The Houston Rockets took major steps forward in the offseason as GM Rafael Stone revamped the roster to turn it into a surefire title contender. The additions of Kevin Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Clint Capela make Houston one of the deepest and most talented teams in the league.
At the same time, the Rockets continue to have weaknesses. While they are stacked in the frontcourt, they are still short on shot creation and playmaking in the backcourt. Despite their obvious struggles in half-court offense last season, the Rockets didn't really address that need in the backcourt. One big reason why is the organization's trust in Reed Sheppard as he enters his second year in the league.
While the decision to ride with Sheppard is understandable, the Rockets may regret this decision when the regular season rolls around.
Rockets May End Up Regretting Trusting Reed Sheppard Over a Veteran
Sheppard didn't live up to expectations in his rookie season, struggling to find consistent playing time and failing to make shots in his short stints. However, the third-overall pick has the exact skill set the Rockets need: the ability to create shots for himself and others while being able to play off-ball thanks to his shooting.
If this comes to fruition next season, Houston will be a formidable offense. The risk here is that the former Kentucky star hasn't shown that he can give the Rockets what they are looking for. In the two Summer League games he played before getting shot down, Sheppard was 36.4% from the field and 31.8% from downtown while having 5 assists and 9 turnovers.
The Rockets' championship window is now, and they presumably won't have the patience to give Sheppard developmental minutes next season. If the season starts and Sheppard fails to make shots again, then the Rockets will regret not targeting a veteran guard in free agency or the trade market.