The Kevin Durant trade rumor arc has been one of the largest talking points of the offseason. As things heat up, in light of the upcoming NBA draft, there is a general expectation that a trade involving Durant is likely to happen.
In light of this, we take a look at some of the teams that Durant was linked with recently. From the San Antonio Spurs, who could offer their No. 14 pick as part of the trade proposal, to a wild trade proposal to send the forward to the Dallas Mavericks, many potential suitors have emerged.
In more recent events, the Houston Rockets have made a push to acquire the 36-year-old again. But fulfilling this move may not prove to be so cut and dry.
Blockbuster trade proposals featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo have headlined the rumors linking Durant to the Rockets. As grand as this scheme is, the primary challenge has been understanding the assets that Phoenix would want in return.
The consensus has been that the Phoenix Suns would look to retool around Devin Booker, thus insinuating that the organization would want young players and draft assets to structure their team’s future. However, this may not be the case with the Rockets.
Radio talk show host and NBA insider John Gambodoro recently revealed some details about a potential trade package for the Rockets to acquire Durant. While speaking on a recent episode of his podcast, “Burns & Gambo Show“, he said:
“Any deal with the Rockets is very likely to include Jabari Smith and Jalen Green. And you’ve got it, like, they’re going to want to hold on to Eason, they’re going to want to hold on to Sengun. They’re going to want to hold on to their key core players and probably work out a deal around Green and Jabari Smith, which we’ve known for a long time that those would be the key players.”
This is an interesting notion considering that many cited that any mention of Jalen Green or Jabari Smith Jr. in the trade would be the reason the Rockets wouldn’t do the deal for Durant.
In addition to this, Gambodoro also pointed out the potential pairing issues between Green and Booker in the event the deal went through.
“The question really is the redundancy with Devin Booker and Jalen Green. Like that, you know, again, I think the Suns are going to weigh a lot of offers and see what kind of offer collects… And I like Jalen Green, he’s different from Book, but it is a little redundancy with two guys that play the same position at that guard spot.”
The point raised by the show host could potentially see the trade fall through. As solid as Green is, with an average of 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, he may not be the ideal fit next to Booker.
With a player like Bradley Beal already on the roster, and considering the outcome of that move, it is evident that an attempt to rehash the same combination may not necessarily yield better results.
But there remains some scope with the inclusion of Smith in this package. The Suns are currently lacking in their frontcourt, with the center position being a major liability. Although the young Rockets star isn’t a bona fide center, his tall frame at 6’11” paired with his versatility on the offensive end provides enough of a foundation to allow him to play as a stretch big man.
At 22 years old, he averaged 12.2 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 43.8% from the field and 35.4% from the three-point line, showing a lot of promise for development.
Meanwhile, the addition of Kevin Durant to Houston’s roster has already been explored, and the results are dynamite. Although he’s well past his prime, the forward is still capable of providing elite offensive output. His averages of 26.6 points on 52.7% shooting from the field and 43.0% from beyond the arc are an indication of this.
The Rockets crashed out of the playoffs owing to their inexperience and stars who simply couldn’t rise to the occasion. Considering Durant’s experience and championship pedigree, Houston may find it easier to navigate the waters of the postseason with a leader of his caliber paired with their stars.
