The Houston Rockets have reportedly made a play for Kevin Durant by presenting a package including young stars Jabari Smith Jr. and Jalen Green. Although the trade proposal could be considered enticing for the Phoenix Suns, a rumor suggested that the Suns may not be interested in keeping Green.
In light of this, NBA insider Jake Weinbach recently revealed that three teams are likely to show an interest in acquiring Green if he is available after the Durant trade. Namely, the Chicago Bulls, the Brooklyn Nets, and the Charlotte Hornets.
The notion of pairing Green with Devin Booker hasn’t been considered as fruitful for the Suns, particularly since they already rejected the idea of acquiring Green in previous trade rumors. Thus, a trade for Green may see him land on another team immediately after being traded to Phoenix.
With this in mind, we take a look at the potential trade proposals each team can make for the Rockets’ star and the potential impact it could have going forward.
Chicago Bulls
Proposed Trade Details
Phoenix Suns Receive: Coby White, Zach Collins, 2026 first-round pick
Chicago Bulls Receive: Jalen Green
The Chicago Bulls are a team looking to make some big changes in the offseason. After a disappointing end to their 2024-25 campaign, the Bulls could be looking at restructuring, particularly around their young star, Matas Buzelis.
Should the Bulls consider a roster overhaul, Green would be the perfect running mate for the forward. At 23 years old, the guard fits the timeline while also being a solid scoring option next to Buzelis.
Last season, Green recorded an average of 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists on shooting splits of 42.3% from the field and 35.4% from beyond the arc. Given how young he is, there is a lot of room for growth, and forming a young star duo in Chicago could help the Bulls flourish in the coming years.
Meanwhile, the Suns do not pass on this deal. Coby White is an extremely reliable point guard who is capable of anchoring the task of being the primary playmaker. At $12.4 million, he is an extremely undervalued contract considering his averages of 20.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game last season.
Zach Collins is also a great addition for Phoenix, who will require fortification in the frontcourt. Last season, the forward recorded an average of 6.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Although he won’t be in the starting rotation, he could have value off the bench.
The primary aspect behind these trades is that both players have expiring contracts next season. If they show value, the Suns will enjoy some flexibility with re-signing them. Meanwhile, they will also enjoy having the Bulls’ 2026 first-rounder to build up their war chest of picks.
Brooklyn Nets
Proposed Trade Details
Phoenix Suns Receive: D’Angelo Russell, Ziaire Williams, Noah Clowney, 2026 first-round pick, 2027 second-round pick (LAL)
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Jalen Green
Facilitating a trade with the Nets in mind is more of an issue, primarily because most of their best players are heading into free agency. It is unlikely for the Nets to give up Nic Claxton or Cam Johnson in this trade, given that they are linked to other teams as well. Thus, Brooklyn would need to structure a sign-and-trade with D’Angelo Russell to acquire Jalen Green.
Green’s addition could do wonders for Brooklyn’s backcourt. They are a young team with a lot of talent, particularly in the backcourt if they re-sign Cam Thomas in the offseason.
The pair of Thomas and Green could be a nightmare for opposing defensive sets. The elite shot creation ability would boost Brooklyn’s offensive rating, and the overall product would simply be exciting for the fans.
All things considered, however, this wouldn’t necessarily transform the Nets into a competitive team.
Meanwhile, the Suns would add some valuable assets with this trade. The addition of Russell solves Phoenix’s need for a playmaker. Last season, Russell recorded an average of 12.6 points and 5.1 assists per game. His pass-first approach and shot-creation skill would make him a valuable addition on a team-friendly contract.
Ziaire Williams could also be a solid addition for Phoenix. Although acquiring him will require the move to be a sign-and-trade, the Suns could benefit from his addition. Williams is a solid two-way player who averaged 10.0 points and 4.6 rebounds last season.
Considering that he also started in a large portion of the games he played last season, he could be valuable in bolstering the Suns’ frontcourt rotation.
The acquisition of Noah Clowney may also be considered worthwhile for addressing the frontcourt issues. At 6’10” and only 20 years old, Clowney has a lot of growth potential. His averages of 9.1 points and 3.9 rebounds could be promising if the Suns opt to develop him into a rotation player.
The real prize acquisition for the Suns in this deal will be the draft capital. The 2026 first-rounder will be of particular value when restructuring their roster. The 2027 second-rounder, in this context, may have more value as a trade chip for Phoenix.
Charlotte Hornets
Proposed Trade Details
Phoenix Suns Receive: Grant Williams, Josh Green, 2027 first-round pick
Charlotte Hornets Receive: Jalen Green
For the Charlotte Hornets, the acquisition of Jalen Green could be a massive advantage. By pairing the talented scorer with their star, LaMelo Ball, the Hornets could boast one of the most gifted backcourt duos in the league.
The creativity of Ball, when paired with the shot-creation ability of Green, makes for a solid and exciting offensive combo. In addition to this, the team still features a gifted young forward in Brandon Miller and a talented big man in Mark Williams. Overall, Charlotte could have a very potent young core, a project that could yield success in due time as well.
Meanwhile, the Suns stand to gain a lot by going through with this trade. The addition of Grant Williams and Josh Green could do wonders for their roster strength.
Williams has showcased himself to be a solid 3-and-D player. As a tough defender, the forward would provide much-needed integrity to the Suns’ frontcourt. In addition to this, his averages of 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds on 36.5% shooting from beyond the arc make him a reliable passing outlet as well.
Green has also showcased a lot of upside as a two-way player. The guard’s athleticism and shooting ability yielded great results last season, as he recorded shooting splits of 42.8% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range.
Although his statistical averages were rather underwhelming, he could be a key addition to the roster if the Suns choose to give him the minutes. Regardless, both players are on short-term deals, as their contracts expire in two years.
In addition to this, Phoenix would also acquire a key 2027 first-rounder from Charlotte. While this would only have value in the draft if the team finishes in the lower rungs of the West, the Suns could still leverage this as part of another deal to acquire a star.
Which Trade Idea Is Most Beneficial To The Suns?
The Suns’ intentions of retooling around Devin Booker set the organization on a much shorter timeline than a rebuilding team. The need to remain competitive while simultaneously working on their roster construction project may see Phoenix have a hard time identifying the most beneficial deal.
In the context of the aforementioned trades, however, the Suns may benefit most from trading with the Hornets. Charlotte’s endless draft reserves and their list of talented players on expiring contracts could be worth targeting if they are to create a complete roster in the near future.
