The Thunder s 2.85 million defender scored 20 points! Sheppard s performance was not as good as the second-round pick, and the Rockets executed the option at the buzzer

Without Van Jordan, the Rockets suffered a losing streak at the beginning, while the Thunder's lack of All-Star player Jaylen Williams did not affect their winning streak.

Jaylen Williams cannot play, and Ajay Mitchell becomes the beneficiary. The Thunder guard, whose annual salary is only $2.85 million this season, scored 20 points, 2 assists and 2 steals against the Wizards in the last game, helping the team win six consecutive games.

In the first 6 games, Mitchell averaged 18.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 27.2 minutes per game, shooting 46.1% from the field, 33.3% from the three-point range, and 100% from the free throw line. The American media praised the Thunder for discovering another new star.

Former Rockets center, Halten, who currently plays for the Thunder, said that Mitchell has provided a lot of help to the team in terms of scoring. Alexander commented on Mitchell: He is a full competitor, full of fighting spirit and eager to play hard. Mitchell said the guidance he received from Alexander and Jaylen Williams was an advantage.

Sheppard has the guidance of Van Jordan and Adams. However, the performance of his No. 3 pick was not as good as that of the same second-round pick Mitchell. Some Rockets fans bluntly said that Stone's draft was wrong.

Ajay Mitchell is 23 years old and 1.96 meters tall. He comes from the University of California, Santa Barbara. This school does not send many talents to the NBA. Among them, James Nonnaly once played for the Rockets briefly. Before the draft, some American media suggested that the Rockets consider Ajay Mitchell. He has solid and comprehensive skills, has the ability to hold the ball, and is a team player.

However, the Rockets obviously look down on Mitchell because he is older and lacks talent. The Rockets like talented players, and Stone took a liking to Shepard, believing that he had excellent shooting ability and a high basketball IQ. In the end, the Rockets selected Sheppard with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, while the Thunder missed Mitchell with the No. 38 pick.

Mitchell does not have excellent athletic ability, nor is he good at shooting, but he works hard, improves through hard training, and seizes opportunities to prove himself. Mitchell received a three-year, $8.7 million contract and won the championship with the team.

Shepard became the beneficiary of Van Jordan's injury, but his performance was not satisfactory. Some Rockets fans bluntly said: If Shepard was not included in the first two games, they might have won.

Shepard averaged 10 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals in 22.5 minutes per game this season, shooting 35% from the field, 36.4% from the three-point range, and 80% from the free throw line.

Sheppard's rookie contract is 45.85 million US dollars in four years, which is much higher than Mitchell. However, his performance is not as good as the latter. The first two years of Sheppard's contract are guaranteed, with team options in the third and fourth years not guaranteed.

Although Shepard's growth was not as expected, the Rockets decided to give him a chance. After all, he was the No. 3 pick, not the No. 29 pick like Taytay.

The rookie contract team option will be implemented on October 31st, local time, and November 1st. The Rockets exercised Sheppard's third-year team option at the buzzer. "Houston Chronicle" reporter Lerner revealed that in addition to Sheppard, the team option for the fourth year of Amen's rookie contract has also been executed.

It will certainly not be a surprise that the team option in Amen's contract is exercised, but the Rockets' execution of Shepard's team option triggered complaints from some Rockets fans.

Amen is the No. 4 pick, and his annual salary is not as high as Shepard. Sheppard's annual salary this season is US$10.6 million, while Amen's is US$9.69 million. Judging from Sheppard's performance, his contract is premium. Okogie's performance is significantly better than Shepard, but his annual salary is only $3.08 million.

Generally speaking, rookies are watched for three years. The Rockets watched Jaylen Green for four years. I wonder how many years they will watch Shepard?