In the NBA, the Houston Rockets have signalled a major roster shake-up. According to a report by Yahoo Sports' Rockets insider Kelly Iko, the Houston front office has become open to listening to trade offers for stars Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun; the only player seen as "near untouchable" is 23-year-old Amen Thompson.
Iko reported that rival teams have recently been told Thompson is the only near-untouchable name on the roster. The insider stressed that the Rockets are not actively shopping their All-Stars or other key players, but noted the team is far more willing to listen to offers than at previous junctures.
Behind this approach lies the disappointment of a first-round exit to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025-26. According to Iko's report, an in-depth analysis of both the Western Conference finals and the NBA Finals revealed that the Rockets remain a way off the very top of the league and their own conference. That reflection led the team to adopt a more wholesale approach rather than the "run it back" mantra.
The most striking part of the picture is Alperen Sengun's situation. The Turkish big man averaged 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists last season for a second straight All-Star nod, and is still just 23. Given that a year ago the Rockets reportedly wouldn't part with Sengun even for Durant himself, this reads as a significant about-turn. Once viewed as the franchise's face of the future, Sengun increasingly appears to have been overtaken by Thompson in the front office's eyes.
Houston plan to continue talks after the draft with Thompson, who becomes eligible for an extension worth up to roughly $252 million this summer. Averaging 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists last season and standing out for his defence, Thompson is the team's most valuable asset this summer. The Rockets also hope to keep restricted free agent Tari Eason, while Dorian Finney-Smith was named as a possible trade candidate.
Source: Kelly Iko (Yahoo Sports)
Tuna Başkan
Marmara Üniversitesi İşletme bölümü öğrencisiyim. Victorum News bünyesinde küresel spor medyası, güncel gündem ve SEO odaklı içerikleri yöneten bir haber yazarıyım. Önceliğim, okura en hızlı şekilde ve daima teyit edilmiş haber ulaştırmaktır. İşletme eğitimimden gelen bakış açımı dijital habercilikle birleştirerek, ürettiğim her içeriğe hız ve güvenilirliği bir arada kazandırmayı hedefliyorum.
Discuss this in Forum
Join the conversation with thousands of sports fans. Share your opinion, predict the results, and earn reputation points!
forum Comments (0)
No results found
