NBA Draft: Rockets Taking 'Serious Look' at Amen Thompson

Amen Thompson could easily be the pick for the Houston Rockets if they don't trade the No. 4 pick in the NBA Draft.

The NBA Draft is inching closer and the Houston Rockets have a big decision to make with the No. 4 overall pick.

The Rockets could look to trade the pick for an established player like Zion Williamson, or the team could continue adding to its mountain of prospects.

While Houston would have hoped for Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson, the Rockets are seeing if there's a prospect worth taking with the No. 4 pick, and it appears Overtime Elite guard Amen Thompson (who the team recently hosted for a workout) could be a fit, according to the HoopsHype podcast.

"From what I’ve heard, the Rockets will take a serious look at Amen Thompson with the fourth pick if they keep it," HoopsHype said. "He’s considered one of the top defenders in this class, which Houston would welcome after having the second-worst defensive rating in the league last season (118.6)."

The Athletic's Kelly Iko, who was appearing as a guest on the podcast, dove deeper into why the Rockets believe Thompson could fit with Houston's backcourt.

"I’m comfortable saying they have Amen Thompson in a class above the rest of the guys you’d consider in that next tier of draft prospects..." Iko said. "They think it’s quite minimal because when you look at Amen in a vacuum as a 6-foot-7 athlete who can jump out of the gym as an aggressive defender and a quality playmaker, with the ability to mesh with Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr."

Thompson is a 6-7 guard who can play on and off the ball. And on the defensive end, his size allows him to defend players one through five. He would be an excellent plug-and-play prospect for the Rockets. He could take the helm as the starting forward who doesn't take away from Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr.

And given his ball-handling and on-court vision, the Rockets could have a lineup that features three reliable playmakers. At the NBA Scouting Combine in Chicago, Thompson said he believes his talents pair well next to Green.

"It compares greatly with a player like Jalen Green," Thompson said. "He can get off the bounce too, create for others just like me."

During the 2022-23 campaign, Thompson averaged 16.4 points, 5.9 assists and 5.9 rebounds for the City Reapers. And now he could look to improve his game by taking his talents to Clutch City.

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You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24

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