 7.4 per game, which included a full 2.0 offensive rebounds per game. Perhaps his aggressiveness stood out Houston management and that’s why they paid the price for Utah’s draft pick.

As far as Edwards’s chances of contributing to the Rockets in his first season, it’ll largely depend on whether the team manages to sign Trevor Ariza. However, Edwards appears NBA-ready after playing four full seasons at Purdue and could find his way to the opening night roster if he performs well in the NBA Summer League.

Grade: B+