Pair of young Rockets stars named as players who "already need a trade"

What is the meaning of our existence? If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there, does it make a sound? Can Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green play together?

OK, fine. Some of these questions are more significant than others. If you're a serious Houston Rockets fan, the last one is probably the one that keeps you up at night.

Bleacher Report doesn't seem to think that the pair can co-exist. They just named them among a group of 25-and-under NBA players who already need a trade.

Houston Rockets young stars named as trade candidates

Let's get specific. Bleacher Report isn't suggesting that the Rockets should trade Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green. They're saying they should trade one or the other.

"The Rockets aren't going to be able to pay both these guys and still have money left over for future extensions for Smith, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard and others. Splitting up this duo now while both are still under rookie contracts would be the easiest path forward"

-Greg Swartz, Bleacher Report

If you follow the discourse, you can deduce Swartz's position. He touches on Green's absurd production during Sengun's absence in March. This discussion is wearing thin on some Rockets fans, but until Green and Sengun both succeed at the same time, it will be ongoing.

Does it have any merit?

Should Houston Rockets split up star duo?

Theoretically, the best versions of Green and Sengun should complement each other. The problem is that we haven't seen the best version of Green.

That's because the best version of Green would be a reliable floor spacer. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case for Green. Instead, he's been a shaky shooter who's at his best getting downhill for a layup or dunk attempt.

Put differently, Green hasn't been an (even) more athletic prime Ray Allen. At his best, he's been Ja Morant if he leaned towards scoring more than playmaking. The Grizzlies wouldn't pair Morant with a big man who looks to draw a double team on the interior, because they don't look to create open jumpers for Morant.

They look to create space for him to drive. The Grizzlies have paired Morant with floor-spacing bigs like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Almada, as well as elite screensetters like current Rocket Steven Adams. If Green isn't going to be a knockdown shooter, this duo doesn't make intuitive basketball sense.

That's not to say that Sengun should be the one to go. By contrast, Reed Sheppard could be an optimal teammate for him. The Rockets may have a difficult decision to make at this year's trade deadline.

Alternatively, they may not. If Green can find his footing from beyond the arc, the offensive dynamic between him and Sengun could be potent. Otherwise, we don't think the suggestion that the Rockets will eventually split this duo up is entirely illogical:

Even if it's difficult to think about.