Ranking the Rockets' "core 7" by their likelihood of getting traded

Much has been made of the Houston Rockets' "core 7". This is one of the best groups of young talent in the NBA.

It's an interesting case. Some other young teams have a more distinctive franchise player. The Rockets' calling card is depth. None of these guys have emerged as "the guy", but several of them have flashed the potential to get there.

Perhaps that's why the Rockets are so frequently discussed in trade rumors. When you don't have that franchise player, you're expected to pursue him. There's no guarantee that any of these 7 players will be with the Rockets for their entire careers.

Here's a ranking of each of them from least to most likely to be moved.

7. Amen Thompson

Expecting to see a Turkish name? Hear me out..

We'll get to Alperen Sengun - shortly. Let's talk about Amen Thompson. This iteration of the Rockets has clearly put an emphasis on defense. Ime Udoka has made it clear that he prioritizes prevention power above all else.

Thompson is already on a short list of the league's best defensive wings. His outlier athletic ability makes him dominant on that end. He has a skillset that aligns with the team's philosophy, and he's already one of their most impactful players:

Thompson isn't going anywhere.

6. Alperen Sengun

Yes, Sengun has been the best player in the Rockets' young core so far. By some measures, he's one of the best players in the NBA. Sengun's Box Plus/Minus (BPM) of 5.9 ranks 10th in the NBA.

Still, some have questioned his long-term stature with the team. Sengun is a non-shooting big man. His defense has improved tremendously, but he's still got (manageable) limitations on that end of the floor.

This isn't a call to move Sengun - it's a ranking of him as the second-least tradeable part of this core. Still, putting him behind Thompson has to be justified. Ultimately, Thompson simply seems closer to the type of player Houston wants to build around.

Realistically, the fit between this duo is the biggest question mark surrounding the Rockets. If neither develops a jump shot, can the Rockets supplement them with enough shooting?

Hopefully, they're never forced to choose between them.

5. Jabari Smith Jr.

Remember - this isn't a ranking of the Rockets' core 7. It's merely a ranking of their likelihood of being moved. We don't mean to say Smith Jr. is the third-best player in this core.

He is the Rockets' most portable young player. Smith Jr. is a 6'11" combo big who can space the floor and defend. That's the sell on Smith Jr.:

He can play alongside anyone.

Keeping him could be vital to making Sengun and Thompson work as a duo. Smith Jr. is a skeleton key player, and the Rockets will likely keep him around to unlock their potential.

4. Tari Eason

The narrowest margin on this list is between Smith Jr. and Eason. At times, Eason has appeared to be the more impactful player. If the Rockets' front office is enamored with him, they aren't alone.

Unfortunately, injuries have been a problem for the otherwise-productive wing. Availability is the best availability - if Eason can't get on the floor, he can't help anyone win games.

If the Rockets ever trade him, it will probably be soon. If Eason is on the roster in a few years, he either overcame his injury issues, or he's so evidently injury prone that Houston can't extract value for him.

Here's hoping it's the former.

3. Jalen Green

Here, we arrive at the highest margin. Nobody should be shocked if any of the next three players land on different teams before their careers end.

In fairness, Green has been turning a corner lately. He's strung together some good plays. Still, discerning Rockets fans know better than to be seduced. Green has potential but he needs to put together a larger sample size of quality play before anyone should invest in him.

It's that inconsistency that makes him a viable trade candidate. In theory, this Rockets team is a shot creating guard away from real title contention. If they can flip Green, some draft capital, and potentially one of the next two players on this list for a star guard in the next couple of years, they may.

2. Reed Sheppard

Poor Reed Sheppard.

These young Rockets have had varying degrees of opportunity. The 2021 draftees have had a long leash, but even the 2023 classmates had last season to strut their stuff

Sheppard arrived at the worst time. He's got plenty of potential, but Ime Udoka doesn't have room for an undersized rookie in his rotation. Now, Sheppard will be earning his keep with the Rio Grande Vipers.

A team that's further behind in their rebuilding process should still take an interest in Sheppard. He's not far removed from shooting 52.5% from three-point range in the NCAA. If he's able to bend the geometry of a basketball floor at the next level, he'll be a star:

It just might be somewhere else.

1. Cam Whitmore

Sheppard has had the least opportunity in Houston. Whitmore comes next:

But only Whitmore is visibly getting tired of it.

Fair enough. He's been here a year longer. Whitmore has scored prolifically on a per-minute basis on the standards of a young player. Why won't Ime Udoka consistently put him on the floor?

As talented as he is, Whitmore has flaws. His tunnel vision is well-documented. His defensive lapses are notable. Like Sheppard, he may have more success on a team that's committed to developing him.

That team may not be the Rockets.