​Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn ImagesRockets rumors: Why 2026-27 season could determine Alperen Sengun’s future in Houston appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Despite signing a five-year, $185 million extension, Rockets All-Star Alperen Sengun’s future could be in jeopardy according to one NBA insider. The Rockets will look to build off their first-round playoff exit against the Los Angeles Lakers last season. After finishing with the fifth-best record in the Western Conference standings, critics are raising questions about Houston’s core, which is centered around veteran Kevin Durant.How Sengun bounces back in 2026-27 is vital as the Rockets could decide to trade him, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.“This is a big, big, big year for Alperen Sengun. Last year was not a step forward for him,” McMenamin said. “Rafael Stone recently returned from a trip to Turkey, pouring into him, doing everything they can. But if this isn’t a step forward season, I think there’s going to be questions about whether Sengun has a long runway with the Rockets or not.”Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)With four years remaining on Alperen Sengun’s deal with the Rockets worth $35 and $39 million between now and 2030, it’s a tradable contract for an All-Star talent, as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted.“Sengun has a good contract,” Windhorst said. “Not every team would be interested in him because of his defensive challenges, but that’s a guy, I think, has value. Just keep that in the back of your mind.”The two-time All-Star averaged 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game in 2026-27.Rockets labeled title contender despite playoff flopDespite speculation of friction between Rockets’ Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant, Sengun dismissed that notion following their 4-3 best-of-7 series loss to the Lakers in the first round of last year’s playoffs. Despite the Rockets’ disappointing finish, they’re still title contenders, according to The Ringer’s Michael Pina.“In a world where we’ve seen eight different NBA champions in eight years, I think the Rockets are good enough to be the ninth if they catch the lucky breaks that ultimately benefit pretty much every team that wins the title,” Pina wrote.“But I also recognize and understand the main reasons people will ignore Houston as a credible contender. Spacing matters. Durant is old. VanVleet shot 37.8 percent from the field before he suffered a major leg injury. All true.”Rockets’ Fred VanVleet missed the entire 2025-26 season due to a torn ACL. He will join the Rockets’ starting lineup alongside All-Star Kevin Durant for the first time this upcoming season.“There’s also something undeniably unfinished about the entire Rafael Stone era,” Pina added. “The Rockets still feel like they’re stuck in a holding pattern, waiting for the perfect opportunity to come along and put them over