The Houston Rockets exercised options on several of their young players on Monday.
The team announced that it has exercised its fourth-year options for guard Jalen Green and center Alperen Sengun as well as the third-year options for forwards Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr.
These moves help Houston keep its young core intact for a little longer on rookie-scale deals before they are eligible to become free agents.
The Rockets made moves this past offseason to surround their young core with some veterans, as the team signed guard Fred VanVleet and wing Dillon Brooks in free agency. Hopefully, they’ll pair nicely with the young players on this Houston roster.
Green, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, is in his third season in the NBA. An All-Rookie Team selection in the 2021-22 season, Green averages 19.8 points per game for his career.
This season (three games), Green is averaging 17.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 40.0 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Green is a terrific athlete that can throw down a highlight-reel dunk from time to time.
Every highlight dunk from Jalen Green this season 🍿 pic.twitter.com/KV5LOf8dDy
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) December 19, 2022
The Rockets are hoping he can increase his efficiency as a scorer this season to help the team compete for a playoff spot. He’s also worked well with Sengun, who was the No. 16 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Green and Sengun run a nice two-man game in the pick-and-roll, something they did a few times against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night.
The Rockets are still missing their bread and butter play, their go-to when they desperately need a bucket. To me, that needs to be the Jalen Green-Alperen Sengun 2-man game.
It's been effective since both were rooks. The execution in the first clip is perfect, until the finish. pic.twitter.com/9iurWD4NYL
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) October 30, 2023
Sengun, 21, is averaging 19.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game this season for Houston. He averages 12.4 points per game for his career, so it’s possible the young Rockets big man could be in the midst of making a leap in his play this season.
Houston has had plenty of top draft picks since the team traded away James Harden, and that includes Smith, who was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
As a rookie, Smith averaged 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 40.8 percent from the field and 30.7 percent from beyond the arc.
He has the potential to stretch the floor from the power forward position on offense, and Houston may view him as a switchable player on defense as well.
Smith held his own when switched on Warriors star Stephen Curry on Sunday.
In addition to hitting 2 threes, Jabari Smith's defense looked better against the Warriors.
Watch him defend Steph Curry in these 2 possessions. I'm not sure remember seeing a 6'10+ guy navigate screens and move his feet like *that* against Steph: pic.twitter.com/NsQao5C9nI
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) October 30, 2023
Similar to Green, Smith needs to become more efficient as a scorer. He’s shooting just 37.8 percent from the field so far this season.
As for Eason, he was impressive as a rookie, averaging 9.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. The No. 17 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Eason has yet to make his debut this season due to a stress reaction in his left leg.
He’s expected to miss a few weeks with the injury.
Eason is a very solid defender for the Rockets, and his two-way abilities helped him make an All-Rookie Team last season.
Get well soon Tari Eason 🙏
He’s locking everyone up when he gets back. pic.twitter.com/TrIIBYxP71 https://t.co/Pgbt7u5yuQ
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) October 22, 2023
Hopefully for Houston, these players will continue to improve to give the team a chance to make the playoffs in this season and beyond.
