For the second part of my post, I want to rank the young core pieces on the Rockets in terms of trade value/asset quality:
1. Amen Thompson – This one should be universal among the fanbase: almost untouchable. I wouldn't include him in a deal for anyone outside of Jokic or Wemby—neither of which is happening. He CANNOT be moved this summer. Could he be the best player on a title team? He’s got a lot of work to do to get there, but the tools are there. At worst, he’s a top 2–3 player on a championship team. You don’t trade 22-year-olds with that floor and ceiling.
2. Alperen Şengün – After the playoffs, it’s clear to me that he could be the second-best player on a contender. He’s super skilled and brings some toughness, though he still has areas to improve. I think he’s a top-25 asset in the league. I’d include him in a Giannis deal if absolutely necessary—but he’s off the table in any KD trade talk.
3. Jabari Smith Jr. – Profiles as a reliable starter on a title team: solid defense, and capable of being a third scoring option. I’d think long and hard about including him in any deal this summer. He’d be on the table for Giannis, but probably not for KD.
4. Jalen Green – This one might be controversial. The tools are still there for him to be a potential league-leading scorer, but given who’s ahead of him on this list, I’d be fine including him in a deal for either Giannis or KD (or other upgrade options that become available).
5. Tari Eason – I know a lot of fans might have him ahead of Green right now, but to me, he’s a more erratic version of Jabari Smith Jr. If I’m choosing between the two, I’m taking Jabari without hesitation.
Hard to determine:
Reed Sheppard – I’d be very hesitant to include him in any trades this summer. He’s in line for a bigger role next year, and this postseason showed how badly we need shooting.
Cam Whitmore – I like his game, but he fits the mold of a guy who gets his numbers without necessarily helping the team win. Add in his clear frustration with his role, and he feels like the most obvious “sweetener” in a potential trade package. I’m not saying give him away—but he’s movable in the right deal.
Bottom line:
If we can get Giannis while keeping Amen, Jabari, and Sheppard, I’d give Milwaukee just about anything else they want.
If we can get KD while keeping Amen, Şengün, and Jabari, I’d do the same with Phoenix—though I’d still want to limit it to just three picks going out.