The Houston Rockets made a big splash this offseason by hiring Ime Udoka as coach and signing Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet. But in July, the Rockets nearly made another big move by signing Defensive Player of the Year candidate Brook Lopez to be the team's center aiding with rim protection.
Sometimes, the best moves are the ones you don't make, and not signing Lopez may have been that move.
This isn't to knock Lopez, though he is struggling to start the season averaging just 9.6 points per game after going for 15.6 a year ago. But not signing Lopez has kept Alperen Şengün in the starting lineup, and he's been a massive part of the Rockets' early season success.
"The Houston Rockets completely revamped their core in an attempt to force their way back to a competitive roster and are in the midst of a six-game winning streak, leaning heavily on new coach Ime Udoka, offseason signees Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks and an emerging big man in Alperen Şengün who's flourishing in part because Brook Lopez didn't come to town with VanVleet and Brooks in free agency," Marc Stein wrote.
Lopez, 35, signed a two-year, $48 million deal with the Bucks this offseason ... just a smidge above what the Rockets were offering. But had he come to Houston, Şengün probably wouldn't be experiencing the same success he's had over the first nine games of the year.
Şengün, 21, is averaging 19.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists, emerging as one of the best young centers in the game. His defense has also improved, and Houston's defensive rating currently ranks third in the NBA. That isn't to say Lopez wouldn't have had the Rockets' defense in the same spot, but it shows that Houston is doing just fine without him.
Şengün and the Rockets are back in action on Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CT.
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