Utah Jazz Receive: C Alperen Sengun, C Christian Wood, G Eric Gordon, 2022 First-Round Pick (HOU), 2027 First-Round Pick (BKN)
Houston Rockets Receive: G Donovan Mitchell
If you expected to see Jalen Green’s name here, you thought wrong. His rookie deal is cost-controlled, and after a scorching hot finish to his rookie season, the Houston Rockets likely feel his ceiling is at least as high as Donovan Mitchell’s.
Alperen Sengun has a high ceiling too. His floor is a little lower. He’s complicated. His passing vision is prodigious, and his low post footwork is pristine. He’s also slow-footed and short-armed. The Jazz would have to determine that the pros outweigh the cons in order to pass up extra draft capital to take this deal.
The Rockets take on risk here too. As mentioned, both Mitchell and Green are conventionally off-guards. Of course, the Rockets already run two scorers in the backcourt with Kevin Porter Jr at the point. In acquiring Mitchell, they’ll give themselves options.
They could routinely run three-guard lineups with Porter Jr. at small forward, or bring him off the bench. Either way, they’ll suddenly have one of the most talented guard rotations in the NBA.
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Donovan Mitchell is unlikely to find himself in Space City next season. The Rockets are probably better served to stay the course and rebuild more gradually.
Still, if their front office finds themselves itching for success, don’t rule a deal between these two teams out entirely.
