3 Superstars Linked to Rockets Trade This Summer with Alperen Şengün as the Bait

The Houston Rockets are down 3-0 in their first-round series against the LA Lakers after losing Game 3 Friday night. If they don't pull off a miraculous comeback and get themselves back into the series, the Rockets will be looking at a difficult offseason. They'll be intent on making another big splash, as they did last year in pulling off the blockbuster for Kevin Durant.

One Rocket that's gaining some traction as a potential big name to dangle in a trade, is center Alperen Şengün. As they proved last summer, Houston is getting impatient to reach championship contender status. They dealt away an exciting young piece in Jalen Green to get the KD deal done.

As William Guillory points out in The Athletic, they could look to do something similar this summer.

There will be no shortage of fans and media who connect the dots and say Şengün could follow in Green’s steps as a young piece that gets sent away because he wasn’t ready to compete for a championship now.

And there are three superstars the Rockets could be targeting, says Guillory, all of whom could be available.

Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a name many connect to Houston as a potential superstar who could be acquired in a Şengün trade. Kawhi Leonard or Donovan Mitchell could also be possibilities. If Houston makes Şengün available, along with some of the future draft picks they hold, it would put them squarely among the favorites to acquire any of the disgruntled superstars who may become available.

Giannis, of course, has one foot out the door for Milwaukee already. Kawhi's name has been making the rounds, as the Clippers look to continue to rebuild a young team after trading away James Harden and Ivica Zubac this season.

As for Mitchell, if the Cavaliers flame out in the playoffs again after being unable to get past the second round the previous two season, Spida could be weaving a web to extricate himself from Cleveland this summer.

The Rockets have the assets, potentially headed up by the two-time All-Star, Şengün, to get another blockbuster, superstar deal done this offseason.

Sengun put forth a Herculean effort in Game 3 in a losing effort, with 33 points and 16 rebounds.