Rockets Fans Concerned Over Young Star's Potential Inclusion In Kevin Durant Trade Talks

The Houston Rockets could be on the verge of a bombshell NBA draft day trade, and fans aren't thrilled about it.

Late Tuesday evening, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported a draft-pick trade between the Nets and Rockets and its potentially significant ramifications.

Per Wojnarowski, Houston is exploring a trade for Suns forward Kevin Durant, and on Wednesday morning's edition of "Get Up" on ESPN, NBA insider Brian Windhorst expanded on what the front office might offer for the two-time NBA Finals MVP.

"Watch what the Rockets do with the No. 3 pick... If the Rockets take Donovan Clingan out of UConn, another center... That would potentially enable them to make Alperen Sengun, their very young, talented Turkish center available in the type of trade to dangle in front of the Suns," Windhorst said.

In his third year in the league, Sengun was a finalist for the league's Most Improved Player award. In 63 games, he averaged career-highs in points (21.1), rebounds (9.3) and assists (five) per game.

Per Stathead , he was one of six players in the league to average at least 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists, joining 2023-24 league MVP Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid and Julius Randle.

He suffered a season-ending Grade 3 ankle sprain injury on March 10 against the Kings, but consistently showed why he might be better as a building block than a trade chip for Houston when healthy.

In a highlight posted by "The Dunker Spot" co-host Steve Jones Jr., Sengun made an excellent defensive play on 2023-24 Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama, forcing a fourth-quarter steal as Wembanyama drove to the basket.

He finished that game with a career-high 45 points on 19-of-32 shooting while nabbing 16 rebounds and recording five steals, becoming th e fourth-player in NBA history to put up those numbers in a single game.

In this clip shared by The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor from early in the season, Sengun showed his athleticism with a monster dunk over Spurs center Zach Collins.

Having watched Sengun, 21, develop into an outstanding all-around player, Rockets fans weren't happy with the idea of trading him for Durant, who will be 36 at the beginning of the 2024-25 season.

"The Rockets could dangle Alperen Sengun in a potential trade for Kevin Durant, per @WindhorstESPN .

"I’m not interested if it involves Sengun," wrote one fan.

"Everyone is tradable BUT Alperen Sengun. Hope we keep him," chimed in another commenter.

ABC News reporter Doc Louallen also chimed in:

"If I’m the Houston Rockets, no way I’m giving up Alperen Şengün in the Kevin Durant trade. The Suns don’t have options. They are stuck! Offer them Jabari Smith and multiple picks! He’s still young also and maybe better on Suns than he was Rockets.

The NBA Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN.