[2023 NBA Draft/1-4] Amen Thompson, G, Overtime Elite

He's a Rocket so I'm a huge fan now. I've shared my concerns, but once you become a Rocket you earn my respect on Day 1 and can only lose it from that point onwards. I have faith in the coaches we have from Engelland's staff improving his shooting gradually. I have faith in added strength and Udoka's coaching in improving his layups and finishing at the rim at the NBA level. If he does these two things, we are looking at a generational star.

Pairs well with JG/Jabari/Sengun. Doesn't need a lot of shots. Has looked Lebron-like with his passing at times. Seems hard working, mature and willing to play defense with his excellent frame.

Another tremendous addition to our core. Green, Sengun, Jabari, Amen, Whitmore, Eason, Garuba, Tyty and Christopher is such an impressive core, the Rockets have drafted SO well. It's going to be amazing to watch this squad under Udoka one of the most talented coaches in the NBA.

 

It's so funny we've drafted 9 young players across all positions and we still have people saying we NEED to sign 3 of our 5 starters for next season lol.

The Rockets obviously believe in their picks. The only things ABSOLUTELY necessary for playoff contention that we are missing on this squad are some veteran floor general play and some veteran rim protection. Everything else is a want, not a need.

 

After thinking about it for a bit I am very happy with the pick. Of course, you are looking for a potential star with any top 5 pick, and Amen has that ceiling. This is a star-driven league, and if you don't have one, you try to get one.

 

He seems like a humble, well-spoken kid. I like that.

Not sure I get the same vibes from Whitmore. Let's see.

 

Whitmore hopefully had a pretty big wake-up call by falling and will be receptive to Udoka's incoming attitude adjustment program. Ben Sullivan - you have your work cut out for you with Amen - get to work!! This draft worked out as well as it realistically could have - Scoot was never going to fall to 4.

 

I'm glad Stone didn't go after PG13 for the 4th pick. Amen Thompson has a long way to go. He might shine brightly after a couple of years.
PG is injured and he doesn't fit the team needs.

 

I think Whitmore is a tough player that's needed with our more finesse guys. Tough love might bring out the best from him. I believe Udoka is the right man for the job. No disrespect for S. Silas. He's too soft and inexperienced to be a head coach.

 

The people most motivated to believe they've done a bang up job in the rebuild - despite some evidence to the contrary, mostly in terms of being somewhere between laughingstock and afterthought on the court- believe they've done great.

Aside from being a @Mathloom post - obvious flaws here are obvious.

 

“I know I will be a great shooter”

 

I think Amen is a while away from contributing but I like his attitude. He’s got the physical abilities to be a star. If he can put in the work to fix his jump shot he will be worth the risk.

 

If you sign a veteran floor general after drafting the best passer in the draft with the 4th pick, you're doing something wrong.

 

Amen is very raw. Like Green has more secure and refined handle than Amen at this moment. Being a willing passer isn't enough to be a full time pg. He's going to need some development time before he can be a full time pg. In the mean time he'll probably play a more playmakibg role at the wing/sf position.

 

the smaller and weaker you are, the more handle you need. JG vas very thin and weak that's why his handle was needed more. Amen might be raw but hell that mf is strong even when skinny. When he bulks up a little he will be a walking mismatch

 

I doubt Amen is much stronger than Green especially at their current stages. Green just averaged 6 fta per game at age 20 and surprisingly fights through contact well.

Anyways the more secure handle party is needed for a full time pg because they are going to be the ones to bring the ball up the court during high stakes full court press situations that require security.

 

Dawg

Christopher and TyTy are not part of the core. Christopher probably isn’t an nba player.

and we need more of these players to be consistently good at the nba level before we say the team has drafted well. Right now sengun and probably Tari are only ones who don’t have major bust potential still.

 

Finding dependable shooters would be nice.

 

I'm not sure Green has a better handle than Amen, but backup PG is the role that I see Amen stepping into as the season opens.

I've read some speculation that Amen might play on the wing or at SF. Not sure that he has enough strength to play many minutes at that spot. But against PGs, he'll have an athletic advantage on almost every possession.

Can't wait to see what our break will look like with Amen at the controls.

 

That poster you quoted might be the biggest homer on this forum.

I have no idea how anyone can have complete confidence in our staff and players at this stage.

 

Obviously the shooting is a major concern, but it seemed like he had a good head on his shoulders and will work at it.