Potential extensions for Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green

As I've said elsewhere, I think many here are pretty far off base in reading how the FO views this. The FO has telegraphed their plan, via Feigen and others. And I agree with the FO.

The FO has repeated over and over that none of our young players should feel entitled to anything, that we haven't accomplished anything yet as a group, that there are no 1 or 2 players that are valued above the rest, and in the right circumstances they'd move on from anyone. No player has been anointed.

The messaging is clear. No player has "You better offer me the most you can or else I'll be unhappy and you won't like that" leverage.

We're going to make reasonable offers this summer that offer Sengun and Green risk-free generational wealth and financial security but are financially advantageous to the Rockets. Something like $170-200M/5 for Sengun, and $120-$160M/5 for Green, both with flat salary structures.

If they don't take them, rolling into RFA and cap space next summer with trade optionality is a comparably desirable plan, so we'll do that.

If a player takes the business of basketball personally, it's still our option to keep them for at least 3 years and we see what happens from there.

It'll be the same next summer and the summer after for the other guys, unless someone makes it undeniable by making an All-Star team or serious accolades.

This is the phase we're in now. There will be tension, but that's the NBA. You don't get what you deserve, you get what you have the leverage to negotiate.

 

I will caveat my post with stating that I agree with you 100%. However, look at it from the players perspective, what if Tyrese would of suffered a catastrophic injury this past season? My hope is that Al-p will not be mad at the Rockets for not offering the extension this year. I can see how a player can have bitter feelings about that, granted, they money next year would heal the wounds.

Either way, 100% agree about the approach due to cap reasons.

 

The problem is hierarchy on this team. There’s no clear cut Superstar player. Alpi is the most consistent and the closest thing to it. Jalen is way up and way down. Amen & Cam have potential and we’ll see about Reed. But right now until you have a hierarchy in place, it’s hard to say who gets paid what.

 

Agreed. This will blow in their faces when then team is facing their first and second Postseason appearances and the blaming game is starting to go around.

 

Hope people notice that the two teams who did extend their top 2021 draftees at the max are terrible teams who are far behind Houston in the rebuilding process and have no other AllStar caliber prospects. Part of being a good GM is selling Alpi on the fact that pushing out the extension one more year results in a better team and a better team is good for Alpi’s career. If he can’t sell Alpi on what they’re building here in Houston then he’s not doing his job. I have faith Alpi understands the wisdom in being patient, but Stone eventually has to actually bring in that stud player using that cap space.

 

Damn even Franz got an extension

 

Would Orlando have had a chance at cap space next year without that extension? (I don't know)

 

Very good point - whom do they even want to save the cap space for? I hadn't really looked at who is in that free agent class - one could well make a strong argument that Sengun is in fact the top free agent in that entire class.

https://hoopshype.com/lists/2025-nba-free-agent-rankings/

 

No. Orlando lined up its cap space for THIS offseason. Now that they've used it, they are "free" to give out extensions to Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs.

The Rockets are on a different timeline and have the prospects of 2025 cap room that Orlando no longer has.

 

Thanks. But whom exactly would you target with that cap room in 2025?

TBH, I would just extend FVV for another year, to allow Reed Sheppard another year of mentorship. Could think about Markkanen (if he isn't traded with the promise of an extension this year already, which is what I think will happen), but we have Jabari and Tari, what's the point.

 

Cap room can be used for more than just free agents. It is too early to determine exactly HOW they could deploy that room.

But yes, I think the single most likely scenario is that the Rockets end up staying over the cap and will re-sign FVV at a lower number and extend one or both of Sengun and Jalen. Still, just because that is more likely than other scenarios does not mean that the Rockets should foreclose those other scenarios.

 

While we have you here, would you still start Mo Bamba over Sengun?

 

I say trade Alpi and multiple things are solved simultaneously. 1. You don’t have to pay “7” guys 2. You can pay JG the max 3. Hierarchy issue can be resolved by a fistfight on the bench between JG and Jabari during a game break. 4. Some “fans “ for once enjoy themselves owning the fandom and getting rid of the…what do they call us these days? SOFs, Sengunatics?

 

Hahaha! No.

 

But would you not trade him for Jaden Ivey? Or for AJ Griffin...ah wait...we already got AJ Griffin. Or for Shaedon Sharpe? Or Bennedict Mathurin?

 

Thinking as of today, the Rockets have no plans to extend Green. Those that say he sucks, are just reactionary. He is a very good player. But, management must view Alpi as the priority. Not both.

Green has the wow factor, a ESPN Top 10 moment every now and then. Fans remember that. But the game is 48 minutes and there are 4 other players involved. A lot of moving parts, FVV/Brooks contracts, development of Amen and Reed. Growth and further development of Cam, Tari and Jabari. Just personally, get the vibe Green is not part of the future.

Things could dramatically change. Again, just a personal thought.

 

The numbers disagree, they say he sucks... but the numbers aren't swayed by flashy dunks and "wow factor" so maybe that's the cause of the disagreement

 

Jalen in 22-23 season had 36 games where he shot 30% or less from beyond the arc
last season he had 43 games where he shot 30% or less from beyond the arc