The 2024 NBA Draft received a lot of flak for not being littered with star prospects. However, a number of players look like they’ll go on to have long and successful careers. Indeed, in a survey of NBA executives, one Eastern Conference executive stated that Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard “has a chance to be an All-Star down the road,” per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo.
“…Sheppard is going to help Houston right away.”
NBA Executives Make Their Predictions For Rookie of the Year
Selected with the No. 3 pick, Sheppard had already won over draft scouts and a large swath of college fans in Kentucky. But after averaging 20.0 points, 5.3 assists, 2.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game on 50.0 percent shooting in the Las Vegas Summer League, he caught the eye of even casual fans.
Now, he’s arguably the most popular rookie in the class.
Reed Sheppard’s Rookie Season Outlook
Heading into next season, Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green are projected to start in the backcourt. Consequently, Sheppard will likely come off the bench to start his career. However, the Rockets clearly have mixed feelings about Green, whose feel for the game is a notch under the rookie’s. At 6-foot-2, he may lack enough size to be a full-time off-guard. Nonetheless, as long as Houston is unsure of Green’s future with them, Sheppard could have higher usage than a backup normally would.
If so, he’ll likely be a finalist for the 2024 Rookie of the Year Award. In fact, in ESPN’s poll, Sheppard was voted as the most likely to come away with the honor at the end of the season.
The Betting Favorite
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey also turned heads in Summer League, leading to oddsmakers projecting him to win the 2024 Rookie of the Year Award. However, he came in second in the NBA executive’s voting.
A two-time AP Player of the Year at Purdue, Edey was selected ninth overall. His Summer League output was more muted than Sheppard’s due to injury. In two games, he averaged 10.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per contest.
Interestingly, he played completely different styles in those games. In the opener, he was a rim-runner, showing off his understated motor and athleticism. In his next game, he played with his back to the basket, scoring easily.
“I was at the Utah Summer League and was so impressed by how much [Edey’s] game translates,” a voter said.
“He’s in incredible shape and is going to be such a weapon in pick-and-roll with NBA spacing with the way he catches and finishes. He’s way more athletic than people realize, and his sheer will is going to get him a bunch of 20-plus-10 outings before New Year’s, is my prediction. There’s not really another true center on the Grizzlies roster to compete with him for playing time.”
Advantage Zach Edey?
As noted, Edey has an advantage over Sheppard in that he’s projected to be the starter. Furthermore, he has enough low-post skill to justify the Grizzlies mixing it up and playing to his strengths. As a result, he could be featured at least as much as Sheppard on a deep Rockets team.
That being said, Sheppard won’t just be contending with VanVleet and Green for opportunities to make his presence felt. With 2023 No. 4 pick Amen Thompson and 2023 No. 20 pick Cam Whitmore projected to come off the bench, they’ll want touches as well. Meanwhile, though Jaren Jackson Jr. is sure to play minutes at center, his rebounding deficiencies limit the amount of time he’d ideally play in the middle.
