Rockets Acquire draft rights to Alperen Sengun from OKC for 2 future 1st round picks

UPDATED: July 29, 2021 -- 10:37 p.m. CT

Reportedly, the Houston Rockets traded 2 future first round draft picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the draft rights to the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft; and, with the 16th pick in the Draft, the Rockets selected Alperen Sengun - 6'10" big man from Turkey. The first round picks are the Detroit Pistons 2022 (top 16 protected; top 18 in '23 and '24, top 9 in 2026, top 7 in 2026) and the Washington Wizards 2023 (top 14 protected; top 12 in '24, top 10 in '25, top 8 in '26).

If neither pick is conveyed by 2026, they convert to two second-round picks.

Sengun's 19th birthday was July 25, 2021. Sengun (6'10", 235) won the 2020-21 Turkish League regular season MVP as a teenager and produced one of the most statistically productive seasons in recent European basketball history for a teenager. He averaged 19.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game this season with a 63.2 fg%.

According to The Athletic's Sam Vecenie, 'Sengun strengths are he plays extremely hard and has a high motor with a nose for the ball. Terrific offensive rebounder. Grabbed over three per game. Also, great feel for how to grab a rebound on the defensive glass. Then, once he does grab the board, he immediately attacks on the break. That's one of his most immediate, translatable skills. Very good in the open court. An underrated athlete in terms of mobility and vertical pop since getting into better shape. Has some body control and fluidity for a big man with elite hands. Catches everything in his area and can adjust mid-air to do different things. Can Euro step around guys on the ground before finishing. He's not necessarily going to beat wings off the bounce, but if he's at the five, he can definitely attack and beat a center.'

Sengun's biggest question marks are his defense.

Vecenie says 'As a five-man, Sengun does an effective job of being available rotationally in help, and he's good at walling up and using the principle of verticality to stop his man from getting a clean look. His understanding of where he needs to be and where he needs to filter players in drop coverage also is good. When he does get beat, he doesn't quit or give up easily. He tries to get back in the play with a contest from behind. He's a smart player. But in the NBA, he's still a 6-foot-9 player with a 7-foot wingspan and teams will have no worries about finishing over.'

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Also, Sengun is not a great three-point shooter, yet. He shot 20.7% from 3 in 38 games in the 2019-20 season in Turkey and 20.0% in 37 games in the 2020-21 season in Turkey.

Sengun, via his translator, said, "I will bring something different on the court. I will do whatever it takes and whatever is needed. I'm very excited to join my new team."

"As an international player, I would like to prove the European basketball style in Houston, in the team, as the other international players have been proving. And as a dynamic, I will be a very good fit in my new team because I'm a good fit and I can get (along) well with everything and everyone."

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