NBA Rumors: The 3 superstars who could join the Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets are facing a decisive moment both in their immediate present and in planning for their future. The Texan franchise is up against the ropes in their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers, with a 3-1 deficit, despite having secured a victory in the fourth game played on Sunday night.

If they do not manage a practically miraculous comeback to get back into the series, Houston is gearing up for a challenging summer. The franchise's intention is clear: to once again make a significant splash in the market, as they did last year with the arrival of Kevin Durant in a major operation.

In this context, the name of center Alperen Şengün is gaining strength as one of the important pieces that could be involved in a potential trade. The Rockets already showed last summer their eagerness to become title contenders by parting ways with a promising young player like Jalen Green to seal the deal for Durant.

As William Guillory points out in The Athletic, the franchise could replicate a similar strategy this summer. There will be no shortage of voices, both among fans and in the media, pointing to Şengün as the next young talent to depart, considering he may not be ready to compete immediately for a championship.

Objective: another superstar

According to Guillory, Houston could have their sights set on three big names in the league, all potentially available in the market. Giannis Antetokounmpo stands out as one of the most obvious candidates to be linked to the Rockets in a hypothetical trade involving Şengün. Alongside him, the options of Kawhi Leonard and Donovan Mitchell are also being considered.

If the Rockets decide to put Şengün on the table along with some of their future draft picks, they would position themselves as leading contenders to acquire any of the superstars who may be seeking an exit in the coming months.

The case of Antetokounmpo is particularly intriguing, as his continuity in Milwaukee seems uncertain. Meanwhile, the name of Kawhi Leonard has resurfaced strongly as the Clippers advance in rebuilding a younger team after trading James Harden and Ivica Zubac this season.

As for Donovan Mitchell, his future in Cleveland could also be in doubt if the Cavaliers fall short of expectations in the playoffs again, especially after failing to make it past the second round in the last two seasons.

Meanwhile, on the court, Alperen Şengün has shown outstanding performance in the series against the Lakers. In the third game, he delivered a standout performance with 33 points and 16 rebounds, although his team ended up losing. In the final moments of the game, the center missed a last-second shot in a desperate attempt to secure victory for the Rockets.

With sufficient resources and appealing assets, potentially led by Şengün himself, Houston is gearing up for a summer where they could once again shake up the market in pursuit of another superstar.