According to Shams Charania, the Houston Rockets sent a trade offer to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges before the deadline. The deal included Jalen Green and multiple first-round picks, but the Nets categorically declined the offer.
“The Rockets called the Nets on Mikal Bridges. I'm told they discussed a concept around Jalen Green and multiple first-round picks. That deal was not accepted by the Nets and didn't progress any further."
The Rockets were widely reported to be chasing after Bridges, with the possibility of Houston giving the Nets picks they traded away for James Harden back to the franchise. But Brooklyn has been very committed to Bridges and has reportedly turned down multiple lucrative trade offers for him since acquiring him in the winter of 2023.
Even though the Rockets were low on Green due to his inability to fit into the team early in the Udoka era, his recent emergence has allowed the Rockets to compete for a play-in spot. They're currently on a nine-game win streak and sit just half a game behind the 10th-seeded Warriors. Green is averaging 29.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists over this stretch.
Bridges is averaging 20.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists this season, with his stock dipping as everyone can see he can't lead a team as their No. 1 offensive option. The sooner the Nets realize the same, the better as Bridges is talented enough to thrive when surrounded with stars.
Jalen Green Thriving Without Alperen Sengun
This season made it clear that Alperen Sengun is the best player on the Rockets, as Green struggled for the first few months and Sengun was generating All-Star buzz for himself. But the team has started winning at their highest rate since the James Harden era after Sengun went out, which opened up more space for Green to excel.
Charania also discussed that both Green and Sengun are eligible for a contract extension this summer and the Rockets are yet to figure out how Green and Sengun will co-exist in their lineup.
"It’s a great problem for the Rockets to have. You have two burgeoning stars with Sengun and Jalen Green. They're both extension-eligible this summer, both in line for massive deals potentially. But Jalen Green needs this pace and space to play without Sengun in the lineup. What do you do if you’re the Rockets moving forward, can these two guys co-exist? They haven’t figured it out yet”
Sengun and Green were both first-round picks in 2021, but Green was expected to develop into one of the premier shooting guards in the NBA. Sengun averaged 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists this season before getting injured.
Green's superstar leap hasn't happened yet, but this recent stretch has reminded everyone how ridiculously talented he is. Whether he gets to unleash his potential in Houston remains to be seen, but making the team jump the Warriors in the standings will do wonders for his reputation.
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