When it comes to the 2021-22 rookie class, most consider Houston’s four first-round picks — Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Usman Garuba, and Josh Christopher — to be the primary prospects of significance.
But as the Rockets and those in the front office see it, that group of four should perhaps be considered a group of five.
Per longtime beat writer Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, who spoke recently on the ClutchFans podcast, the Rockets and general manager Rafael Stone view rookie point guard Daishen Nix as a first-round talent — and perhaps even a lottery one. Among his comments:
They consider Nix a first-rounder. They consider him a lottery pick.
Houston Chronicle reporter @Jonathan_Feigen said on the ClutchFans podcast that the #Rockets view undrafted rookie @djfromveg as a "lottery pick" talent. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://t.co/EH1mwKvJYt pic.twitter.com/IOwwvtxmr5
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) May 28, 2022
The 6-foot-5 floor general was signed by the Rockets as an undrafted free agent following the 2021 NBA draft, but there were extenuating circumstances. Most notably, one of Nix’s biggest weaknesses coming off a prep year with the G League Ignite was his weight and fitness, and he transformed his body over his first year in Houston.
While Nix played only sparingly at the NBA level, he was dynamic as the starting point guard for Houston’s G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Nix helped lead the Vipers to the 2021-22 G League championship, averaging 20.6 points (47.9% FG, 39.5% on 3-pointers), 7.6 assists, and 5.9 rebounds in 34.2 minutes per game.
It remains to be seen how (and if) that production will translate to the NBA level. But with the Rockets heading into a 2022-23 season that is likely to again be focused on youth and development, it appears that Houston internally views Nix as Kevin Porter Jr.’s primary backup.
While that doesn’t preclude a potential point guard addition via the 2022 draft or free agency, it doesn’t appear to be a desperate area of need for Stone and his basketball operations staff with the Rockets.
