New report casts doubt on Alperen Şengün's future with Houston Rockets originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
This postseason could be make-or-break for star forward Alperen Sengun when it comes to his future with the Houston Rockets.
If the Rockets are eliminated in the first round by the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers, a major shakeup could occur in Houston over the offseason, and it could include the front office jettisoning Sengun in favor of a player who is more ready to contribute to a championship chase, according to The Athletic's William Guillory.
"After the injuries to Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams, the 'championship-or-bust' demands have cooled down, but that doesn’t mean getting bounced in the first round by a Luka Dončić-less Lakers is anything other than a disaster," Guillory wrote.
"There will be no shortage of fans and media who connect the dots and say Şengün could follow in [Jalen] Green’s steps as a young piece that gets sent away because he wasn’t ready to compete for a championship now."
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard and Donovan Mitchell were three players named by Guillory as targets for Houston in a potential trade involving Sengun. All three of those players could potentially be available, depending on how things shake out with their current franchises.
"Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a name many connect to Houston as a potential superstar who could be acquired in a Şengün trade. Kawhi Leonard or Donovan Mitchell could also be possibilities," Guillory wrote.
"If Houston makes Şengün available, along with some of the future draft picks they hold, it would put them squarely among the favorites to acquire any of the disgruntled superstars who may become available."
With the Rockets already down 0-2 in their first-round series against L.A., the pressure is absolutely on for Houston and specifically Sengun, who could be playing for his future.
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