SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 02: Head coach Ime Udoka of the Boston Celtics looks on during the … [+]
The Houston Rockets enter the 2023-2024 season with high expectations. They’re now in Phase 2 of their rebuilding effort and they have hired a new head coach, former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka. Here are three burning questions for the Rockets entering the season.
Will Alperen Sengun Seize Control of the Franchise’s Starting Center Spot?
Sengun was the whipping boy of the Stephen Silas era, routinely benched in fourth quarters and critiqued publicly for defensive struggles. Team management even sought to bring him off the bench to start the 2022-2023 season, in favor of journeyman Bruno Fernando. This past offseason, they chased free agent veteran big man Brook Lopez to fill the starting role, before getting left at the altar. Now they’re left again with Sengun as the de factor starter. Will he finally win over management? Unlike his predecessor, Udoka so far is giving the young big man a chance. Last week, during media availability, the Rockets head coach referred to Sengun as “one of our quarterbacks on offense.” And he certainly has been so far during the preseason, serving as a hub from the high post, facilitating for his teammates or looking for his own shot.
So far, over five preseason games, while Sengun has been uncharacteristically bad offensively (he shot 31.5% on 10.8 field goal attempts), he’s more than held his own defensively, averaging 1.4 steals and 2.0 blocks per game. Effort and activity on the defensive end is the surefire way to Udoka’s heart. And for a player as talented offensively as Sengun, the production at the other end is sure to come around.
The biggest question for the Rockets this season is whether Sengun can seize control of the franchise’s starting center job, and remove all lingering questions regarding his future with the team. This is especially critical as he enters his third year in the league, and the first of two option seasons on his rookie scale contract. Along with Jalen Green, Sengun is eligible for an extension starting with the 2025-2025 season. Will he be a mainstay by that point?
What Will the Rockets Do at the Trade Deadline?
The Rockets have significant amounts of expiring salary on the books in the form of the contracts of Victor Oladipo ($9.45 million), Jock Landale ($8.0 million), Jae’Sean Tate ($6.5 million), and Jeff Green ($8.0 million). They’re also owed future picks from the Brooklyn Nets as a result of the James Harden trade in 2021. They’ve already been linked to veterans such as Malcolm Brogdon and Alec Burks. But should a star player become disgruntled and subsequently available closer to the deadline, Houston could dangle one or multiple young players from its core, along with picks, and expiring salaries to make a significant offer.
The more prudent course, however, might be to hold onto the core six players that the team has, allowing them to grow organically rather than prematurely selling low before management has a full chance to evaluate.
Can Amen Thompson Win the Rookie of the Year Award?
It’s unlikely that anyone takes the award from San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama, but in any other season, Thompson would have as good of a shot to bring home the honor as any other rookie. In the preseason, he looked spectacular, coming off the bench for Udoka, serving not just as the backup point guard but also as a wing, utilizing his passing instincts and length to play all over the floor.
With the trade of Kevin Porter Jr. to Oklahoma City, Thompson now looks like the primary ballhandler and guard off the bench and he immediately leaned into that role in the preseason. The Rockets have the privilege of bringing Thompson along slowly after signing veteran guard Fred VanVleet to a multi-year contract which will pay him $40.81 million this season. But make no mistake, Thompson is the future, and he’ll need to be ready to take the keys by the end of 2024-2025 (as VanVleet’s contract is structured with a team option on the third season). If his preseason showing is any indication, Thompson is right on schedule.
The expectation for Thompson this season is just to make an impact with his playmaking and defense. If his shot comes along this early, that’s just the cherry on top.