Best pick package offers for Sengun or Eason?

[LarsV8]

Looking into the future and seeing all kinds of luxury cap issues for Houston.

Trying to map out possible paths forward, to cash in on really good players who may not necessary fit (or afford) after consolidation trades, into future draft capital.

So the ask is best offers containing
- expiring's for 2026 and likely trade filler at the minimum matching point (IE reduces salary in 2026)
- draft picks packages for 2026 and beyond.

[ThatBoyNick]

Eason I think you can pencil in a number of contending teams offering 2 1st for, but those aren’t going to be great 1sts.

Sengun, I think it would likely be one of the struggling teams trying to build around him that would pay the most, like one of the Nets, Hornets, Bulls, Jazz, Por. But I don’t think they give up a lot, maybe their current C + 2 to 3 okay picks.


In both scenarios, not sure why these are the guys to dump for these prices. Would rather send Jalen out for an expiring and let all the mid size expirings walk first.

[GreekAlex]

Is Jabari Smith Jr. considered untouchable or is he in the conversation as well?

[LarsV8]

In both scenarios, not sure why these are the guys to dump for these prices. Would rather send Jalen out for an expiring and let all the mid size expirings walk first.

Based on the next couple of star players I can see becoming available, if you are the Rockets looking to make consolidation trades, I think you would be looking to send out Jalen and Fred with picks (and / or Reed and Cam). Both exchanged for better, but more expensive players. Then, presumably, you would have those 2 expensive guys, like 40 or 50+ million dollar players, and then have to pay Jabari, Amen, Sengun and Eason on top of them. The math is extremely difficult unless those guys are taking massive discounts, even if Fertitta somehow becomes less cheap.

This is really just a thought exercise of what you would do in that situation.

Is Jabari Smith Jr. considered untouchable or is he in the conversation as well?

You can throw in an offer on Jabari, but I think he is more likely to stay as he is in that sweet spot of a guy whose impact far outweighs his trade value. I also would imagine his contract will be cheaper, which is advantageous in this thought exercise.

[ThatBoyNick]

In both scenarios, not sure why these are the guys to dump for these prices. Would rather send Jalen out for an expiring and let all the mid size expirings walk first.

Based on the next couple of star players I can see becoming available, if you are the Rockets looking to make consolidation trades, I think you would be looking to send out Jalen and Fred with picks (and / or Reed and Cam). Both exchanged for better, but more expensive players. Then, presumably, you would have those 2 expensive guys, like 40 or 50+ million dollar players, and then have to pay Jabari, Amen, Sengun and Eason on top of them. The math is extremely difficult unless those guys are taking massive discounts, even if Fertitta somehow becomes less cheap.

This is really just a thought exercise of what you would do in that situation.

If you look at the Celtics/Thunder/Cavs, that's exactly how all of them are built (in OKC's case, going to be).

I hear you on the thought exercise part, I'm just saying I don't see either Sengun or Eason returning more than what they are worth to us. I think market value, we'd get similar returns as the Raps did for OG and Siakam. Sengun has a difficult player mold and Tari's health is a problem right now.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Just Nurkic + Mark Williams + 2 1sts for Sengun

Charlotte rolls the dice with Ball/#4/Miller/Bridges/Sengun and tries to out-gun everyone.

Another interesting wrinkle would be Ball for Sengun, with Williams sent to a 3rd team for additional compensation.

I'd like my Pacers to go after Eason, though salary wise it is difficult. Something with Mathurin for Eason? Shot creation for two-way versatility and size.

I'd look at the Sabonis/Haliburton trade as a blue-print for a Sengun trade. Ivey+ for Sengun? Pairing Ausar and Amen for Houston?

[tmorgan]

I'd look at the Sabonis/Haliburton trade as a blue-print for a Sengun trade. Ivey+ for Sengun? Pairing Ausar and Amen for Houston?

Just commenting on the Detroit part:

I highly doubt we’re looking to trade Ausar. Further, although the havoc they would cause would be hilarious, I think you get diminishing returns playing the twins together anyway. You only need one of them for the opponent’s best non-center scoring threat, and you can’t fully utilize them both as rebounders. And of course, the really bad spacing in offense.

We’re trying to develop Duren as our center anyway. He just needs to get better defensively, basically. Doubt we pay the price to acquire Sengun, and Eason needs to stay healthy if the Rockets want a great return.

I agree with a previous poster — get something for Jalen Green before he starts cashing those bigger checks next year. Yeah, he can go off and win you some games, but he’s losing you just as many with his erratic shooting. Team ball is getting beaten into him, but it still isn’t natural for him the way it is for Amen and Sengun. Trade Whitmore while you’re at it if he won’t buy into a sixth man role, it’s hard to win with guys that just won’t pass.

[LightTheBeam]

Kings are desperate for an Eason type player.
Devin Carter + a 2 2nds + a 1st?

That'd be my offer from Sac. I can see a world where Keon-Keegan-Eason play around Sabonis as a plus defense. Houston pushes the timeline back with Carter and gets 3 more cheap years + some picks.

[Diop]

I really wanted Charlotte to draft Sengun, instead they picked Bouknight, but that's ok they made up for it by trading for another 1st round pick to get Kai Jones. Obviously some top grade scouts working for Charlotte in 2021.

