That's the thing though, Sengun is a center, centers aren't supposed to be able to shoot the 3. The ONLY reason it's an issue for the Rockets is because Amen is such a terrible shooter. Sengun is already a star at 23, Amen isn't and won't be unless he can learn to shoot.
That’s the truth. You keep Sengun and Amen but trade J Smith and retain Tari. As for Flemmings, this kid is the real deal. Admittedly I’m a homer when it comes to cougar basketball but this is one of the best point guards to play for Houston since forever. That said, I don’t think it’s fair to compare Flemmings to Amen since they don’t play the same position. The Rockets need a PG so you try to trade away a guy like J Smith and FVV, and perhaps Sheppard with a future 1st for Flemmings. There is no denying Flemmings’ talent, though. He’s an incredible ball handler, has great athleticism, shoots the ball well, and has an elite NBA mid range pull up that is hard to contain with his bouncy 6’4” frame. Hell, just look at the recent interview from D Fox who praised Flemmings as the best pg in the draft and possible future NBA star. Kid has it all.
Ime's incompetence certainly is a factor, but the base problem is having so many non-shooters on the court at once. Sengun is a below average shooting center which you can live with if you don't have someone else out there who is a whole lot worse.... and with Amen, you do. You simply can't be a 20% 3 point shooter in the modern NBA unless you are a really massive center.
Sengun is a 5 thats the size of a 4. He isnt big enough the play the position he does at the usage he gets. That's my issue. He needs to shoot because he's not tall enough to be the deterrent most centers are. Kinda caught in no man's land. He has a few make a wish All Star selections but he isnt exactly a foundational piece in his current form. He hasnt made an All NBA Team and probably wont again this year. Amen has a higher accolade in being a 1st Team All Defender. We're saying the same thing in reverse I think. The pieces just dont fit. I *do* think Reed makes it easier on everyone but Ime refuses to understand that.
Sengun is almost the exact hight and weight of NBA centers...6'11 243. Sengun and Amen are close to the same age by they aren't close when it comes to quality. Sengun is already a star center... it's he Jokic? No, but no one is. Sengun is more of a Pau Gasol... which is absolutely good enough. Amen is learning to shoot a basketball away from being a star, but until he does, his nba future is uncertain as more than a role player.... and maybe a bench role player. He'd be amazing in the 80's when no one could shoot, which is exactly the kind of basketball Ime wants to play, but in the modern NBA it really hurts the team to have a non center that embarrassing at shooting the ball.
The center needs to learn how to shoot and not the so-called superstar guard? Rockets are one of five teams starting a non-shooting guard Hawks: Dyson Daniels (not their best player; no one says they should build around him; oh and he made all-defense too) Grizzlies: Ja Morant (looking to dump) Spurs: Stephon Castle (not their best player, not building around him) Wizards: Bilal Coulibaly Rockets: Amen Thompson (OMG best player, build around him!) No! I don’t want the Westbrook trade! No! Get rid of him! Trade him! Can’t build around a non-shooter! No! I don’t want Ja Morant! Can’t shoot! Don’t want this guy or that guy, can’t shoot! No! I don’t want Ben Simmons in a Harden package! Take the picks! YES! Let’s build around Westbrook-Simmons hybrid! Hey chatbots, who are some current/former players who made all-defensive teams but never an all-star? Bruce Bowen, Michael Cooper, Marcus Camby, Serge Ibaka, Ron Harper, Derek Harper, Tony Allen, Mookie Blaylock, Mark Eaton, Dan Roundfield, Tayshaun Prince, Doug Christie, Alvin Robertson, Patrick Beverley, Andrei Kirilenko, PJ Brown, Eddie Jones, Derrick White, Jaren Jackson Jr., Marcus Smart, Alex Caruso, Matisse Thybulle (@cheke64 ), Derek Harper, Nate McMillan, Shane Battier, Andre Roberson, Herb Jones, O.G. Anunoby Spoiler All-Defensive 2025: Draymond Green, Luguentz Dort, Evan Mobley, Amen Thompson, Dyson Daniels 2024: Anthony Davis, Rudy Gobert, Bam Adebayo, Herbert Jones, Victor Wembanyama 2023: Brook Lopez, Jrue Holiday, Alex Caruso, Jaren Jackson Jr., Evan Mobley 2022: Marcus Smart, Rudy Gobert, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mikal Bridges, Jaren Jackson Jr. 2021: Jrue Holiday, Draymond Green, Rudy Gobert, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ben Simmons 2020: Anthony Davis, Marcus Smart, Rudy Gobert, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ben Simmons 2019: Eric Bledsoe, Paul George, Marcus Smart, Rudy Gobert, Giannis Antetokounmpo 2018: Jrue Holiday, Anthony Davis, Robert Covington, Victor Oladipo, Rudy Gobert 2017: Chris