Not often does a number three overall draft pick get demoted to the G League halfway through his rookie season.

It’s also not often that a number three overall pick is on a team that is the number two seed in their respective conference.

However, that’s the situation that Reed Sheppard has found himself in following his selection by the Houston Rockets.

Earlier this week, Sheppard was officially sent to the Rockets G League affiliate the RGV Vipers to get more reps.

While many people have already labeled Sheppard a bust, there is no doubt that this demotion is a good thing for both sides.

During his last few games with the Rockets, head coach Ime Udoka has chosen to make Sheppard a DNP.

Having a number three overall pick become a DNP is not a good thing for either the player or the organization.

With the Rockets’ contending situation, they can’t afford to prioritize Sheppard’s development like they could otherwise.

Being demoted to the G League, Sheppard has the chance to get much-needed playing time and be the focal point of a team.

In his first game with the Vipers, Sheppard dropped an astonishing 49 points while knocking down 8 three-pointers.

Sheppard certainly can be an impact player on this year’s Rockets team and getting reps in the G could unlock that.