Rockets fans, let’s be real about our young core and their roles on a contending team. I’ve been thinking about Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, and I believe we need to temper expectations and get serious about finding a legitimate first option to lead this team. Amen Thompson, as exciting as he is, feels better suited as a third option on a championship caliber roster. His game reminds me of a cross between Aaron Gordon and Ben Simmons, a versatile, high energy player who thrives in the “other” category, doing the dirty work, facilitating, and defending. His ceiling could be a star level contributor, but his floor is a high powered role player or starter. Expecting him to become a superstar might be setting ourselves up for disappointment. As for Alperen Sengun, he’s a fantastic talent, but I see him as a heavy second option on a winning team. He’s got the skills to be a focal point offensively, but he’d truly shine alongside a dominant first option. Think of him as Dwyane Wade was to LeBron James, a dynamic, high impact player who elevates the team but isn’t the primary leading option. The bottom line? For the Rockets to take the next step, we need a true first option, a superstar who can carry the load and make Amen and Sengun’s lives easier. Let’s keep building around our young guys, but we’ve got to find that alpha to tie it all together. Thoughts? What do y’all think, who could that first option be for us
I agree. Thompson has a substandard handle and shooting touch. The Rockets should not depend on him becoming an offensive hub. Sengun should finish better and is adequate defensively, but there are physical limitations there, IMO. The assets and opportunities to find that key offensive piece are there. We will see what Stone is made of.
As much as I'd love to jump all aboard the Amen hype train, having just seen another hyper-athletic guy who doesn't shoot well flame out I'm not sure I can count on another one. I think Amen will always have a role as a premier defender, may even win some DPOY's, but I genuinely think the people thinking he's going to be a top 5 superstar are going to be even more disappointed in the long run.
I have two answer to this: 1) No established #1 option is going to fall in our lap. We probably shouldn't hold our breaths waiting for this. Only real chance is via the draft. Who knows, maybe we land Flagg! But probably not. The odds of getting to trade for one of these guys in a way that makes sense and doesn't blow up the entire roster are pretty low. Teams just don't let these players go willingly, and they usually don't demand a trade until they're already near the end of their prime years and getting desperate. 2) Amen can become a #1 option. He is in only his second season in the league, just 131 games under his belt, and most of his rookie season he was playing limited minutes off the bench. The trajectory he is on is NOT dissimilar from guys like Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler who had to earn their stripes instead of getting handed the keys to the ship. His usage has been very low for a prospect of his caliber--I think if he had been given nearly double the usage, like Jalen Green got, nobody would have any doubt whatsoever that he had strong #1 option potential. He'd be averaging around 20 points and 6-7 assists already. Stop being fooled by just looking at box score stats--dig deeper into the numbers and also pay attention to the games. He is a downhill beast with very good court vision/passing abilities. Is here there yet? No, but I'm confident he will get there if given the chance, given his incredible intangibles.
You probably shouldn't try to put a ceiling on Amen Thompson. That kind of thinking never works with outliers, and Amen is one of the biggest we've seen in a while. He's a blur on defense, already elite, and the offense? It's catching up fast. He's got the tools, the drive, and something else you can't quite measure. So yeah, you might want to buckle up.
I agree with 1. But the odds are not in Amen’s favor. His chances to being a premier first option are slimmer than we think.
Only year 2 for Amen. I don't think he's a finished product. If he ends up like an 80% of Kawhi, I'd be ecstatic.
I agree with your comments on Amen, but that shouldn't stop the Rockets from pursuing a "first option", "closer" this summer.
I am all for getting a first option, but I don't want some old guy like Durant. Fox would have nice, but the Spurs snagged him. Haliburton would be my dream option...never going to happen. As far as Thompson, he could end up as just a good 3 and D - or he could be the next Greek Freak! Too early to trade him!!!
Thank you for saying what a part of me worries about, but has been too afraid to voice. This is why I've changed my tune on trading Amen and other pieces for Giannis. If Amen and a few supporting players like Dillon and Tari or Jabari (not both) could get us Giannis without having to give up ALL the future draft picks, I think I would do it for the reasons you've mentioned. That way we can continue to play the long game of the draft while still competing for a ring as early as next season. We would still need to find a legit replacement for Jalen, but it being a blue chip would not be as important. That said, I love Amen and if none of the above happens I'll be fine watching his development. He's a reliable jumpshop away from a perennial All-Star game. A jumpshot and 35% three point shot from being a top 10 in the NBA. But how many franchises have crashed upon the rocks of those particular hopes and dreams?
I believe Amen will be a bigger Westbrook with higher bball IQ. With the right supporting cast that can be a #1 option on a contender. I think Sengun, Smith, Tari, Reed and, hopefully, the incoming lottery pick can all be part of that supporting cast.
Perfect response. It’s hilarious how many guys write off a guy that hasn’t even started a full season worth of games. Amen is Magic Johnson in the making. Was Magic a number one option, he couldn’t shoot from outside for a long time. Amen looks to me like he will improve his shooting from inside the 3 pt dramatically again next year. He is going to be a top 5 player in this league sooner rather than later. Anybody that watched him this season, with a crap offensive coach, that wouldn’t even start him until an injury forced his hand, knows nothing about basketball. 3rd option on a contending team is ridiculous.
I think Amen could develop into a 1st option eventually but I honestly think it's a waste of his talents to have him on ball most of the time. He could easily average over 20 ppg in a super Aaron Gordon like role if he had a good playmaker who can collapse the defense. Amen would use his freakish athleticism to attack gaps in the defense caused by the initial action to finish plays instead of start them. Also, it's no coincidence that a lot of the one-man offense type playmakere like Harden, Trae, Lamelo, Luka, even older Lebron tend to be poor or "lazy" defenders as the energy expenditure of their on-ball playmaking takes a toll on their defense. Let someone else come in and do that and let Amen be Amen.
The moment you brought magic into the conversation is why I wrote what I wrote in the first place. Yall have to be more realistic and temperamental
I saw a Facebook comment from a Celtics fan saying they need to trade Jaylen Brown to the Rockets for Jalen Green and some change. I replied with a heart reaction and "please yes".
A big difference between Amen and Westbrook is Amen is a great defender. WB played good defense for probably one season of his entire career. It has cracked me up listening to ESPN announcers over the years laude him for defense when he been really quite bad the vast majority of the time.
