Heading into the 2023-24 season, it was known that the Houston Rockets’ hopes of reaching the playoffs depended on the development of their young players. This is a large part of why the front office has made it a priority to add veterans, to help with the growth of the team’s youth.
Overall, Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. answered the call. The same cannot be said for Jalen Green, as he has been extremely inconsistent.
In short, Green hasn’t been reliable enough on a nightly basis to inspire confidence in his ability to carry the franchise, which was expected, based on his draft position. The tools are obviously there, which is why it’s never surprising to see him score 30 on an opponent.
That’s what makes it even more frustrating when he doesn’t play up to his potential. The Rockets were reportedly willing to trade him to the Brooklyn Nets, in exchange for Mikal Bridges, which could be a sign of Green’s final days in a Rockets uniform.
With that being said, let’s take a look at several potential replacements for Jalen Green in this year’s draft class, since the Rockets could potentially have two lottery picks this year (with a little help from Lady Luck, regarding their own pick, which they only keep if it makes the top four).
