Rockets centers Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams could join forces to serve as one of the NBA’s top center tandems in 2024/25, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Backup big man Jock Landale may also compete for minutes at the five, but as long as Sengun and Adams stay healthy, it seems likely that either the rising star or the longtime starter will be on the court most of the time.
“We’re pretty bloody solid,” Adams said. “The boys here are pretty good. That’s more on paper. We haven’t played a game. It doesn’t matter how it looks on paper. Whoever is the most connected is going to be the most deep team.”
As Feigen notes, the Rockets as a franchise have a long history of Hall of Fame big men to their credit. Feigen notes that Sengun was approaching possible All-Star status during his 2023/24 breakthrough season and has room to get better this year.
There’s more out of Houston:
- Suiting up for his first game in almost seven months, Sengun displayed the kind of growth Houston insiders and fans have no doubt been hoping for, writes Feigen in a separate story. Sengun appears to have added catch-and-shoot triples to his arsenal. During the team’s 122-113 preseason defeat against the Jazz, he showed off a speed and activity level heretofore unseen in his play, Feigen observes.
- Rockets shooting guard Jalen Green thrived last year after Sengun went down in March with an ankle injury. Feigen writes in another article for The Chronicle that Houston believes his late-season surge is sustainable over the long run. Green credits film sessions with Rockets coaches, which kicked off last December, for helping him realize how to hone his game best. “I think it will make it a lot easier to pick up where I left off,” Green said. “It’s more about what I have do: play defense, rebound. Like I’ve been saying, being able to contribute to the team besides just scoring.”
- The Rockets boast plenty of young assets, future draft picks, and veterans on solid-but-movable contracts. Houston could be the league’s most intriguing trade team this season, opines Michael Pina of The Ringer. Pina notes that the Rockets could go in any number of directions — they may look to package some young pieces for a franchise-changing deal or could swap out some veterans for more youth and draft equity.
If Rockets GM were a good trader, he would have acquired Lauri or Towns
Targeting Butler or Ingram is not a good idea
Few of top 20 stars are available for trade
Sillivan has this absolutely nailed! There is no big star who is going to be available in the next 2 seasons. There is a bunch of second tier and overpaid players, but no difference makers.
Also Dillon Brooks’ contract is not tradeable even if it is descending, no team will trade assets to take on the rest of that deal.
I disagree, descending money quality role player, 3 and D skill set and has a bit of toughness and brings culture.
A lot of teams look good on paper but they need guys like him that do the dirty work and set the tone.
Exactly! Justkidding is just wrong. Also, that bot sillivan is always wrong.
I’d say Fred VanVleet is the untradeable one, Dillon Brooks still provides 3&D services and is younger
This team has promise, but it’s only promise until it upgrades it’s veteran mentors… Then they can be something special…
Adams is too much of a larakin to keep someone like Brooks in check… FVV is a solid vet leader figure, but we’ve seen other solid vet leaders struggle with the turmoil Dillon creates…
Also still not sold on the coach…
It’ll be interesting how the kids play and how the results go with contracts on the line.
One of the youngest rosters in the league and a lot of expendable players and guys hungry for minutes.
On paper I love the Reed and Jalen backcourt and love that for now you have a good vet in FVV to guide them. Sengun is awesome but really hard to build around that skill set and lack of defence.
I doubt he becomes available but MPJ would be a solid SF for this team with his shooting and rebounding ability. Nuggets lack depth give them Brooks, Landale and Eason.
Rockets:
FVV Green MPJ Smith Sengun
Reed Thompson Whitmore Green Adams
Nuggets:
Murray Braun Brooks Gordon Jokic
Russ Strawther Tate Saric Landale
You mention Sengun’s lack of defence, and then suggested a trade of two good defenders (Eason and Brooks) for another bad defender in MPJ?
I think the Rockets just need to stay the course, let the young guys grow together with the vets.
I am not sold on Brooks for the Rockets. I know 2 Pre season games in the books. Last night played horrible first half. No chemistry. Could not seem to get it together. Second half woke up. Took game to overtime. But a good few do not see that much in that group. Hinton, Williams do any of that bunch fit. Landale and Sengun and Adams I see Landale fighting for time. He did get in game some. But one thing our announcers said last night is how the team seems and meshes when FVV not playing. Brooks see too much in foul trouble. Even last season. Tate played last night too. I did not see a lot of him last season. Jeff Green played last night. Aaron as well. Just do wonder if someone better out there to mesh with this team. Could others work elsewhere. We have a good coach. I want what will work with this team to take the next step t step. Do want to better our season from last. But do not want to go backwards
HOU has talented pieces, albeit no budding superstar. From this point on, the organization (FO and HC) needs to focus on team building. That’s a much more difficult job than the piece collecting they’ve done to date. It’s also a process that has to be led by the HC and the veteran and/or best players. Meaning the FO has to accept a supporting role. This is the point of failure for so many of the 2k’er populated FO’s around the league (so prevalent these days). Many tend to want more involvement than their knowledge of the subject matter warrants. Here, we’ll see.