2023 NBA Mock Draft 5.0: Pistons face difficult choice at No. 2

There has been a lot of buzz about Kevin Porter Jr. being a burdensome presence in the Houston locker room. True or not, the Rockets certainly do not have the team-wide discipline needed to develop in a meaningful way right now. I have a feeling the issues go well beyond Porter, but at the same time, I do question whether or not Porter’s play style is conducive to winning at the highest level.

He could be a great sixth man, or even a reliable complementary scorer if he’s willing to check his ego and buy-in. But, to keep a long point short, Houston should not be afraid to target a new backcourt running mate for Jalen Green. Especially when that new backcourt running mate is Ausar Thompson.

Thompson may or may not be a natural point guard, especially early in his career, but he’s a razor-sharp processor who’s quite comfortable with the ball in hand.  At 6-foot-7, he’s a ball-on-string handler who moves with the propulsion of a 10-cylinder engine. He’s a blur, getting into the paint whenever he wants and frequently playing above the rim in transition.

The dunks coming out of Houston’s backcourt would be absolutely spectacular. They already are, but Green and Thompson would give defenses a headache with sheer speed and explosiveness. Green needs to trim the fat from his shot chart and Thompson needs to prove that he can consistently hit 3s, but the Rockets should have extreme faith in that duo.