Christian Wood Trade Should Open Up Chances With Rockets For Alperen Şengün

When the Houston Rockets sent Christian Wood to the Dallas Mavericks during the late hours of June 15th, the vast majority of the discourse went to the idea of pairing Wood with Luka Dončić, finally giving the Slovenian superstar an agile big man to use in pick and roll situations.

However, the Rockets didn’t just sell off Wood, as some might think. While the Mavericks may have won the trade in terms of raw talent, there’s another perspective that seems to fly under the radar. Moving off Wood allows for Alperen Şengün to step into a larger role for Houston next season, which should be a good thing.

Tremendous upside

Setting aside fans who are dedicated and invested NBA fans, Şengün hasn’t yet established himself as a major name in the broader public eye. That’s not surprising given that Houston was one of the worst teams in the league this season, and he didn’t play more than 20.7 minutes per game. It’s simply too difficult to put up attention-grabbing numbers playing less than a half of basketball, at least for major national outlets to take much notice.

Rest assured, however, Şengün produced very well in the minutes he played, averaging 9.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and attempting 3.2 free throws per game in limited minutes. Particularly, the assists seem easy to overlook. On the surface, 2.6 doesn’t seem like a lot. But when you take into account the low amount of minutes, the fact that he played his entire rookie season at just 19 years old, and that he plays the position least associated with playmaking, 2.6 nightly assists becomes wildly impressive.

Per 36 minutes, Şengün netted 16.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.6 blocks, and 5.6 attempts from the foul line. It’s difficult to ask for more from a rookie center who’s still a teenager. While the Turk did display monstrous rates of turnovers (18.8 TOV%) and fouls (5.6 per 36 minutes), that’s perfectly normal for any big man coming into the league.

Şengün played for Beşiktaş in the Turkish Super League last season, putting up 19.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists at the age of just 18, showcasing an ability to produce that has seemingly made the transition to the NBA.

There’s nothing to suggest Şengün has a set ceiling. While not much of a shooter in Turkey (he took 21 in league play, hitting four), Şengün took 117 this season, hitting 29. That percentage isn’t indicative of future efficiency, as Şengün has solid mechanics on his shot, and was adjusting to a shot he didn’t pay much attention to in the past.

Expectations for 2022-2023

While Şengün right now appears to have received a path towards more minutes next season, the 2022 NBA draft still has something to say about it. The Rockets hold the third overall pick, and three names are currently circulated as the three possible candidates to go first overall. The problem? They’re all big men.

Chet Holmgren is an all-around center with superstar upside. Jabari Smith Jr is a stretch big, who will likely split time between power forward and center. And finally there’s Paolo Banchero, primarily a four, but someone who should also be used at center for periods of time.

For Şengün’s chances to become more solidified, Smith and Banchero would be easier players to fit next to him. Should Holmgren slip, it could be the beginning of the end of Şengün’s tenure in Houston, as both players are clear-cut centers, and both will likely deserve to play 32-35 minutes per game. That’s not to say Holmgren is a certainty to hit, but he comes in with a unique skill set that any team would love to explore under the light of increased playing time.

It’s also worth noting that Houston has Usman Garuba, who came over from Real Madrid last season in the draft. Garuba, picked 23rd overall, is also looking to crack the rotation eventually, creating additional competition.

All that said, Şengün should still see an uptick in minutes in Year 2. He’s too good to not invest more in, even if it means the team will occasionally play wonky lineups. The Rockets aren’t trying to win now anyway, which should allow them to focus on development first and foremost. For Şengün, that development is off to a great start.

Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.