https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/st...ontract-extensions-know-ahead-monday-deadline Jalen Green, Houston Rockets Why an extension could get done: If the Rockets view Green as a franchise player and don't want to risk him entering free agency. During the Rockets' 11-game winning streak in March, Green averaged 30.2 points while shooting 50% from the field and 45% on 3-pointers. He was the youngest player to average 30 points over an 11-game winning streak, passing Bob McAdoo and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Green has improved defensively under coach Ime Udoka, holding opponents to 0.87 points per chance when defending isolations, which was top 10 among players to defend at least 175 isolations, per Second Spectrum. He played all 82 games last season and has missed only 21 across his first three seasons. Why it might not: Financial flexibility and another year to evaluate. The Rockets have built their roster through the draft with seven players on first-round rookie contracts. Three of the Rockets starters (Green, Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr.) are extension eligible over the next 12 months and extending Green before the regular season reduces the Rockets financial flexibility next summer. The Rockets could enter free agency with $68 million in guaranteed salary but are still considered over the salary cap because of the free agent holds of Green, Sengun and the $44.9 million Fred VanVleet team option. Houston has had three years to evaluate Green, but only one under coach Ime Udoka. Prior to breaking out in March, Green struggled offensively. He shot 37.2%, 42.9% and 36.8% from the field in 43 games from December to February. The inefficient play resulted in Green getting benched in the fourth quarter of two December games. In February, Green shot 26.3% on three-pointers and 15.8 points. Before the All-Star break, Green shot 41% from the field and 30.7% on 3-pointers. "The way the CBA is set up, you can extend," general manager Rafael Stone said after the season. "You don't have to. And you can always revisit next summer. So in that sense, there's no gun to our head. We'll have conversations, we'll see what makes sense for us, what makes sense for them, and then both sides will end up making whatever decisions we make." What I would offer: Five years, $145 million. The extension begins at $33 million and then declines each season. The salary in 2025-26 would rank behind only Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, Zach LaVine, Anthony Edwards, CJ McCollum and Donovan Mitchell among shooting guards. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets Why an extension could get done: Sengun is motivated to get an extension done and is coming off a season when he averaged career highs in points (21.1), rebounds (9.3), assists (5.0) and steals (1.2). Only Larry Bird and Grant Hill put up those numbers in their third NBA season. The 21.1 points is the most by a Rockets center since Yao Ming. Why it might not: Sengun's $16.4 million free agent hold next summer. Similar to the 76ers and Tyrese Maxey this summer, Houston can take advantage of the team's friendly hold to add in free agency. For example, if Houston extends Sengun to a contract that starts at $34 million per season, the team would lose $18 million in cap space. If they wait until next summer, Houston can use available room first to sign a free agent and then sign Sengun. If Sengun does not extend, it is not because of concerns how he fits or because the Rockets are looking to trade him. "Alpi's going to be with us next year. We get calls on all our young guys. We have no interest in moving him," GM Rafael Stone told SiriusXM during summer league. What I would offer: Five years, $172.5 million. Bam Adebayo is the most recent center to sign a rookie max extension in 2020. That is likely to continue despite an All-Star caliber 2023-24 season from Sengun. An extension would start at $34.5 million and stay flat over the next three seasons.
Are there any free agents worth looking at this summer where we need the cap hold space a Sengun extension would take up?
Spoiler: next year’s FA class *Incomplete but mostly complete list •LeBron James (player option) •Kyrie Irving (player option) •Jimmy Butler (player option) •Rudy Gobert (player option) •Fred VanVleet (team option) •Alperen Sengun (RFA) •Brandon Ingram •James Harden (player option) •Khris Middleton (player option) •Aaron Gordon (player option) •Julius Randle (player option) •Trey Murphy (RFA) •Jalen Suggs (RFA) •Myles Turner •Bruce Brown •Jonathan Kuminga (RFA) •Jalen Johnson (RFA) •Naz Reid (player option) •Alex Caruso •Chris Paul •Brook Lopez •Bobby Portis (player option) •Jalen Green (RFA) •Cam Thomas (RFA) •Josh Giddey (RFA) •Kevin Porter Jr. (player option) •Caris Levert •D’Angelo Russell •Malcolm Brogdon •Eric Gordon (player option) •Kelly Oubre (player option) •Duncan Robinson (opt out) •Al Horford •Steven Adams •Bojan Bogdanovic •Pat Connaughton (player option) •Tre Jones •Russell Westbrook (player option) •Luke Kennard •John Collins (player option) •Jevon Carter (player option) •Tim Hardaway Jr. •Gary Payton II •Dennis Schroder •Kevon Looney •Clint Capela •Malik Beasley •Nickeil Alexander-Walker •Dorian Finney-Smith (player option) •Gary Trent Jr. •Jalen McDaniels •Tre Mann (RFA) •Nic Batum (player option) •Precious Achuiwa •Larry Nance Jr. •Jae’Sean Tate •Matisse Thybulle (player option) •Andre Drummond (player option) •Joe Ingles •Chris Boucher •Seth Curry •Kyle Lowry •Devonte Graham •Corey Kispert (RFA) •Moses Moody (RFA) •Tyus Jones •Aaron Holiday (team option) •Jeff Green •Spencer Dinwiddie •Mason Plumlee •Quentin Grimes (RFA) •Dwight Powell (player option) •Trey Lyles •Marvin Bagley III •Lonzo Ball •Ben Simmons •Moritz Wagner (team option) •Dario Saric (player option) •Alec Burks •Josh Richardson •Bones Hyland (RFA) •Taurean Prince •Thomas Bryant •Damion Lee •Dante Exum •Reggie Jackson •Cam Payne •Torrey Craig •Alex Len •Mo Bamba •Daniel Theis •Monte Morris •Delon Wright •Deandre Jordan •James Wiseman (team option) •PJ Tucker •Christian Wood
I feel that the issue on Alperen extension is not the cap hold. FO wants discount if he wants the extension now.Otherwise it would be through RFA market.
And I’m not taking a penny less if I’m Sengun. Not now, not next year. I’ve worked for what I’ve gotten, nothing has been handed to me. If they had their way, Brook Lopez would be starting right now (and he’d be coming off the bench or possibly already traded). “Starting Daniel Theis & Bruno Fernando was in the best interest of the team.” “Pursuing Brook Lopez (& other centers) was due diligence in the best interest of upgrading the team.” “Nothing personal against Sengun, just business.” Well yeah, now it’s time for me(Sengun) to put my own best interests first. Oh, he had an injury so that should “scare him straight” to accept less and “get his money now”. Nah.
Likely no, considering the players the Rockets would have to lose to get the space. The benefit to the cap space would be to trade it to another team without needing to send out 80% of the incoming player's salary. Considering the NBA has a salary floor, and now MLEs work as trade exceptions, I find it very doubtful cap space will be needed in trades.
