Everybody not just Shaq sees the talent and promise of our youngsters. It’s a great thing for others to want what we have. It means goals are being achieved. Here the real question, how does Sengun feel about Houston? If he was with the Lakers the world would fall in love with because he is a very likable personality. He would easily cross over into commercials and small cameo roles. Late night TV, movies and television. As a Rocket’s fan I want him here. I would understand if he was to leave for the Lakers.
Why entertain the idea now? Sengün has enough time to join whatever big market when he is 29 or 30+. No need to do it now IMHO. Come to think of it, crazy of how much time he has to rake in the big moniez.....
"The front office" has not given him much love. They keep sending these signals, via people like Kelly Iko, Clutch (last year's planted articles that they were going to start freaking Bruno Fernando), Jackson Gatlin (even after an all-star type breakout season by Alpi now, planting that they are "not that high on him"), that they don't really believe in him. Which is insane. He is clearly the beacon of hope for the Rockets. It's not only incredibly stupid, it's actually malpractice. GMs from other teams must be licking their chops, planning to pry him from the Rockets. Stone overvalued people like Oladipo, KPJ, Jalen and criminally undervalues Alpi, and continues to do so. The next time he gives Alpi the praise he deserves would be the first.
THIS gif is a perfect example of what I see and hear on this board! More and more coaches/players/ex-players/HOF's (GROWING FIRE) ....... are giving props to Alpi for his play AND his potential, while at the same time the Rockets management/Some media/AND some fans on this board (TINY HAT DOG) double/triple/quadruple down on bashing and finding faults with Alpi's play. IMHO, Alpi may or may not end up being the franchise player of this team, BUT he is our best player at the moment! I'm super high on Amen, Cam, Tari and Bari as well, and any one of those players may end up being better than Alpi in the FUTURE, but Alpi is our lead dog right now and this is why Alpi gets sooooo much love around the NBA! (FYI) You can piss off with the... I'll follow "X" player if he gets traded to another team! Spoiler Go Rockets!!! ....... ....... .......
We need to see what happens w/ Sengun in the future. Per Jackson Gatlin, Stone doesnt view him as a high priority
Not the only time a Rockets legend leaves for The Lakers and takes a bunch of "Rockets" fans with him...
I think everyone with two eyes can say that Alperen Sengun is the Rockets best player. The beacon of hope? I'd still put Amen over him as a beacon of hope but that isn't a guarantee either. Sengun has far too many issues right now to say absolutely that he's going to be a superstar. But you have to build your team from where the chips fall and right now, of all of the Rockets draft picks, Sengun has outperformed everyone else by a lot. Honestly Amen is probably second. Neither can shoot but they are likely the future. Jabari is (a distant) 3rd. If Jabari was a 40+% 3 pt shooter like he was advertised, it'd be different. Stone needs to go. Absolutely needs to go. It's like he has this vision of the most athletic/electric back court in the NBA and he has to see it through. He wanted it with Jalen/KPj and now it seems like he wants it with Jalen/Amen. Reminds me of his buddy Silas.
I doubt that those people were Rockets fans in the first place. I'm sure some posters who joined this board because of Sengun would leave if he was traded to another team. But a big chunk of Rockets fans on CF are huge Sengun fans and would be very upset if Sengun was traded for anything less than a bona fide superstar.
I wouldn't be upset if Sengun got traded for a #1 pick in a good draft, in the past 3 drafts The Rockets have lost the chance to get Cade, Paolo and Wemby who are all better than Sengun and legit players to build around. The Rockets have also been the worst or 2nd worst team in the league for the past 4 years without even getting a single #1... Things would be way different if in any of these drafts lotteries The Rockets got the 1st pick.....
small edit from my personal perspective we have a potentual future mvp on our roster his name is Alperen Sengun
Cade is not better than Alp, by any stretch. Paolo and Alp are comparable. https://stathead.com/tiny/rpCi1
Cade's been injured but looking really good as of late, I don't see anyone taking Sengun over Paolo and Wemby is a no brainer. Point is, if a team is willing to part with a #1 pick for Sengun I'd be thrilled.... Finally a chance to chose who we want to build around and not pick who ever is left.
Going from #16 to #3 or better than #2 is already a massive hit and a massive Win. Banchero and the Magic tricked everyone, I am adamant that Banchero knew about it and was in on it. The Magic took Shaq as #1, Howard #1 and then Banchero #1. Chet is a massive #2. And Wemby...the NBA is rigged.
Cade has been bad. Even when playing. Alp and Paolo have virtually identical numbers with Alp having better advanced metrics. That’s a lateral move. Wemby is a different story. Im not opposed to trading Alp for a bonafide star. Of those 3, Wemby is it. I would trade him for the number one pick in 25 for Cooper Flagg.
Even a #1 pick is a crap shoot. Cade is not better than Sengun now. Whether he will ever be remains to be seen. Paolo is maybe somewhat better than Sengun. But he is in a system that is good for him to thrive. Sengun is struggling with a team that is still searching for its identity. Again, who will end up better remains to be seen. Wemby is a unicorn. No comparison. He's the only no-brainer #1 pick in a while. I don't think there is one like that in the upcoming draft. A #1 pick (without the benefit of hindsight) for Sengun straight up is very risky.
I only mention Cade because he was the obvious choice at the time but even in 2021 there were better picks than Sengun, like Barnes whom The Rockets wouldn't have likely taken at 1. Chet and Paolo are both better than Sengun and so is Wemby. Having control of your future is luxury The Rockets haven't had since the Harden trade.