If Charlotte get a top 2-3 draft pick this year, that's going to be tough to pass up, but otherwise Charlotte have some other interesting picks to dangle. We have Dallas' 2027 only top 2 protected which is now enticing thanks to the Doncic trade. Charlottes own picks will always be attractive. I'd combine both with whatever salary for Sengun.

I think Houston keep him though

[SlimShady83]

Wait Houston willing to trade Sengun?

Lakers need a Center, what you want for him? lol

[Ell Curry]

Sengun for Herb Jones, Olynyk and Missi? Saves 15M a year after next year.
Then VanVleet + army of picks for Booker?
And I guess Whitmore for a center?

Amen-Booker-HerbJones-Jabari-Missi
Sheppard-JalenGreen-Brooks-Eason-Center

I think I like this whole approach less than just drafting another guard at #12 this year, praying him or Sheppard become a starting quality PG by the 2027 playoffs (still have Van Vleet next year), let Van Vleet leave after picking up his option for one final year, and you can always trade Jalen Green + multiple firsts for Booker. Or is the idea that Amen needs a stretch 5 to play with? I feel like Houston is good because of Sengun, Amen and the defence of guys like Eason and Brooks. It's the scoring guards that I think you look to save money on/replace, not the guys who are a true pain in the ass to play against.

[LarsV8]

Appreciate all the responses, but really looking for pick packages and not any players of value. If you have players in your proposal, maybe send them too a third team for additional picks.

The whole point is too kick the assets down the road, in case we have a contract squeeze with all the youth.

One possible exception would be a defensive oriented, shot blocking, rim running, lob threat type center.

[JimmyPlopper]

Eason is the kind of player that any team in the league could utilize. Sengun is more valuable but needs the right fit

[Astaluego]

Eason complements a near-perfect roster for the Thunder.. I think he has some Houston picks, right?? I think they'd easily send a couple of future FRPs for him anyway..the question would be if Houston wants to feed that monster

[SkyHook]

Appreciate all the responses, but really looking for pick packages and not any players of value. If you have players in your proposal, maybe send them too a third team for additional picks.

The whole point is too kick the assets down the road, in case we have a contract squeeze with all the youth.

One possible exception would be a defensive oriented, shot blocking, rim running, lob threat type center.

Is that your (and/or the Rockets) preferred archetype for a center as supposed to what Sengun is? (Unicorn-lite?)

[tsarcast]

sixers '28 lotto protected plus worse of '26 hou/okc/lac for eason(or smith jr tbh) would be awesome

[Kiss of Death]

Sengun, Eason (and Amen) are the least likely young core Rockets to be available for trade.

[LarsV8]

Is that your (and/or the Rockets) preferred archetype for a center as supposed to what Sengun is? (Unicorn-lite?)

Its not clear exactly what the organization prefers, but it is certainly my preferred archetype.

Sengun is awesome, but he is probably not good enough to be an offensive engine, and can be exploited defensively, so I think he is a high floor, low ceiling player. On my personal views of constructing a well balanced contending team (including cap allocation), I have always seen his archetype as more of a 6th man, who can just come in and punish other team's benches, by dominating the ball and spamming post ups, when your primary guys are off the floor. Off the bench, there is also less likely to be guys who can exploit his defensive weaknesses. To me, that is how you maximize a guy like Sengun. Anything more than that, you have exposure or inefficiency in roster construction. If interested, I would recommend you watch the first quarter of the recent Dallas / Houston game, where we were just absolutely mauled by AD and Gafford. The verticality was unstoppable and Sengun could not do anything. That is one of two basically unsolvable situations defensively, where if you are serious about contending, Sengun just won't cut it as your starting center. Now, most teams would just roll with it because they don't have better options, but we seem to be fortunate enough to have a ton of options for who to keep / who to trade, etc., so I think the thought exercise is worth considering.

My prediction is that we ultimately trade for one or two guys who are elite offensively, which will dominate the ball / shots, so to me, it might not make sense to keep Sengun, who wouldn't see the ball as much, but would still have those exploitable defensive issues. It just isn't a good allocation of that much of your cap space. We might not get anybody, but if we do, I could see a scenario where a cheaper rim running defensive center + 3 or 4 additional firsts, makes a ton more sense.

I have no idea who becomes available, if anyone. Names I speculate might become available soon... Trae, Booker, Melo, or perhaps even Ja, Haliburton. Maybe Harden comes back for a retirement run on a cheap deal. I think most of those guys (particularly the playmakers) get "unlocked" alongside a rim runner with vertical spacing.

While I love our team and prospects moving forward, I do get frustrated that we haven't had a rim protector / runner in 5 years. To me, that is a disservice to the team, Green and Amen especially, as I think these types of big men really do take the pressure off of penetrating wings / guards. I would be furious if we give up on Green at some point, and he lands on a team with a traditional big and it opens up the game for him.

Anyway, just my two cents.

[jbk1234]

Eason complements a near-perfect roster for the Thunder.. I think he has some Houston picks, right?? I think they'd easily send a couple of future FRPs for him anyway..the question would be if Houston wants to feed that monster

I don't think Eason compliments OKC at all. They have the best defense in the league, but are too reliant on SGA for scoring.

[wemby]

One possible exception would be a defensive oriented, shot blocking, rim running, lob threat type center.

Then I think your framing lends itself to a center swap between Sengun and someone like Walker Kessler, Dereck Lively, plus some minor asset, or Missi, Gafford plus more significant assets.