All season long, there have been rumors that the Houston Rockets are looking for a center to relieve starting center Alperen Sengun. They had their man on Thursday. Simply put, he won’t be allowed to suit up for the Rockets until the 2024–2025 campaign.
In exchange for veteran center Steven Adams, the Rockets transferred three second round selections and Victor Oladipo’s expiring contract to the Memphis Grizzlies. Adams, 30, is contracted to play only for the upcoming season, during which he is expected to make $12.6 million. Stevens continues to recuperate from knee surgery, hence he is not expected to play during the 2023–2024 season. In addition to the draft capital, the deal enables the Grizzlies to remove Stevens’ contract from their payroll for the upcoming campaign.
In contrast, the Rockets strengthen their bench and add a player to their starting lineup for the upcoming campaign. For the most part of the season, Houston had been depending on veteran player Jeff Green, 37, to fill the backup center position, but it had become clear that their biggest need was size off the bench.
The action could suggest that the Rockets’ management will take a measured approach to the season and won’t try to make a bold move in hopes of making a play-in. In addition, the franchise still has draft picks that the Brooklyn Nets owe them over the next few seasons, including what appears to be a lottery pick this summer, as well as the contracts of Jeff Green, Jae’Sean Tate, and Jock Landale, all of whom have team options, expire.
Sengun has established himself as the team’s starter at the position and their primary offensive option after the organization pursued Brook Lopez in free agency this past offseason. This season, Sengun’s benching has presented Ime Udoka, the head coach of the Rockets, with a dilemma. Although there’s a chance that this season’s difficulty may persist, the arrival of Adams is anticipated to provide a solution for the following one.
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After the deal, Spotrac reports that Houston’s season-long cap allotment is $146.4 million, which is still far less than the $165.29 million luxury tax threshold for 2023. When Sengun and third-year guard Jalen Green become available for extensions this offseason, the Rockets brass will have to make some serious decisions.
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