It’s no secret that Kevin Durant will be on the trade block this summer but where he ends up is anyone’s guess right now. According to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, Durant’s closest ties are to the Houston Rockets, who have emerged as the leading candidate to land the 2x champion.
“Phoenix will split with Kevin Durant this summer. Durant has one year left on his contract and even approaching 37 still has incredibly high value,” said Durant. “I think—and this is just my opinion—that Durant wants to wind up in Houston. I think if the Rockets wanted Durant before the trade deadline, it would have happened. Durant has a lot of respect for Ime Udoka and in Houston, he could be a missing piece to a title contender. I’d keep an eye on that after this season.”
Durant, 36, has been looking for a team to plant his roots ever since winning back-to-back championships with the Warriors. After leaving Stephen Curry and forcing his way out of Brooklyn, Durant wound up on the Suns and he was hoping it would be the place he could retire.
So far, however, it’s been a disaster in Phoenix. After giving up the farm to form a new big three, Mat Ishbia has run the well dry, and now there’s no way to fix what is clearly a broken, top-heavy roster.
With averages of 26.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, Durant has more than pulled his weight this season and he’s delivering on what’s expected from him. Sadly, it hasn’t been enough to avoid a 10th place standing in the West and now Durant is ready to leave after being involved in trade rumors this February.
The 15x All-Star will have plenty of suitors on the market this offseason but the Rockets may be the best fit for the 4x scoring champion. At 45-25, the Rockets are second in the West and one of the NBA’s most improved teams.
Best of all, they are being led by a cast of promising young stars, including Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, and Alperen Sengun. As the young players get better, the Rockets will have an opportunity to build around their core and open up their title window for the next decade to come.
As one of the league’s elite scoring swingmen, Kevin Durant would fit like a glove with the Rockets. They are ranked third on defense and just 13 on offense (114.7 points per game), but Durant would boost their scoring numbers and increase their overall potential as a unit.
Plus, Durant could also play under Ime Udoka, who is widely revered for his coaching tactics. As a former Celtics coach and current Rockets coach, Ime has brought the best out of his teams and has clearly earned the respect of Durant.
Only time will tell if the Rockets have the will and the resources required to get Durant but they will surely get involved if and when the Suns make him available this summer. Hopefully, he’ll have better luck in Houston than he had with his two previous teams.
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