Houston Rockets: 2018 NBA Draft grades
By Jason Elbaum
Overall
It was not an incredibly eventful draft night for Rockets fans, but this is mostly because of the deal that brought Chris Paul to Houston and the fact that the team was so successful during the regular season. The roster is one of the best in the league the way it is right now, but the Rockets’ biggest offseason decisions have yet to be made.
Going into the 2017-18 season, the Rockets knew that they would only have one selection in the upcoming draft, so it was not too much of a surprise that they made a trade to ensure they continue to replenish the pipeline of young players in the organization. The result was addressing some of the major needs of the team.
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They already have one of the best perimeter defenders in the game in Chris Paul, but they needed to add players who can guard the shooting guards and small forwards of the league. They got exactly that in Melton, as his long wingspan should translate to the next level. He just needs to improve his jump shot.
Vincent Edwards can also help solidify the team’s perimeter defense in the event that Trevor Ariza decides to leave the team in free agency. Edwards could also add a scoring boost off the bench with his ability to shoot 3-pointers. He shot 39.8 percent from beyond the arc in his senior year at Purdue.
Overall, the Rockets fanbase should be pleased with management’s choices on draft night and making a trade to acquire a player with upside without giving up any significant assets. Both of these players will need to prove themselves at NBA Summer League and training camp, but the Rockets grade pretty well for this year’s draft.
Next: Complete 2018 NBA Draft grades for all 30 teams
Final Grade: B