Houston Rockets looking to trade for Kevin Durant

The night before the 2024 NBA Draft was eventful, as several trades were disrupted. Not only was Mikal Bridges traded to the New York Knicks, but the Houston Rockets also reached an agreement with the Nets in a draft capital swap.

Brooklyn received the Nets’ 2026 first-round pick for a 2027 Phoenix Suns first-round pick. The Rockets also acquired the right to trade a 2025 Houston/OKC first-round pick for a first-round pick of the Suns 2025. Finally, Houston added the more favorable first-round pick of Dallas and Phoenix in 2029 and the right to trade Houston’s first-round pick for the less favorable first-round pick of Dallas and Phoenix.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has been following the news surrounding the trading of these picks with a deeper meaning to the transaction.

“The implications of the Rockets getting the Suns’ picks? Houston wants to trade for Kevin Durant and it gets a lot easier if they can give the Nets back the Suns’ picks they gave up in the Durant deal. The Suns said they were “I’m keeping Durant for now, but that could change next season. But now Houston has the choices to rebuild the Suns,” Wojnarowski said on Twitter.

If the Suns were to trade Durant, getting back some of their draft capital that was sent in the initial move to acquire him would be nice. That’s exactly why Houston made this decision, which puts the Rockets in a unique position to put together the type of package that no one else in the NBA can offer.

Buckle up, the Rockets are going big game hunting.

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