Lakers should explore Rockets' Alperen Şengün trade to help LeBron amid NBA rumors | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

“There is no maximum contract on the table right now,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on the Houston Rockets’ ongoing contract negotiations with center Alperen Şengün.

Charania continued, explaining that the 22-year-old Turkish center may need to test free agency to find a max contract.

Charania had previously reported that the team was scouring the market to add depth at the center position before this season. With Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood out due to injuries and Anthony Davis, who has been vocal about his desire to stop playing center as often, with little to offer as a replacement, it was only logical that the team would look around.

With Şengün he is a perfect candidate for this team. He is young and developing and has continued to improve in his three seasons in the league. He can sit behind Davis and come off the bench, or he can potentially start and give Davis the freedom to play power forward.

There are two potential problems with the scenario, the first being new head coach JJ Redick and almost certainly the desire to play three-point ball. Şengün saw his three-point shooting percentage drop significantly in the 2023-24 season from 33.3 the season before to 29.7.

The other would be how important a maximum contract is to him.

A center on a rookie deal hasn't received a max contract since Bam Adebayo in 2020, and that's unlikely to change, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks. “An extension would start at $34.5 million and remain unchanged over the next three seasons.” It would require some roster shuffling, but this is a much more viable contract for Los Angeles long-term than the alternative.

If Şengün is willing to accept such a deal, there is a possibility that he will be transferred to Los Angeles and stay there long-term as his game continues to improve.

Either way, if Houston is at all considering letting the young center explore free agency this offseason, it should consider whether a team like Los Angeles, which has made its need at the position very clear, want to become one is willing to make a mutually beneficial trade and provide the Rockets with pieces that can help now and in the future.