Ranking the Houston Rockets' top 10 trade assets

4. Alperen Sengun

Sengun became the team’s starting center, and he made good on the promise that he showed as a rookie. The 6’9 big man averaged 14.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 28.9 minutes per game as a 20-year-old. 

Fouls were a slight problem as he was disqualified six times and had five or more fouls in 17 games. There were plenty of growing pains and mistakes, but still, a playmaking big man that rebounds well and can score 15-plus every night is a desired asset. 

There are still defensive questions. The Rockets finished 29th in defensive rating at 118.6 points per 100 possessions. Sengun is not a rim protector, and his lack of lateral quickness makes playing a switch-heavy defense nearly impossible. For more on Sengun’s game and his frontcourt partnership with Jabari Smith Jr., fans should read this article. It highlights the big man's limitations, and how the Rockets have to build around him.

Sengun was the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and he has outplayed that position. The Houston Rockets could certainly get a first-round draft pick in return for the 20-year-old right now as scouts continue to drool over his potential.

Can his defense hold up in the playoffs? Who knows, but Alperen Sengun is a skilled big man that is years away from his prime.