Draft grades, reaction: How experts rank the 2022 Houston Rockets rookie class

This is two great drafts in a row for the Rockets, who were thrown a bit of a curveball when the Magic decided to take Paolo Banchero at No. 1. Smith might actually be a better fit for the Rockets given his ability to space the floor and defend multiple positions, and he’ll join Jalen Green as franchise cornerstones to kick off the rebuild.

Eason is one of the best defensive prospects in the draft with shooting and playmaking upside, while Washington had a lottery grade from many evaluators. Great night for Houston.

I like Smith’s combination of readiness and fit. Banchero will likely be asked to create a lot of offense for a limited Orlando team, something Houston doesn’t need as much with Jalen Green as a go-to guy. Plus, I expect the Rockets to push Smith’s long 2s off the dribble beyond the 3-point line, improving his efficiency.

The Rockets tend to see things a lot like I do (both likely influenced by statistical draft projections), and for a second consecutive year they drafted one of the players I considered most underrated, adding LSU’s Tari Eason at No. 17 after drafting Alperen Sengun at No. 16 last year. Before that, Houston was positioned to take advantage of Smith’s surprising fall to No. 3. Later, the Rockets added Kentucky guard TyTy Washington Jr. with the 29th pick and banked a pair of future second-rounders in a trade down. All in all, I liked what Houston did.

I love everything the Rockets did over the past several days. Getting a first-round pick in the Christian Wood deal made a difference on Thursday. They nailed their three first-round picks and received two future second-round picks in the process.

Smith should form a highly effective scoring duo with Jalen Green, and having Kevin Porter Jr. means Smith won’t have to shoulder a huge scoring load from Day 1. And then the Rockets added one of the best defensive players in Tari Eason at No. 17.

After trading down from No. 26, landing TyTy Washington at No. 29 was a steal; he was considered a lottery pick all season and before a January ankle injury. Washington can make plays in pick-and-rolls and was a 40% 3-point shooter when healthy. The Rockets’ rebuild made huge strides this month.

Jabari Smith will win the Rookie of the Year award. I know I said Banchero is best suited for immediate success, but Smith should put up better numbers. Also, a draft-night slight should provide all the extra motivation for Smith to have a big season.

Alongside 2021 rookies Jalen Green, Josh Christopher, Alperen Sengun, and Usman Garuba, Smith will have a chance to grow and learn ⁠— and more importantly ⁠— get up shots. Houston is going through a complete rebuild right now, and Smith should be able to shine.

The Rockets likely went into the night expecting to land Banchero and ended up with Smith instead. And that’s not a bad thing. Smith still fits a need at power forward and gives the Rockets a two-way threat to build around with last year’s No. 2 pick Jalen Green. They made a floor-raising pick with a defensive stopper in Eason at No. 17 and then landed Washington, who was once projected as a top-10 pick in this class, at the end of the first round. It was a successful night for the Rockets.

A sharp change of plans can often cause anxiety or disappointment, but the Houston Rockets should be elated that Smith fell into their lap at the No. 3 pick. While there seemed to be real excitement at the prospect of pairing 2021 No. 2 pick Jalen Green with Banchero, Smith could easily prove to be the better long-term fit.

Smith’s defensive versatility will be a big bonus for the Rockets, who ranked dead last in defensive efficiency, and his ability to score without dominating the ball will allow more creation opportunities for Green. There was a chance that Green and Banchero would find themselves in a tug-of-war for control of the offense, and now Green can serve as the lead option, setting up Smith for drive-and-kick opportunities.