Rockets rumors: Why 2026-27 season could determine Alperen Sengun's future in Houston
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Despite signing a five-year, $185 million extension, Rockets All-Star Alperen Sengun’s future could be in jeopardy according to one NBA insider. The Rockets will look to build off their first-round playoff exit against the Los Angeles Lakers last season. After finishing with the fifth-best record in the Western Conference standings, critics are raising questions about Houston’s core, which is centered around veteran Kevin Durant.
How Sengun bounces back in 2026-27 is vital as the Rockets could decide to trade him, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“This is a big, big, big year for Alperen Sengun. Last year was not a step forward for him,” McMenamin said. “Rafael Stone recently returned from a trip to Turkey, pouring into him, doing everything they can. But if this isn’t a step forward season, I think there’s going to be questions about whether Sengun has a long runway with the Rockets or not.”
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With four years remaining on Alperen Sengun’s deal with the Rockets worth $35 and $39 million between now and 2030, it’s a tradable contract for an All-Star talent, as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted.
“Sengun has a good contract,” Windhorst said. “Not every team would be interested in him because of his defensive challenges, but that’s a guy, I think, has value. Just keep that in the back of your mind.”
The two-time All-Star averaged 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game in 2026-27.
Rockets labeled title contender despite playoff flop
Despite speculation of friction between Rockets’ Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant, Sengun dismissed that notion following their 4-3 best-of-7 series loss to the Lakers in the first round of last year’s playoffs. Despite the Rockets’ disappointing finish, they’re still title contenders, according to The Ringer’s Michael Pina.
“In a world where we’ve seen eight different NBA champions in eight years, I think the Rockets are good enough to be the ninth if they catch the lucky breaks that ultimately benefit pretty much every team that wins the title,” Pina wrote.
“But I also recognize and understand the main reasons people will ignore Houston as a credible contender. Spacing matters. Durant is old. VanVleet shot 37.8 percent from the field before he suffered a major leg injury. All true.”
Rockets’ Fred VanVleet missed the entire 2025-26 season due to a torn ACL. He will join the Rockets’ starting lineup alongside All-Star Kevin Durant for the first time this upcoming season.
“There’s also something undeniably unfinished about the entire Rafael Stone era,” Pina added. “The Rockets still feel like they’re stuck in a holding pattern, waiting for the perfect opportunity to come along and put them over the top. They passed on Antetokounmpo and Brown to keep that very door open, allergic to the type of all-in move so many organizations can’t resist.”
The Rockets also signed veteran guard Marcus Smart, who was crucial for the Lakers, without All-Star Luka Doncic, in the Rockets’ first-round series last season.