The Houston Rockets Are Unlikely To Extend Max Contracts To Jalen Green And Alperen Sengun

Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green have impressed in their short time in the NBA with the Houston Rockets and are both eligible to sign max rookie extensions this offseason. It appears neither would be getting it, though, according to The Athletic's Kelly Iko.

"At this stage, it’s unlikely either Sengun or Green receive max rookie extensions — both are eligible for a five-year deal worth up to $224.2 million, per The Athletic’s salary cap expert Danny LeRoux. Houston has had conversations with both camps concerning an extension and will continue dialogue during the offseason, but the chances of either player inking an agreement in the realm of fellow 2021 draftees Cade Cunningham ($236 million) or Scottie Barnes (potentially up to $270 million) are slim. It’s more likely the Rockets revisit this next year, unless there is an agreement that benefits both sides."

It is quite interesting that the Rockets are going this route. It would be one thing if they just were delaying it by a year like the Philadelphia 76ers did with Tyrese Maxey, in order to have more cap space this offseason, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

Negotiations are taking place and the Rockets just don't want to max them out right now. I can understand wanting to wait another year in the case of Green, but to do so for Sengun seems odd. The Turkish big man was excellent last season and I expected him to get a max deal.

Sengun, the 16th pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, averaged 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game in 2023-24 to finish third in voting for MIP. The 21-year-old has all the makings of an offensive force and has drawn comparisons to Nikola Jokic.

Sengun will be a restricted free agent in 2025 if the two sides don't agree to a deal before the 2024-25 season commences and I would fully expect some team to give him the max then. The Rockets would have no choice but to match, or else they'd lose him for nothing, which would be catastrophic.

As for Green, he averaged 19.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game in 2023-24. The 22-year-old is a gifted scorer but hasn't quite lived up to the hype that led to the Rockets selecting him with the second pick of the 2021 draft.

Green played well in the second half of last season, but not offering him the max is understandable. I am not quite sure he'll ever be a star in the NBA but if he shines next season, I can see a team paying him the big bucks in 2025. The Rockets would then be left in a bit of a difficult situation, but I suppose a plan would be in place for that scenario.

Another point to keep in mind here is that the Rockets are very much trying to win now. Reportedly, the Rockets want to trade for Kevin Durant and are keeping tabs on Devin Booker as well. If any of those trades materialize at some point, then I'd suppose Sengun or Green or maybe even both of them would be going the other way.