SI outlines which Rockets the team should protect if NBA expands

SI's guide to a potential expansion draft recommends protecting the Rockets' core (Durant, Sengun, Amen Thompson) and discusses other rotation players who should be considered protected based on projected value.

In this brief: 2 sections 1 min read

- Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson are recommended as the three untouchable players.
- The piece argues those players represent the franchise's primary long-term assets.
- SI references recent performance (All-NBA, All-Star nods, defensive voting) to justify protection.
- VanVleet, Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard are listed as core contributors worth protecting.
- The article highlights debates around depth players like Bruce Thornton and Tari Eason for protection decisions.
- The piece is framed as a hypothetical exercise tied to ongoing expansion discussions, not an official league directive.

Read full analysis on si.com

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