Rockets’ Long Game Explains Lack of Alperen Sengun Extension

The Houston Rockets have been one of the most active teams in the NBA since the end of the 2021-22 season. They have made a number of moves, including trading away Christian Wood and acquiring Kevin Porter Jr. and Jabari Smith Jr. in the draft. However, one move they have not made is signing Alperen Sengun to a contract extension.

Sengun is a 20-year-old center who was drafted by the Rockets with the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft. He had a solid rookie season, averaging 9.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He also showed flashes of his potential, particularly on the defensive end.

Sengun is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the Rockets have yet to offer him an extension. This has led to some speculation that the Rockets may not be planning to keep Sengun long-term. However, there are a number of reasons why the Rockets may be taking this approach.

The Rockets are rebuilding

The Rockets are in the midst of a rebuild. They have traded away a number of their veteran players, and they are now focused on developing their young players. Sengun is a key part of that young core, but the Rockets may not be ready to commit to him long-term.

The Rockets want to see how Sengun develops over the next year. They want to see if he can improve his defense and become a more consistent scorer. If he does, he could be a valuable part of the Rockets’ future. However, if he does not, the Rockets may be better off moving on.

The Rockets have other priorities

The Rockets have a number of other priorities this offseason. They need to find a starting point guard, and they need to add some depth to their bench. They also need to figure out what to do with Eric Gordon, who is entering the final year of his contract.

The Rockets may simply not have the money to sign Sengun to a contract extension this offseason. They may need to wait until next offseason, when they will have more cap space.

Sengun is not a sure thing

Sengun has shown a lot of potential, but he is not a sure thing. He is still only 20 years old, and he has a lot of room to grow. He also needs to improve his defense and become a more consistent scorer.

The Rockets may be hesitant to sign Sengun to a contract extension until they see more from him. They want to make sure that he is worth the investment.

Conclusion

The Rockets’ lack of an Alperen Sengun extension is not a sign that they are not planning to keep him long-term. It is simply a sign that they are being cautious. They want to see how he develops over the next year, and they want to make sure that he is worth the investment.

If Sengun continues to develop, he could be a key part of the Rockets’ future. He is a talented young player with a lot of potential. However, the Rockets need to be patient with him. He is still only 20 years old, and he has a lot of room to grow.