2023 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Blazers and Bulls find new life

Houston has invested quite heavily in the backcourt duo of Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr., not just financially but also in terms of play style and personnel moves. It took a year and a half for Alperen Sengun to become the offensive focal point he’s meant to be, largely because of the team’s borderline inexcusable laser-focus on the backcourt.

Enter Amen Thompson, who to speak plainly is a much better point guard prospect than Kevin Porter Jr., the latter of whom feels much more like a sixth man anyways. Thompson accentuates Green quite helpfully as a 6-foot-7 multi-positional defender who makes a point to involve his teammates.

Thompson’s advanced processing speed and off-the-charts athleticism would no doubt perk up Houston’s steadily improving offense. Between him and Green, defenses would have a lot of trouble keeping the Rockets out of the paint. Then there’s Sengun, the kind of heliocentric playmaking big who can elevate his backcourt mates by way of passing and screen-setting. It’s a fun trio to build around.

The Rockets have some interesting talent, but it’s hard to express genuine confidence in the current direction of the rebuild. A player of Thompson’s caliber changes the equation. He would immediately take over as the team’s primary creator and best two-way asset.