The Phoenix Suns are expected to trade Kevin Durant this offseason, and the Houston Rocket is their preferred target.
The Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant are expected to separate their path this offseason, with Durant being the second of Giannis Anteto Compo and the most sought after superstar on the market, Durant was placed in the trade bloc before the deadline last season.
At 36, he has only one season left on his contract and has a history of massive injuries, so the Suns rarely get the same haul they paid for him.
In 2023, the Suns sent Mikal Bridge, Cameron Johnson and five first-round picks to Durant’s Brooklyn Net, introducing only one playoff series victory.
Phoenix is expected to demand three picks and one young player and a matching pay for Durant, but they may need to be flexible and make less offers.
The San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timber Wolves have emerged as Durant’s destinations, but the Houston Rockets have long been his expected landing spots.
It’s clear that Durant is suited to the rocket, but he doesn’t fit perfectly into the timeline. Still, they are the second best regular season team in the Western Conference, and adding Durant will strengthen title hopes.
That being said, they are not interested in selling the farm past his prime and for the stars.
“Since the end of the season, Houston has made several calls from Phoenix, which has gradually reduced Durant’s asking price,” he reported. Athletic Kelly Iko.
“There are prices that the Rockets are interested in, but doubt remains in the realization of the deal, fearing they will break the roster due to an injury at 36.”
Theoretically, the Suns could provide plenty of draft picks for Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, Amen Thompson, Reed Shepherd and Durant, but the Phoenix reality gets only one or two of those players, and they get a small return on draft picks.
The Suns hope they won’t be able to compete for the title next season and will need to take several seasons to rebuild Devin Booker.
With Bradley Beal on a two-season contract, the Suns are extremely limited in moves that can be made at their free agency, and it is unlikely that they will be under the youth movement as Nets and Rockets owns a large portion of future draft capital.
The 2025 NBA Draft is expected to be one of the better classes in recent years, but the Suns do not own their pick and will only choose 29th via Cleveland.
Meanwhile, the Rockets use the Suns’ 10th overall pick to strengthen their younger cores, with the Suns aiming to get that pick back.
“Phoenix is offensive at a) trading Kevin Durant and b) regaining full control of draft capital starting with a 10th pick in next month’s draft,” Iko continued.
Houston prefers to add Booker to the trade, but there is no indication that the Suns will shop him, and they can give up a 10th pick and minimal assets to land Durant in the blockbuster off-season move.