Alperen Sengun Reacts to NBA Trade Rumors After Rockets' Loss to Lakers in NBA Playoffs

Alperen Şengün has never played an NBA game for a team outside of the Houston Rockets, but everything could be on the table for the Western Conference team following a first-round loss to the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers.

Everything, including trading the big man.

Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle noted "media and fans have floated his name around as a potential centerpiece if the Rockets go star-hunting," which drew a response from Şengün.

"I cannot do anything about those conversations," he said. "It is what it is. … Wherever I go or … if I stay here, I'm just going to stay with it. I'm going to do what I'm doing. Same goals. Same everything."

Şengün is under contract with the Rockets through the 2028-29 campaign with a player option for 2029-30, so there is no immediate urgency when it comes to deciding on his future. Yet Kevin Durant is 37 years old, which could add some of that urgency to the offseason for Houston.

If it wants to add another star to the roster and compete for a championship with Durant still playing at a high level, it may require trading the 23-year-old Şengün.

Alperen Sengun Top Play

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That would still represent a major loss for Houston considering he made his second straight All-Star Game this season while averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 51.9 percent from the field.

He was a rare bright spot in the six-game loss to the Lakers and averaged a double-double of 20.3 points and 10.2 rebounds a night in the series.

Durant missed all but one game, which undercut Houston's chances, but the Lakers were also without Luka Dončić for the entire series. Austin Reaves was also sidelined for all but the final two games.

It was a series the Rockets should not have lost if they were serious championship contenders, which will lead to plenty of question marks from the front office about the correct approach to the offseason.

With that as the backdrop, there will at least be discussions about Şengün's future even if he acknowledged he can't do anything about that reality.