The Houston Rockets have long been linked to Kevin Durant, but the Phoenix Suns could have benefited if they had signed a contract much earlier.
On Sunday, the Phoenix Suns finally traded Kevin Durant for the Houston Rockets. The San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and Rockets were one of the first runners to land him, but confirming the trade was a months-long process.
Before the 2025 trade deadline, Durant was mostly dealt with the Golden State Warriors before adding Jimmy Butler instead. Durant didn’t want to go back to Golden State, but the Sands were simply looking for the best offers.
As a result of the failed deal, a lift was formed between the player and the team, and subsequent drama reduced his asking price.
The Rockets sent out their second selection to Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th overall pick and Phoenix, but the Suns could receive better hauls if they act in an emergency.
Before the trade deadline, the Suns were 25-24 and there was ample hope that the core of Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker could run before the postseason.
The Sands desperately wanted to trade beer, but originally it didn’t look like Durant was on the trade bloc, but then there was a flood of offers.
The Warriors’ offers have not been revealed yet, but they could be focused on Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and Draft Capital.
According to reporter John Gambaldello, the Rockets are willing to provide Jalen Green, Jabarri Smith Jr. and draft picks.
The offer was rejected, but in hindsight the sun might have been better if they accepted the deal. Certainly, it lacked draft capital, but it would have given them much needed boost in the front court.
The Phoenix Suns currently have Beal, Booker, Green, Green, Royce O’Neal, Grayson Allen, Ryan Dunn and Caleb Martin on contracts next season. All eight of these players play a rather similar role and position.
It’s hard to imagine the Suns making the playoffs next season, but they could have bounced if they took Smith Jr. in place of the 10th pick and Brooks.
Smith Jr. is one of the league’s most underrated stretch powers, with the lineup of Green, Booker, Smith Jr., Nick Richards and point guard (probably Tyus Jones, perhaps?) enough to compete with Booker as a centerpiece after Beer was filmed from the Merciful Book of the Sun.
Instead, Phoenix now has Booker a 28-year-old star, Green’s 23-year-old project, and a lottery ticket. None of these timelines match particularly well, and with a history of contracts and injuries where Durant is not 36, the Suns is no longer worth the five picks he has given up on for him.
The Sons’ “Big 3” era is dead and buried for about 24 hours, but the reconstruction and aftermath could be a major part of the decade, given the assets they had to let go to build a failed roster.