Rockets agree to huge trade with Nets, now focused on adding superstar in New Deal

The Brooklyn Nets were very busy on Tuesday night – and the Houston Rockets look like they’re about to get very busy.

First, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Brooklyn is sending star forward Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in exchange for a slew of picks.

Learn more: Knicks acquire Star From Nets for massive draft pick haul

Then, Wojnarowski reported that Brooklyn was making a second trade, this one with the Rockets. Here are all the details (warning: it’s confusing):

Brooklyn reacquires its 2026 first-round pick from the Houston Rockets, which was originally moved as part of their James Harden trade. In return, Houston receives the Phoenix Suns’ 2027 first-round pick and the right to trade either Houston’s or the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2025 first-round pick for the Suns’ 2025 first-round pick. They also receive the most favorable 2029 first-round pick between the Dallas Mavericks and the Suns, and have the right to trade their first-round pick for the least favorable first-round pick from Dallas and Phoenix. Houston also gives up the right to trade a first-round pick to Brooklyn for its 2025 first-round pick.

So what does all this mean?

For the Nets, they now control their own first-round picks in 2025 and 2026 as they enter a rebuild with the loss of Bridges and a series of picks.

For the Rockets, this means the start of what should be a very eventful offseason.

Following the trade, Wojnarowski announced that the Rockets would pursue a trade for a superstar this offseason, starting with Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant.

“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,” he said. writes Wojnarowski. “The Suns have said they are keeping Durant for now, but that could change next season. But now Houston has the choices to rebuild the Suns.”

Wojnarowski then discussed a different trade scenario involving the Suns and Rockets.

“The Rockets have a trade pick with the Suns in 2025, the Suns’ pick in 2027 and could end up with the Suns’ pick in 2029 depending on unforeseen circumstances,” Wojnarowski wrote. “If the Suns ever face a team breakdown, Houston is also in a prime position to pursue a young Devin Booker. For now, Phoenix is ​​trying to win.”

While the Suns are trying to win, Houston might not wait. Regardless, Wojnarowski says they will be ultra-aggressive in adding a superstar this offseason.

“As intrigued as the Rockets are about Durant, they are determined to use the Suns’ picks to be aggressive on deals elsewhere, sources told ESPN,” Wojnarowski wrote. “Phoenix has made it clear it wants to return with this group, and Houston is now looking for a major upgrade.”

So, Houston is clearly going star hunting this offseason, whether with the Suns or another team. Bridges was probably one of the players on the Rockets’ radar, but he’s now in New York.

There will still be plenty of superstars likely available for trade this offseason, including Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George, former Rocket and current Clipper James Harden, Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young and potentially even Cleveland guard Cavaliers Donovan Mitchell.

George would likely be the best fit of the group as a 3-and-D wing who can fit nicely alongside a backcourt of Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green. However, it remains to be seen what happens with his future in Los Angeles, or potential interest from a team like the Philadelphia 76ers.

Nonetheless, the Rockets are in a prime position to add a superstar to a team that showed great promise last season. The Rockets went 41-41, just missing the No. 10 seed and a spot in the NBA Play-In tournament.

However, they’re only expected to improve in 2024-25 and will now aim to add a true superstar to the mix. Houston also has the No. 3 pick in Wednesday night’s NBA draft (courtesy of Brooklyn) and should have its share of good prospects to choose from.

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