NBA Rumors [Update]: Alessandro Gentile May Be Headed To The Houston Rockets Next Season

Sensational Italian wing Alessandro Gentile may be suiting up for the Houston Rockets next year according to Marc Stein of ESPN.

Rockets hold NBA rights to Alessandro Gentile and word is they'll try to bring him to the NBA for next season. Legit chance it happens, too

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 6, 2015

The Rockets purchased the rights to Gentile from the Minnesota Timberwolves, who selected the 6-foot-7, 230 pounder with the No.53 overall pick, in exchange for cash on draft night in 2014. He currently plays for EA7 Emporio Armani Milano and is under contract with the Italian team until 2018, per Euroleague.net.

“I decided to stay in Milan to help the team recover what we have lost all together in the end of last season”, Gentile said when talking about signing his three-year contract extension with Milano earlier this year. “I was never hiding that I feel a strong bond with this club which has given me so much, these colors and with the city of Milan. The role of a team captain gives me additional responsibility and that is what led me in making this decision.”

The 22-year old had an excellent Euroleague campaign last year, producing a team-high 14.3 points to go along with 3.0 caroms in 20 contests. He also doled out 2.5 assists while shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 30.6 percent from beyond the arc. Gentile helped Milan to the Serie A regular season tile in 2014-15, producing 12.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.

Gentile has twice been named Serie A’s Best Player Under 22 (2011, 2014) and was named the league’s Finals MVP in 2014. He began his professional career with Benetton Treviso in 2009.

Gentile, who is coming off a fabulous showing at the EuroBasket 2015, will get a chance to show his mettle in the NBA Global Games against the Boston Celtics on October 6, at 2:30 p.m. on NBA TV. The versatile wing averaged 16.8 points and 3.2 assists on 47.1 percent shooting and 36.1 percent from downtown as Italy reached the quarterfinals of the tournament.

Update: Gentile tallied a team-high 18 points, on 9-of-20 shooting though he was only 1-of-8 from beyond the arc. He also had three rebounds, two assists along with five turnovers.

If Gentile does indeed come over to the NBA, the question now becomes whether Gentile is physically ready for the NBA and what his role will be with the Rockets next year.

Gentile is said to have a solid body, but his draft profile stated that he needed to add proper muscle — NBA Draft.net gave him a strength rating of eight out of 10. He has solid offensive skills though he is not overly athletic. Gentile will need to work hard on the defensive end as that is one area of weakness.

According to Basketball Insiders, Houston currently has eight players under contract for the 2016-17 season — Dwight Howard has the option to opt-out of his contract next summer and is expected to do so, if he does not he is slated to make $23.2 million in 2016-17. James Harden, Corey Brewer, Trevor Ariza, Patrick Beverley, and K.J. McDaniels, along with rookies Sam Dekker and Montrezl Harrell, possess guaranteed contracts.

Point guard Ty Lawson could return to the Rockets next season, as could Terrence Jones, Donatas Motiejunas, and Clint Capella if they perform. Lawson is scheduled to earn $13.2 million next season (non-guaranteed), while Jones ($3.5 million) and Montiejunas ($3.2 million) will become restricted free agents if Houston tenders them qualifying offers. Capella has a team option for next year worth $1.2 million.

Jason Terry and Marcus Thornton, along with Jeremy Tyler, Joshua Smith, Chris Walker, Denzel Livingston and Will Cummings, will be free agents next year. Tyler, Smith, Walker, Livingston and Cummings all have non-guaranteed deals this year.

The Rockets likely will not have a first-round selection next year. Houston traded the pick, which is lottery protected, to Denver as part of the trade for Lawson. They will have either one or two second-round selections as the Rockets are owed New York’s 2016 pick. Houston may have to send their second-round selection to Minnesota if it falls outside the protected 31-45 pick range.

Gentile’s role will largely depend on how well the Rockets do this season and what their plans are heading into free agency.

[Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images]