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The Finals may be the last thing we all remember from the NBA playoffs, but another enticing storyline that came out of the postseason was the impressive run of the Houston Rockets.
After trading for James Harden back in 2012 and then bringing in Dwight Howard a year later, 2015 looked like the year that the Rockets were going to take the next step and finally live up the perennial hype that comes with a team showcasing two of the top 15 players in the NBA today.
Harden put together one of the great NBA scoring seasons that we have seen in recent years, and while Howard battled injuries during the season his performance in the playoffs cemented the fact that the seven-footer is still one of the preeminent big men in the game. But after everyday point guard Patrick Beverley tore a ligament in his left wrist in late March, the Rockets relied on the tandem of Jason Terry and Pablo Prigioni whose combined age of 75 showed. They just couldn’t keep up with the youthful exuberance of the Golden State Warriors in the playoffs.
Beverly is 26 years old and a restricted free agent this offseason who very well may be moved before the start of next season, leaving a void for an injection of fresh blood. This is where 19-year-old Tyus Jones comes into the picture.
The last time most fans saw Jones he was knocking down clutch shot after clutch shot en route to leading Duke to national title. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound point guard is a floor general who will be the perfect addition to the Rockets’ game plan.
Jones has one of the highest basketball IQ’s in this year’s draft, still under the age of 20 Jones took over the starting point guard duties at Duke from proven veteran Quinn Cook and had no trouble implanting coach Mike Krzyzewski’s complex offense. This kind of composure is something that the Rockets need at PG since Beverley was often more of an on the fly kind of floor general as opposed to the systematic leader who makes those around him better.
Another thing that Jones excelled at in the collegiate ranks was feeding the post, and if he joins the Rockets this will certainly be a useful trait. Jones was responsible for many of the easy looks that top-three pick Jahlil Okafor got on the season. Howard is a ball-dominant center who will be benefit from Jones’ ability to find a post player and set him up for success with the right kind of entry pass.
Despite what some scouts may deem a slender frame, Jones still averaged 33.9 minutes per game displaying a proclivity for being tougher than he looks and the inclination to be a part of the big moments. This kind of PG is something that Harden is in desperate need of as it was typically his show when the going got tough; Jones could provide a reliable second option in the backcourt.
Jones hasn’t been getting the same kind of attention as other point guards in the draft who may have more upside, but it’s hard to find a more complete player at the one in this class. The Rockets would be the perfect fit for his skill set, and they should take him with the No. 18 overall pick.
Douglas Ammon is an NBA Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Who covers all things about the Association, follow him on Twitter @DA76er
