Is Houston Rockets’ Alperen Sengun “untouchable”?

Untouchable.

It’s a big word. This has huge implications. When an NBA team determines that one of its players is untouchable, it irrevocably changes its prospects for the future.

Does every team have an untouchable player? This is a matter of debate. Recently, Bleacher Report named the most untouchable player on every NBA team.

According to them, the most untouchable player on the Houston Rockets is Alperen Sengun.

Isn’t “the most untouchable” a bit paradoxical?

Think about it. “Untouchable” is an absolute term. No one is “the deadliest person” in a cemetery. Either you are untouchable or you are not.

Sengun is an exceptional player. If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander requested a trade this summer (he won’t), the Rockets would include Sengun in a package for him. He is not untouchable.

Is he the least touchable player on the Rockets?

Of course it is!

Are we a little pedantic? Diving into semantics? Looking for content during a slow part of the season for a non-playoff team?

You could present any of these cases. That said, we think there is an important distinction to make here.

Sengun should rightfully be the Rockets’ least touchable player. He was one of the team’s two best players (alongside Fred VanVleet) in 2023-24, and he’s only 21 years old.

The Rockets should rightfully decline an offer even if it is above market value. If someone offered them four unprotected firsts for Sengun, they would have to hang up. At this point in their rebuilding process, they need a star offensive player.

Sengun should be hard to hit. The Rockets can’t afford to move him for anything other than an MVP candidate. This doesn’t mean he’s untouchable:

For us, it’s just too big a word.