5 Rebuilding teams that took massive steps forward at the 2023 NBA Draft

Houston Rockets

Draft selections: Amen Thompson (4th overall), Cam Whitmore (20th overall) 

Heading into the 2023 NBA Draft, all we heard about regarding the Houston Rockets was how willing they were to trade the No. 4 overall pick and how much they desired veteran talent to help the team take steps forward in their build heading into next year. On NBA Draft night, the Rockets decided not to trade their pick and, instead, made a great selection by taking Amen Thompson.

I believe that Thompson has the ability to emerge as the second-best player in this year’s draft class. He doesn’t have a ceiling as high as Victor Wembanayma. You can argue that no one in the history of the NBA has. But there’s a case to be made that other than Wemby, Thompson’s ceiling is as high as any other prospect in this class.

If Thompson ends up being a home run selection or the Rockets, he could be the missing piece of their build next to Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun. On top of the Thompson selection, the Rockets took advantage of a falling Cam Whitmore and gobbled him up at No. 20.

I’m sure we’ll get the full story on Whitmore but getting him late in the first round is an absolute steal.