Rockets predicted to trade Alperen Sengun for $364M ex-Lakers champion to pair with Kevin Durant
· Yahoo Sports
Rockets predicted to trade Alperen Sengun for $364M ex-Lakers champion to pair with Kevin Durant originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Houston Rockets had a great summer last year as they changed the complexion of the organization. Houston went all-in on the immediate future, but that investment did not quite pay off during the past season.
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It was last summer that the Rockets traded for future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant, signaling their desire to compete for a championship.
“Coming off finishing second in the West with only one starter (guard Fred VanVleet) older than 28, the Rockets were surely best positioned to thread the needle of surrounding Durant with enough talent to contend for a championship—particularly as the price dropped to the point where they didn't have to include any of their most prized young players in return,” ESPN’s NBA Insiders wrote.
However, Houston's struggles last season were not entirely on Durant. Injuries to some of the team's veteran leaders also played a major role in slowing their progress.
“Interviews with team sources and those with knowledge of the team's operations reveal that the VanVleet injury, and the season-ending ankle injury to Steven Adams later on, impacted the team in ways that extended off the floor. Beyond the team's glaring lack of playmaking, their absences created a massive leadership void that Durant and the team struggled to fill,” ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon wrote.
Houston could make another major move to build around Durant. SI’s Landon Buford proposes that the Rockets send Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Anthony Davis and Jamir Watkins.
“According to ESPN’s trade machine, a trade of Anthony Davis and Jamir Watkins for Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. is successful, with neither move affecting the winning percentage for their respective teams. However, if Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis can both stay healthy the Rockets could be a top-four seed in the Western Conference and a lock for a second-round appearance, at least with the additions of Marcus Smart, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and, when Fred VanVleet returns from his injury,” Buford wrote.
This would be a massive move for the Rockets, especially because they would still have VanVleet and Adams on the roster. The veteran presence would be valuable for young players such as Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard, giving them experienced leaders to learn from as they continue to develop.
Davis has made $364 million throughout his career so far. Another benefit for Houston is that he would be eligible for an extension if the organization decides he is part of its long-term plans. Getting Davis committed to Houston for the long haul could also make it easier for Durant to commit to the Rockets' future.
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