The "franchise player" debate has been settled. It's Amen.

Sengun was never a franchise player. That idea was a myth from the start. And to anyone who bought into it, I get it, but it’s time to let that go. He’s got potential as maybe a number 3 on the right team, but the Rockets can’t afford to keep experimenting to find out, especially if a real star is offered.

Jalen Green had that glimmer, the raw tools, the speed, the bounce, the flash. But the craft? The skill? The efficiency? Still missing. And maybe always will be.

Amen, though, is different. A two-way force of nature. That’s the guy you build around.

 

I can definitely relate to this.
Amen is the core we need to build around. I really like Sengun too, but I’m afraid that he might be included in a trade. After this playoff series, he probably has much higher trade value than Jalen.

 

If Rockets don’t build around Amen (they probably will), other teams in the nba will line up to do that.

 

Agreed. Amen is the one player on the roster that has the potential to be "the guy".

Sengun is a 2nd or 3rd option, at best, on a championship team.

Jalen might be a 6th man.

 

Sengun right now is a fringe all-star player. Really good player, like Sabonis or Zubac, good player, nice to have on your team, but yeah I would not bet on him carrying this franchise to the promise lands.

Jabari, clearly the organization doesn't see that in him so if he does grow as a player it might not be here. 12 mins is ridiculous for game 7.

Cam, same as Bari. Don't think the organization or coach (or both?) don't see much in him.

Reed - tbd

Jalen - Yeah....I don't think Jalen has the mental for it. I think the talent is there but the mental is not and who knows if it ever will be. Honestly, if we luck into a top 5 pick we should pick a shooting guard...Tre Johnson, I'd like that for this team if we are set on keeping the pick of course.

So yeah...that leaves Amen. It's clear to me he has uber potential. Last season this guy couldn't hit a shot, this season, he is. They are actually coming out on his mid range shots because they know he can drain it. He has the hunger too, you can just tell. There was one moment game 3 I think? When Draymond kicked Tari in the head, Draymond is later seen talking to Tari and Amen just gets in the way of it. Reminds me of CP3. Reminding Tari nah not now, this the enemy right now, don't let him schmooze you up.

So for me yeah, lock Amen in. I have full confidence that he's going to improve this summer and come back trying to not only be an all-star but an all NBA guy and because of his skillset, his unique skillset, he's going to be a staple of Team USA going forward if he chooses to be.

 

Amen is the talent. He plays like Julius Erving. A true shape shifter. But Ime will have to force that action because he's not the primary action point. There is some growth that will have to come with that territory though. Including how to beat the double teams. But he showed he can carry the load and will the team to victory.

 

This comp is not so crazy, isn't the dunker Dr. J was but same height and same play style...yeah I can see that.

 

Yes, Amen is. His ceiling can be Dr.J.
Sengun is also good, can't wait to see how he can improve next season.
Bari and Tari both are very good role players.
I wish Ime could give Cam and Reed a bit more time so that we can have more sample size.
Regarding Jalen, it's time to let him go.

If the outcome of this series can help our front office make the right decision, then I think the loss is worthy.

 

Jalen green is a dogshit player and he’s a california clown. I can’t wait for this trash can to be out the league in two years.

 

I predict 2-5 more Franchise Player threads popping up in the New Season.

 

Amen needs better thread

 

Amen’s ceiling is intriguing so I understand the hype.

But a true franchise player has always been the number one option on the team, who can carry an offense. Amen would have to get up to around 25 PPG. I just don’t see how he gets to that level without drastic improvement on both his handle and shooting.

He averaged 14/8/3 while shooting 27% from 3, and 68% on FTs. Most of his scoring came as a play finisher in transition, as a roller, dunker-spot lobs, and cuts from the attention Jalen/Sengun drew. We’ve seen flashes of his on-ball creation these playoffs, but Amen still has a long way to go.

Regardless, he is clearly one of the building blocks moving forward, along with Sengun. I just personally believe they are both 2nd/3rd options on a championship team, and our true superstar will have to be found externally through trade.

 

I agree with you except I think Sengun and Amen can still grow into that superstar.

 

I dont know if Amen is that guy already, but from a year ago there is definitely more hope for the Rockets being a contender someday today than at this point last year.

Sengun became an All Star and Amen has shown flashes of superstardom as well. The disappointment of Jalen notwithstanding I think the Rox have shown their promise.

Next step for us is upgrade the backcourt. Jakucionis, VJ Edgecomb, Dylan Harper, Tre Johnson, lets draft a guy who can playmake and shoot. Instead of using those PHX assets on an old dude lets trade up for VJ Edgecomb and get that SG upgrade.

 

When we compare 2 young stars, amen just showed up in game 6 and 7 while alpi leads the team in all stats except blocks and showed consistency.

Since centers normally take longer to reach ceiling and alpi is already an all star, i still vote for alpi. But I like amen a lot too and I would respect if you believe he has a higher ceiling. He just have more lengths to go than alpi.

 

Former poster at @AroundTheWorld is resenting all the Amen love on Twitter.

 

I think Amen is our two-way leader, but offensively he has a ways to go before becoming a true star. That said, his attitude was perfect—exactly the blend of confidence and competitiveness that we needed, and he showed that he can take his game to the next level in the biggest of stages.

If Amen’s shot comes around…I don’t even know what his ceiling will be!

 

I really like Amen and could see him as our most talented player with the highest upside. That being said, he is still a long way of. He averaged 14 pts a game - and of those more than 52% were assisted (Jalen only had 26% of his shots being assisted).

To be the franchise player he needs to consistently be able to create his own shot - and he should be the teams best option for the majority of situations. Right now he is more of a transition player, that lives in the dunker spot, gets offensive boards and cuts to the basket.

That being said, do we have a franchise player or is someone else more suited for that? Sengun maybe - he won´t be the one to get the ball when the game is on the line (or he should not be the one). That is extremely difficult for a center and thats also why Denver only really is competetive when Murray is on. But he has the best shot to turn into a 20-25, 10 and 6 guy, which basically is a franchise player. And he is basically the same age as Amen.

And Green? Well, he has all the tools and would be the prototypical franchise player - but he is one of the most inconsistent players I have ever followed with high hopes and he completely disappeared in the playoffs (outside of one game). I totally understand everyone that is ready to give up on him - I am not fully there yet, but it´s close.

So I would be in the camp of: we don´t have a franchise player yet, but we do have several really nice pieces - there is an outside hope, that one of our players could develop into one, but I wouldn´t count on it.

 

Stone wasted two lotto picks on Jalen (bust) and Jabari (role player), any other GM would've gotten fired.

He has also potentially wasted another top lotto pick on Reed who has looked terrible all year compared to Castle.