SUMMARY
- The Rockets are planning to use the Suns' first-round picks that belong to the Nets, to acquire Kevin Durant.
- The Suns' only way to the title is through Kevin Durant.
Kevin Durant has already had a widely successful career since coming into the league in 2007. Now with the Phoenix Suns, the 35-year-old scoring machine is preparing to make a dominant comeback after falling short of title contention this past season. Despite the Suns’ shortcomings, Durant still managed to be one of the best players in the league.
REPORT: The Rockets are gearing up picks to convince the Suns to trade them Kevin Durant, per @wojespn
CHAOS. pic.twitter.com/ixu45177KO
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 26, 2024
Right now, the Houston Rockets seem determined to trade for Kevin Durant to pair himself alongside a young duo featuring Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun. League sources have revealed that the Rockets might trade for the Suns’ picks which are currently owned by the Brooklyn Nets. And in turn, they believe they can convince the Suns to give him Durant. However, this may harm the legend’s legacy.
Kevin Durant cannot afford to carry the weight of leading the Rockets
The Rockets do have some potential at the moment but they do not have an elite star on the roster. During the 2023-24 season, the Rockets maintained a pretty good record until Sengun went down with an injury and they slipped away from playoff contention. Acquiring Kevin Durant will certainly give them the required boost they need, but the 14x NBA All-Star cannot afford to carry the weight of a losing franchise.
The implications of the Rockets landing the Suns’ picks? Houston wants to trade for Kevin Durant and that becomes far easier if they can return the Suns’ picks that they gave up in the Durant deal to the Nets. Suns have said they’re keeping Durant for now, but that could change…
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
Durant might just face what LeBron James has had to deal with while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. Fans and experts still expect an aging yet elite star in James to lead the Lakers to a title. However, the workload will only take a toll on Durant’s physical and mental health if he gets put in this situation, something no veteran superstar beyond the age of 35 should ever deal with.
The Suns will lose out on all their title hopes
Phoenix cannot afford to fall for the Rockets’ pricy offer. The Suns do not have any future picks of their own which puts them in a tough spot once Durant decides to retire. They will have to wait to rebuild which in turn will negatively impact the time and effort Devin Booker plans on investing into the franchise.
Despite being one of the older players in the league, Durant is still averaging 27.1 points, 7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. And since joining the Suns, KD has become a force to reckon with on defense. The first-round sweep might not have been the best example of what the veteran brings to the table, but it was ultimately because of him that the Suns reached the playoffs this past season. He’s their best shot at a title.