Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images
Alperen Şengün of the Houston Rockets is one of the more promising young big men in the NBA, and multiple teams were reportedly quite interested in trading for the 22-year-old.
“When there was even a whiff of Şengün’s availability on the market, and I don’t know if he was ever really available at all, but there was some teams that were really, really interested to get into that bidding,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on Friday’s episode of his podcast (21:56 mark).
Unfortunately for other teams around the league, it doesn’t seem like the Rockets will be moving him.
“We get calls on all our young guys. We have no interest in moving him,” Houston general manager Rafael Stone said of Şengün during an appearance on Sirius XM radio (h/t Rahat Huq of Forbes).
For now, the big man is scheduled for restricted free agency after the 2024-25 campaign, but he said during an appearance on Turkish television that he wants to remain with the Rockets (h/t Michael Shapiro of the Houston Chronicle).
“I want to sign, of course, because when you do, you have peace of mind,” Şengün said. “You secure your future, and you don’t have to worry anymore. You don’t have the fear of getting injured.”
Şengün suffered one of those injuries last season to his ankle and knee and did not play after Match 10.
Still, he impressed on his way to per-game averages of 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 53.7 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from deep. It was a breakout performance for the 2021 first-round draft pick and seemed to signal his arrival as an impact big for years to come.
Given his age, production and overall potential, it comes as no surprise that the Rockets don’t want to move him and other teams are interested in acquiring him.
For now, though, he will look to help Houston make the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign.
Can you name the NBA logos that do not have a basketball?Can you name the NBA logos that do not have a basketball?Longtime NBA reporter and writer Adrian Wojnar
It appears the NBA might’ve seen the last of former Detroit Pistons big man Boban Marjanovic.According to ESPN, Marjanovic is making a return to Europe, signi
The Oklahoma City Thunder saw their uniforms leaked this week on social media for the 2024-25 version of their city edition threads. They do not look entirely d
The Warriors have filled out their roster ahead of training camp opening on Tuesday, Oct. 1, in Hawaii. Forwards Javan Johnson and Donta Scott agree