Sports Illustrated’s Sam Amick has thrown down a second mock draft after the scouting combine, and this one follows the conventional wisdom and sends Florida State SF Chris Singleton to the Rockets. Although unlike most mock drafts, it does not spend time telling us that the Rockets need another Shane Battier. Thankfully.
Singleton is the sort of versatile defender who would help address Houston’s weaknesses at that end, where the Rockets ranked 19th in defensive efficiency and 22nd in points allowed and opponents’ shooting.
Singleton is a favorite over at The Dream Shake, and while he may not have much of an offensive game yet, he does have an NBA-caliber body and defensive skillset from the get-go. If he grows an offensive game, he could become the new Gerald Wallace. If not, well, he could be the new Stacey Augmon? There’s not much downside to this pick—it doesn’t fill a glaring need like a center would, but a player of Singleton’s length and skills can always be an effective rotation player.