Ever since last summer, the Houston Rockets have been rumored to be a destination for Kevin Durant. After the Rockets made a deal to acquire future Phoenix Suns picks, there were talks that the Rockets would pursue KD. Now, the latest reports are that Houston might be trying to get more than just Durant from Phoenix. They want Devin Booker as well, or perhaps instead of KD.
The Houston Rockets Are Eyeing Kevin Durant and Devin Booker
Sam Amick of The Athletic recently joined the Run It Back NBA show with Chandler Parsons and Lou Williams to talk about the latest stuff surrounding Durant. Amick believes the Rockets are the team to watch and that they might try to get more than KD. He said,
“First and foremost with KD, Kevin has every right to be frustrated I think. Thinking about moving him is one thing, but to do without communicating with a guy who is an All-Time great is another. It really opened the door for anything and everything to be possible. The Houstons of the world have been looking at Devin Booker and KD has certainly had a market.”
Can the Rockets Pull Off Kevin Durant and Devin Booker Trade?
While this might sound like a pipe dream, there is no denying that the Rockets can pull it off. They have enough contracts to make the salaries work and are loaded with future draft picks.
If the Rockets really want to go all-in for Booker and KD, they can trade Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, and Dillon Brooks. That will get them up to $100 million. Throw in some young players on cheap contracts, and the Rockets have an offer that can give the Suns financial relief, a young star in Green. To make things work, they probably have to give up either Tari Eason and/or Cam Whitmore.
They can give the Suns their 2027 first-round pick and their 2029 first-round pick. If the two teams make a deal before the draft, Phoenix could get their pick back in this year’s draft. The Rockets also have swap rights with Brooklyn in 2027, a 2027 second-round pick from Memphis, a 2030 second-round pick from Boston, and a couple of their own picks. That should be enough for the Suns to rebuild completely and turn a new page.
KD Will Have a Huge Market
While the Rockets want to get both Durant and Booker, the market for either one of them will be huge. Recently, Shams Charania reported that the Suns and Kevin will work on a trade this summer, and there are already teams lining up. Some of the interested teams include the Dallas Mavericks, who are completely in a win-now mode, and Kevin would fit alongside Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Would a return to the Oklahoma City Thunder get the team over the hump? If the Thunder fail to make the Finals, adding KD to their young core for a championship run sounds like a fairytale. Furthermore, OKC is loaded with future picks to make an intriguing offer.
The San Antonio Spurs can create a big three with De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama. San Antonio has the cap space, young players, and draft picks to offer. Golden State Warriors, another possible reunion, but KD already declined this trade option in mid-season. Will he reconsider it in the summer? Ultimately, only time will tell where KD gets traded to and if the Suns fully rebuild by trading Booker as well. Nevertheless, the Rockets will be at the center of these trade talks especially since they own the Suns’ picks.
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