Paul, Patrick Beverley, Kawhi Leonard , Draymond Green, Rudy Gobert 2016: Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan, Avery Bradley, Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green 2015: Tony Allen, Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan, Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green 2014: Andre Iguodala, Chris Paul, Joakim Noah, Serge Ibaka, Paul George 2013: Tyson Chandler, LeBron James, Tony Allen, Chris Paul, Joakim Noah, Serge Ibaka 2012: LeBron James, Tony Allen, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Serge Ibaka 2011: Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo 2010: Kobe Bryant, Gerald Wallace, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo 2009: Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul 2008: Bruce Bowen, Kobe Bryant, Marcus Camby, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett 2007: Raja Bell, Bruce Bowen, Kobe Bryant, Marcus Camby, Tim Duncan 2006: Metta World Peace, Bruce Bowen, Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, Andrei Kirilenko, Ben Wallace 2005: Bruce Bowen, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Larry Hughes, Ben Wallace 2004: Metta World Peace, Bruce Bowen, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Ben Wallace 2003: Kobe Bryant, Doug Christie, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Ben Wallace 2002: Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Jason Kidd, Gary Payton, Ben Wallace 2001: Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Jason Kidd, Dikembe Mutombo, Gary Payton 2000: Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Alonzo Mourning, Gary Payton Spoiler *when fully healthy Hawks non-shooter: guard (Dyson Daniels) Celtics non-shooter: center (Neemias Queta) Nets non-shooter: center (Nic Claxton) Hornets non-shooter: center (Moussa Diabate) Bulls all-shooters Cavs non-shooter: center (Jarrett Allen) Mavs non-shooter: center (Daniel Gafford) Nuggets all-shooters Pistons non-shooter: center (Jalen Duren) Warriors all-shooters (Draymond 33% on 5a) Rockets non-shooter: guard and center (Amen Thompson & Alperen Sengun) Pacers non-shooter: center (Ivica Zubac) Clippers all-shooters Lakers non-shooter: center (Deandre Ayton) Grizzlies non-shooter: guard and center (Ja Morant & Zach Edey) Heat all-shooters Bucks non-shooter: forward (Giannis Antetokounmpo) Wolves non-shooter: center (Rudy Gobert) Pelicans non-shooter: forward and center (Zion Williams & Derik Queen) Knicks all-shooters Thunder non-shooter: center (Isaiah Hartenstein) Magic all-shooters (Yes, Carter is at 33% on 3a! Banchero their worst at 30% on 4a) Sixers all-shooters Suns non-shooter: center (Mark Williams) Blazers all-shooters (Yes, Clingan is at 32% on 3a!) Kings non-shooter: center (Domantas Sabonis) Spurs non-shooter: guard (Stephon Castle) Raptors non-shooter: center (Jakob Poeltl) Jazz non-shooter: center (Walker Kessler) Wizards non-shooter: guard (Bilal Coulibaly) You can get away with playing a non-shooting center. Can’t get away with a non-shooting guard. Pooper Flagg and Kawhi are who Amen diehards think Amen is. Keep hating on his “fake all-stars”. Maybe one day your favorite player can make one fake all-star.
One thing that I think people are missing or ignoring about Amen is that it is actually really hard to find a guy who can legitimately make things very difficult for the opposing team's #1 option without help, especially when you're talking about a guy who can guard down to the 1 and up to the 4. That absolutely opens everything up in terms of defensive schemes. It's almost as impactful as an elite rim protector, honestly. So while it's easier to find a guard who can shoot than a stretch 5, it's not so easy to find a guard who can shoot and play Amen's level of defense. In fact, when you look at the landscape of the league right now, I think it would be pretty much impossible to replace Amen's defensive contributions with a guy who is actually available to for us to acquire and addresses the spacing issues everyone keeps complaining about.
The problem is that Amen also makes it REALLY easy for opposing defenses which all but nullifies anything he does on defense.
Our overall lack of spacing makes things easy on opposing defenses. Amen is a big part of that problem for sure, but I do think you can have one non-shooter on the court in today's league. Probably not two, and definitely not three, which is what we often have out there under Ime utilizing Stone's roster.
Right, so it's really bad if you have a non shooter who is pretending to be a guard. The issue for Amen is that he's got the offensive range of Clint Capela but he's not a center. He's someone you'd have to base your entire team around to make him even playable half the time but he's nowhere near the talent of someone you'd do that for. He simply has to learn to shoot.
