NBA Draft: Grading every first-round pick after rookie year

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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 09: TyTy Washington Jr. #0 of the Houston Rockets brings the ball up court against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on April 9, 2023 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

29. Houston Rockets – TyTy Washington, Kentucky

With their third first-round pick of the 2022 Draft, the Houston Rockets traded around before landing at 29 and selecting TyTy Washington, the latest “Kentucky guard” to enter the draft and a sleeper prospect that many draft analysts had pegged much higher, some as high as the lottery.

Washington didn’t get a ton of run in the NBA with the Houston Rockets, which is somewhat surprising given their all-out tanking philosophy this season to chase Victor Wembanyama. Yet his time in the G League was quite productive, as he averaged 23 points and six assists. When he did see minutes for the Rockets, however, he struggled to score and was abysmal defensively.

Washington has some work to do, but he still has plenty of runway to become a rotation point guard. The Rockets would love for him to start contributing and lock him in as their long-term backup at the position. It will be interesting to look back in a couple of years and compare Washington, Andrew Nembhard (31st pick), Kennedy Chandler (39th) and Ryan Rollins (44th).

Grade: C

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