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Getting Sengun and Green to cohere and maximize their individual talents in such a way that benefits the team mostly greatly as a whole will be a continuing area for growth down the road, yet for now, despite head coach Ime Udoka‘s quotes to the contrary, it seems hard to dispute that Sengun’s absence benefits Jalen as an individual. There is, simply, more to do.
From trade candidate, then, Green now becomes an extension candidate. This is his third season, and thus he is eligible for his second contract this summer; given that he has proven that he can play amongst the game’s very best for an extended period, he is making a valid case for a maximum value extension. At this level of production, that is the cost of doing business.
After the 2024 NBA trade deadline passed, it was revealed that the Rockets had, in fact, offered a package to the Brooklyn Nets of Green and multiple first-round picks in exchange for Mikal Bridges, in a win-now type of move.
At the time, it was a topic of discussion – including in this space – as to which ‘direction’ Houston would pick, and whether they would sacrifice some of the future for more of the now. As it is, they kept the piece for the ‘future’, and are winning now anyway.
