2021 NBA Mock Draft 5.0 leading up to franchise changing night
By Mike Luciano
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Charles Bassey. 23. 169. C. Western Kentucky. player
Houston addressed the backcourt with Green, so now it’s time to add a new face to the frontcourt with Kelly Olynyk potentially on the market. While he is a bit of a stiff player that is very limited with what he can do athletically, Bassey is one of the most physically dominant players in this class.
Bassey can bully most centers at his level of competition, and his ability to rock the rim in transition and become a master rebounder could appeal for a Rockets team that played better when Christian Wood was at the power forward spot. Thanks to a rival Trail Blazers team, Houston will get a quality backup center in Bassey.
24. Pick Analysis. SG. Chris Duarte. 169. Scouting Report. Oregon. player
After taking two athletic projections, a pick acquired from the champion Bucks could help them add a more experienced player ready to contribute off of the bench in a hurry. The 24-year-old Duarte might worry some from a developmental point of view, he did beat out dozens of qualified candidates to win the Jerry West award.
Duarte is a knockdown shooter that can give Houston a spark off of the bench while locking down some of the best opposing reserves that the Rockets will get thrown at them next season. His ceiling is unknown, but everything about his career with the Ducks suggests he is one of the safest bets in the draft.