Average of 4+1+1! The Suns chased the Rockets 20-year-old defender, but was decisively rejected! He will serve as the core of two teams next season

There were seven young players among the Rockets before claiming to be the Rockets' Seven Sons, but this offseason, the Rockets sent Jaylen Green and Whitmore away. Jaylen Green was packaged and sent to the Phoenix Suns in a Durant-related deal, while Whitmore was sent to the Wizards by the Rockets for two second-round draft picks. The Rockets have five young players left: Shin Kyung, Shepard, Amen Thompson, Ethan and Jabbarry Smith Jr.

These five players seem to be the core of the Rockets' future, but among these five players, except Shepard, the other four have become the core of the team or the main rotation. Shepard, a 20-year-old rookie shooter, did not perform well last season. Although it was the No. 3 pick last season, the Tanhua Show, he didn't get many opportunities and failed to enter the Best Rookie Team last season. Last season, Shepard averaged 4.4 points, 1.4 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game, and his three-point shooting percentage was only 33.8%. Moreover, he has poor ability to fight and has weak defensive ability. Although he has high ball quotient and strong shooting potential, he has not realized these talents.

Rockets gave him a chance at the beginning of last season, but by the middle and late stages of the season, Shepard had difficulty entering the rotation lineup, and was even transferred to the Development League in a certain week. In a week, Shepard became the Development League Player of the Week, once again proving that his potential was quite good.

In fact, the Suns wanted Shepard at the beginning in Durant's trade, but the Rockets only wanted to give chips like Jaylen Green and Whitmore. They directly rejected the Suns' proposal and refused to put Shepard in the negotiations on the Durant trade. According to famous journalist Alvin Seidley, the Rockets are expected to let Shepard lead the second team next season and become the core point guard of the second team.

In other words, the Rockets currently lack manpower in the backcourt. With Jaylen Green and Whitmore both being traded, the Rockets did not introduce any decent defenders in the backcourt, so Shepard is the number one core of the team's backcourt outside Van Vreet next season, and even veteran Aaron Holiday will give Shepard a place. Holiday is expected to play the third point guard next season, and outside Van Vreet, the Rockets' first choice in the defender position is naturally the 20-year-old double-season defender Shepard. The Rockets are still very optimistic about Shepard's talent and potential. After all, a season cannot prove Shepard's ability. The Rockets will also trust Shepard next season and will give him more playing time and tactical status, but this may also be Shepard's last chance. If he can't continue to show his potential and talent, the Rockets might start a trade in the middle of the season in exchange for a new point guard to replace Shepard.

After all, the Rockets have entered a window to win the championship next season, and Durant is no longer young. If Shepard drags the Rockets' luxury lineup, I believe Manager Stone will give up on him without hesitation; but if Shepard can perform first-classly, he will be the second core of the Rockets' backcourt next season. Therefore, how Shepard's performance next season directly determines what kind of record the Rockets can achieve in the regular season and playoffs.