Rockets' path to replacing Fred VanVleet runs through Nikola Jokic

As the Houston Rockets received the devastating news of Fred VanVleet's ACL injury, which could possibly keep him out for the entire season, fans were understandably in shambles given the team's lack of a secondary playmaker to keep their offense afloat this season.

Yet, the answer could still come from an unlikely source: Alperen Sengun.

Sengun, in many ways, has already developed into a reliable playmaker from his spot on the floor, and, in order for Houston to compensate for the loss of VanVleet, he must fully lean into that aspect of his game, taking on a role similar to the one Nikola Jokic plays for the Denver Nuggets

Alperen Sengun must become more like Nikola Jokic for the Rockets to succeed this season

Although VanVleet's offensive performance took a dip last season, he was still undeniably the most important playmaker and shot creator on the team. Through 60 games, he averaged 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists, taking on a massive role in facilitating scoring for players like Sengun and Jalen Green.

With superstar scorer Kevin Durant on the roster, getting the ball to the right spots on the floor and disrupting opposing defenses will be more important than ever for Houston, and, if Sengun proves he can do so, he will be the solution the team needs.

Sengun, over the past two seasons, has averaged 4.9 and five assists respectively: a major step up from his rookie and sophomore seasons. Moreover, in his historic EuroBasket run with his native Turkiye, Sengun took over the role of offensive hub for his team, averaging 6.6 assists throughout his nine games in the tournament.

Because of this aspect in his game, and his impeccable footwork and grace in the paint, Sengun has long been compared to Jokic, but, insofar as the Rockets will depend on him as a playmaker, he must make his game even more similar. Jokic, who averaged 10.2 assists last season, operates as the sole offensive hub for Denver, and the team's entire success runs through him.

While it would be absurd to expect Sengun to put up that high of numbers in that category, the Rockets do have a number of dynamic scorers still remaining on their roster, and, if Sengun can learn to capitalize even more effectively upon their abilities, we could see his assist totals climbing this season.

Therefore, while the Rockets are handicapped from adding another guard before the season starts by their financial limitations, it is possible that they will not have to if Sengun can take the next step in his game.