Rockets' Alperen Sengun Due for Max Contract

The Houston Rockets could be handing out a lot of money soon.

Jeremy Brener | Sep 24, 2024

Mar 6, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) controls the ball as Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) defends during the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

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Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets have just one year left on Alperen Sengun's rookie contract, which means that re-negotiations are on the table soon.

Bleacher Report writer Greg Swartz believes that Sengun is going to be the next recipient of a max contract.

"Şengün is probably going to sign a max extension with the Houston Rockets before the season begins after averaging 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists in Year 3," Swartz writes. "The 22-year-old is a better overall player than Franz Wagner of the Orlando Magic who already got a max this offseason. The Rockets could still play hardball with Şengün and go into restricted free agency next summer, although Houston should definitely keep its young center for now."

Sengun has the highest ceiling of any player currently on the Rockets roster, posting some of the league's best numbers for a center despite being so young.

While the Rockets have a number of young players that can emerge as a franchise player, Sengun is the closest at this moment in time. Choosing to build around him with some great pieces already put in place with the other players on rookie contracts on the roster is the best path for the Rockets moving forward.

Sengun and the Rockets are set to begin training camp next week.

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Published Sep 24, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.